Agbenyiga is currently a higher education consultant at Agbenyiga Global Education where she provides guidance to individuals, groups, and higher education institutions. 

She also has experience in higher education administration, where she was provost and vice president of academic affairs at Bowie State University, as well as vice provost and dean of The Graduate School at the University of Texas at San Antonio.

"When I looked at the (CDO) position I really could see that the institution is moving forward with a clear alignment to diversity, equity, and inclusion as well as an agent of change for inclusive excellence on the campus. Looking at how the institution has and continues to be steadfast and resilient but also being agile as well," Agbenyiga said. "...I then aligned that with as I just previously described who I am and how I look at myself as a leader and being in a leadership role, I saw a real clear alignment and that is really why I have the interest of being in the position."

Agbenyiga defined her vision from the role through a "21st-century diversity, equity, and inclusion enterprise" that ensures all members can strive and be successful.

She created a "C^2I^2" approach to this enterprise which stands for cultivation, connectivity, integration, and investment. This will be engaged through relationship building, communication or consultation, defining success, and designing plans and strategies.

"I look at this part as really where we're kind of having truth in reconciliation, we're owning who we are, what we've done, what we don't have and what we need to do in order to be able to move forward with respect to diversity, equity, and inclusion," Agbenyiga said.

Her overall vision is taken from a wellness and well-being perspective, she said.

"I usually frame it from a wellness perspective and looking at building a community of wellness and well being," Agbenyiga said. "And what I mean by that is where we're able to move through this process where we're keeping the whole and heart in mind, the whole person, the whole educational experience, we're looking at the whole institution and the whole community, but ultimately that's coming together, where we're looking at it from a well-being perspective with those multifaceted goals and shared responsibilities for the entire community as well."

When this perspective is taken, some of the foundational steps include institutional practices, process and structure, recruitment, leadership development, committees, and institutional climate surveys.

Additionally, she spoke of the importance of training becoming actually effective.

"That means the learning that's actually happening, in either one of these settings is now being looked at and how it is impacting and transforming the work that is being done throughout the institution as well," Agbenyiga said.

She wants the education to go beyond the campus, and for the MSU community to take it with them when they leave.

"Speaking with corporate foundations to talk about DEI and what's being done on campus but how can that align with students who are graduates who will be moving into their corporations and their foundations and getting support in that way," Agbenyiga said. "But we've gotta begin to really start showcasing those successes and really this is about how is it that we share our diversity, equity and inclusion vision, and story beyond the campus."

The other three finalists will be visiting the university virtually through Sept. 9.

The third finalist — James E. Page Jr. — will have his open forum on Thursday at 12:30 p.m.