Student Affairs named Noris Edney III as the associate dean of students for belonging and communities on Nov. 14, 2024, according to a university press release. An event open to the Vanderbilt community was hosted at the Multicultural Leadership Center on Nov. 19 to celebrate his appointment.
Edney received his BA, MA and EdD degrees from the University of Mississippi before working there in several roles, including Director of the Center for Inclusion and Cross-Cultural Engagement and Assistant Vice Chancellor for Diversity and Inclusion. He served as Vice President and Deputy Chief of Staff at Talladega College prior to joining Vanderbilt. Edney has been recognized with the Donald Cole Award for Excellence in Mentoring, the Frist Student Service Award and the Laws Innovation Award.
At Vanderbilt, Edney’s role will focus on cultivating students’ sense of belonging and inclusion and strengthening the university’s mission to ensure a welcoming, supportive environment for students. Edney’s appointment precedes the renaming of the Student Center for Social Justice and Identity to the Student Center for Belonging and Communities following President Donald Trump’s Jan. 20 executive order to end DEI programs.
In an email to The Hustler, Edney emphasized his commitment to leading with humility and empowering every student.
“I believe in fostering welcoming spaces where all students can thrive and understand that building community is a shared responsibility,” Edney said. “My leadership is rooted in listening, learning and working alongside students, faculty and staff to strengthen Vanderbilt’s foundation of holistic engagement and support.”
In the university press release, Vice Provost for Student Affairs and Dean of Students G.L. Black expressed excitement about Edney joining the Student Affairs team.
“He has a proven track record of advancing the foundational elements of belonging, including developing strategic initiatives and enhancing student success for underrepresented populations,” Black said. “His leadership and vision will be essential as we continue cultivating an inclusive environment that strengthens students’ sense of belonging at Vanderbilt.”
Junior Eden Villanueva expressed appreciation for Edney’s role in creating a welcoming environment for individuals from marginalized communities.
“Having come from a minority-led high school, coming to Vanderbilt has been such a scary and eye-opening experience [about] how privileged most of the students here are,” Villanueva said. “Hopefully, this new dean can help students like me not have such a hard time adjusting to the Vanderbilt community.”
