Dr. Chaisson-Cardenas serves as the prominent thought leader and strategist responsible for guiding efforts to understand and operationalize equity and inclusion throughout all aspects of CT State. He provides transformative leadership, vision and direction for critical diversity, equity and inclusion efforts. In his role, he assists in assessing the political, social, economic and institutional environments for recommending and implementing system policy.
Dr. Chaisson-Cardenas was a national executive fellow at the Birmingham Civil Rights Institute (a Smithsonian partner), where his research focused on resistance, pushback and backlash to institutional diversity, equity and inclusion efforts. He has over 20 years of experience developing, supporting, and evaluating programs throughout the United States and Latin America. He has been recognized nationally for transforming large multimillion-dollar systems towards equity.
Dr. Chaisson-Cardenas holds a doctorate in education leadership and policy and a master’s degree in social work from the University of Iowa. As a young adult, he began his organizing career while working in meatpacking plants in Kansas. Since then, he's organized local, state and national efforts on behalf of immigrant and refugee communities.
