Emil L. Cunningham, PhD
Interim Executive Director, Office of Equity and Fair PracticeOriginally from the South Bronx, New York City, Dr. Emil L. Cunningham is an accomplished leader with over 15 years of experience driving strategic initiatives, operational excellence, and organizational development. A Vassar College graduate with a degree in psychology, he went on to earn both a master’s degree in College Student Affairs and a doctorate in Higher Education from Penn State University. His research examined how underrepresented students at predominantly white institutions use safe spaces to cultivate a sense of belonging, a theme that continues to inform his professional and scholarly work.
Dr. Cunningham has built a career at the intersection of diversity leadership and institutional strategy. Prior to joining the Pratt in August 2025, he served as the Assistant Vice Provost for Diversity and Inclusion/Deputy Chief Diversity Officer at Johns Hopkins University, where he directed enterprise-wide operations for a multi-divisional system and guided strategic planning across academic and administrative units. Prior to this, he was Director for the Office of Diversity and Inclusion for Finance and Business at Penn State, leading efforts to advance equity and inclusion for 3,300+ staff members across the commonwealth. He also served as a research associate and later Vice President with Rankin & Associates Consulting, working nationally with colleges and universities to drive strategic improvements via campus-wide assessments and providing actionable recommendations grounded in equity, inclusion, and systemic change.
His professional journey includes experiences in Residence Life, Student Conduct, Academic Support for Student Athletes, Alcohol Prevention, Educational Equity, Town-Gown relations, University Development, Belonging, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, and Institutional Leadership. He has presented nationally and facilitated workshops on topics such as sense of belonging, student poverty, bias, inclusive leadership, equity-minded strategic planning, and the experiences of Black undergraduate and graduate students in higher education.
Beyond his professional roles, Dr. Cunningham is committed to service. He most recently sat on the Board of Directors for Centre Safe, supporting survivors of sexual and domestic violence, and was active in several professional and community organizations, including the National Association of Diversity Officers in Higher Education, the American College Personnel Association, Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., and the Pennsylvania Black Conference on Higher Education.
