November 15, 2019
Zelia Wiley receives administrator role model award
Submitted by Communications and Marketing
Zelia Wiley, assistant dean and director of diversity programs in the College of Agriculture, was named a recipient of the 2019 Administrator Award from Minority Access Incorporated at its National Role Models Conference.
Minority Access' Role Models Project honors inspiring students, faculty, alumni, innovators and diverse institutions as role models to expand the pool of minority scientists, researchers and professionals in fields underrepresented by minorities. The Administrator Award is presented to individuals for their exemplary achievements in expanding opportunities for others. Wiley was nominated for the award by a colleague at Michigan State University.
Wiley joined the university in 2003 as the first assistant dean for diversity. She is responsible for recruitment and retention programs of ethnic minorities within the College of Agriculture and works to increase the minority ethnicity application pool in K-State Research and Extension. During her tenure, she has seen significant increases in the multicultural student populations within the college.
Wiley is the director of Project IMPACT and co-principal investigator for the Kansas Louis Stokes Alliance for Minority Participation, known as KS-LSAMP. She is involved with the Cargill College for A Day program, "Growing Our Mindset" diversity forum, and KSRE Summer Research Fellowship Program. She serves as chapter advisor for the K-State chapter of Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Recourses and Related Sciences, known as MANRRS, and was president for the national group in 2007-08. She is the chair of the College of Agriculture's diversity committee and serves on the President's Commission for Multicultural Affairs. She was the first ethnic minority to serve on the board of consultants for the FFA National Board. Wiley also served as chair of the Black Faculty and Staff Alliance at K-State. She has received several awards, including the 2011 Commerce Bank Presidential Award for enhancing diversity at K-State.