Dr. Joy Gaston Gayles is the Head of the Department of Educational Leadership, Policy, and Human Development and an Alumni Association Distinguished Graduate Professor of Higher Education in the College of Education at North Carolina State University. Dr. Gayles is one of the primary thought leaders in her field of study and was recently named as one of 25 innovative women leading higher education in DIVERSE: Issues in Higher Education magazine. She served as the 2022 President of the Association for the Study of Higher Education (ASHE), the primary professional association for studying post-secondary education issues. Dr. Gayles is nationally known for her work in partnership with the National Center for Faculty Development and Diversity (NCFDD), the largest faculty development center in the United States. She has won numerous awards for her scholarly contributions and for advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion in higher education.