Dr. Cassandra D. Caldwell is an internationally renowned thought leader, author, faculty member, consultant, philanthropist, entrepreneur, and scholar. She has been featured in numerous publications, including Black Enterprise Magazine, Legacy Magazine, Profiles in Diversity Journal, HBCU Connect Magazine, INSIGHT Into Diversity Magazine, Legacy Miami Magazine, and The Journal of Blacks in Higher Education. Dr. Caldwell is the Chief Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer at Akerman law firm a national firm with over 750 attorneys in 24 cities. She has over 24 years of experience through several leadership roles with: Visa, General Electric, Sodexo, the International Society of Diversity and Inclusion Professionals, GlaxoSmithKline, 4-H Youth Development, North Carolina State University, and the US Department of Agriculture.
In addition to being a leader in the corporate world, Dr. Caldwell’s higher education background is just as impressive. She has also held academic appointments as an adjunct faculty member at Cornell University, the University of Maryland, Nova Southeastern University, The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Walden University, North Carolina Central University, Duke University, Seton Hall University, and the University of Houston. Her teaching areas of expertise focus on: leadership, nonprofit management, diversity & inclusion, human resources, organizational theory & behavior, and research methods.
She completed an executive education program in corporate social responsibility at Harvard Business School. Dr. Caldwell earned a doctor of philosophy degree in human and community resource development from The Ohio State University. She earned a master of public administration degree from North Carolina Central University, and a bachelor of arts degree in speech communication from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Her international education includes being a visiting scholar in Ghana, South Africa, and Swaziland. Her latest international academic appointment was as a visiting scholar at The Oxford Round Table for Women's Leadership at the University of Oxford in England. In addition to these international academic appointments, Dr. Caldwell has been invited to present on leadership topics in Japan, Morocco, South Africa, Taiwan, Hong Kong, England, Canada, Austria, and France.
Her dedication to community service parallels her distinguished career. She is actively involved in several nonprofit organizations including: South Broward Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Alumni Committee on Racial and Ethnic Diversity, and the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill General Alumni Association. She established the Loaves and Fishes Fund that focuses on eliminating food insecurity for people and pets in Florida and North Carolina. She was a founding member of the Triangle Area Next Generation of African American Philanthropists Fund and a former board member of Lillian’s List. Dr. Caldwell’s other volunteer service activities have included serving as: a Court Appointed Special Advocate/Guardian ad litem, a southern region captain for Toys for Tots, a mentor with the Dr. Betty Shabazz Delta Academy and Delta GEMS sponsored by Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., a member of the Triangle United Way Certification Committee, a member of the Steering Committee for the Chapel Hill/Carrboro Boys and Girls Club, a volunteer with Habitat for Humanity, a Big Sister, and a volunteer with Special Olympics.
Because of these achievements, Dr. Caldwell has received numerous honors including: Miami’s Most Influential and Prominent Black Women in Business and Industry, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Harvey E. Beech Outstanding Alumni Award, Profiles in Diversity Journal CEO Leadership in Action Award, Profiles in Diversity Journal Excellence in Innovation Award, Profiles in Diversity Journal Diversity Leader Award, Wake County Chapter of the National Congress of Black Women 21st Century African-American Trailblazer /Sojourner Truth Legacy Award, Sodexo Champion of Diversity Award, The North Carolina School of Science and Mathematics Keeper of the Dream Award, North Carolina Central University College of Arts and Sciences Outstanding Faculty Teaching Award, Leadership America North Carolina, The American Association for Higher Education Patricia K. Cross Future Leader Award, and The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Award.
