Safietou Sagna
Bristol,RI
Summary
Visionary education leader with over a decade of progressive experience advancing organizational equity, student success and belonging across diverse academic environments. Expertise in designing and implementing data-informed programs and professional development opportunities that enhance student and staff engagement and growth. Recognized for collaborative leadership, innovative program design, and a steadfast commitment to fostering inclusive, connected campus communities.
Experienced with strategic planning and project management. Utilizes leadership skills to drive team performance and operational excellence. Track record of delivering high-impact results through innovative problem-solving and effective communication.
Overview
11
11
years of professional experience
Work History
Director of Student Leadership, Access, Engagement, and Diversity, School of Law
Roger Williams University, Bristol, Rhode Island, United States of America
Bristol, Rhode Island, United States of America
07.2023 - Current
- Provide individualized coaching to support students in navigating academic, co-curricular, professional, and personal challenges, empowering them to clarify goals, build resilience, and connect with appropriate campus or community resources as needed
- Identify and address barriers that impact student access and success in law school
- Develop and implement strategies to improve student retention, including proactive outreach, early intervention, and support initiatives that address academic, personal, and professional challenges
- Support student organizations and activities that promote community-building and peer engagement within the law school
- Design and implement comprehensive leadership development workshops that equip student leaders with the skills, tools, and confidence to effectively lead their organizations, while contributing to a respectful, collaborative, and supportive law school community
- Advise student leaders and organization members on effective leadership strategies that promote collaboration, accountability, and purposeful engagement within their organizations and the broader law school community
- Lead the design, implementation, and evaluation of leadership and Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion training programs for students, to enhance personal growth
- Design and facilitate two-day pre-orientation program (annually) preparing first-year law students for academic success through resource awareness, community building, stress management, and expectation setting
- Provide guidance to all law students on non-academic issues, helping them overcome personal, social, and structural challenges to achieve academic and professional success
- Oversee a variety of law school programs and signature events that foster engagement, professional growth, and community connection, including the Stonewall Lecture, the Annual Symposium Dinner, Community and culture Week
- Collaborate with student organizations, faculty, and staff to co-sponsor guest speakers, panels, and community-building initiatives
- Coordinate logistics, communications, and evaluation strategies to ensure efficient planning and meaningful impact
- Manage program budgets and ensure efficient use and distribution of resources to support strategic goals in student engagement, leadership and faculty/staff development
- Designed and delivered institution-wide diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) training programs aligned with the university’s faculty and staff needs
- Monitor and evaluate training outcomes, policy adoption and program effectiveness to drive continuous improvement in school climate, responsiveness and accountability
- Develop onboarding programs for new Law school faculty and staff to support a successful transition into the institution and promote long-term engagement and retention
- Commissioned by the Chief Diversity Officer to administer the Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI) for two University faculty and staff cohorts, and deliver individualized 30 to 45 minutes developmental coaching sessions
- Drive strategic process and policy enhancements by evaluating organizational gaps in conflict resolution and bias reporting systems, and collaborating with university leadership to implement streamlined, equitable procedures that strengthened institutional responsiveness, transparency, and accountability
- Contribute to the development, implementation, and evaluation of strategic plans that support student engagement, leadership development, and community partnerships
- Foster cross-campus partnerships with academic leadership and administrative units to embed DEI principles into policies, practices and workplace culture
- Chair the Diversity and Inclusion Steering Committee (DISC), guiding institutional priorities, developing policy recommendations, and fostering an inclusive campus culture
- Serve on the senior leadership team and multiple university-wide councils and hiring committees
Justice, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (JEDI) Coordinator, URI
University of Rhode Island (URI), Kingston, Rhode Island, United States of America
Kingston, Rhode Island, United States of America
01.2021 - 01.2022
- Developed and implemented a research-informed JEDI micro-credential for faculty and Staff to foster participant’s equity and inclusion competencies among over 800 learners
- Led a comprehensive program evaluation and implemented data-driven improvements to enhance outcomes and participants satisfaction
- Facilitated strategic discussions with academic departments to advance inclusive teaching and organizational change
- Co-led the university-wide DEI Symposium, launched amid the Black Lives Matter movement and rising anti-Asian violence, to promote scholarly dialogues, critical reflection, and collective learning while advancing institutional equity and inclusion initiatives
Food & Housing Security Coordinator, Division of Student Affairs, URI
University of Rhode Island (URI), Kingston, Rhode Island, United States of America
Kingston, Rhode Island, United States of America
01.2017 - 01.2021
- Managed the Student Emergency Fund, overseeing financial stewardship, reporting, and equitable allocation of resource
- Provided case management and crisis response for students experiencing financial and housing insecurity
- Partnered with advancement to secure a one-time $125,000 donation from a donor to support students’ basic needs
- Developed partnerships with community organizations to secure over 415,000 in annual donations
- Led operational oversight of the campus food pantry, increasing student utilization by 800% through system redesign and partnerships
- Supervised staff and volunteers, building a culture of accountability, care, and student-centered service delivery
- Design, lead, and participate in educational programs (trainings, workshops, and webinars) focused on addressing collegiate food insecurity and homelessness
DEI Program Coordinator, Division of Community, Equity & Diversity
University of Rhode Island (URI), Kingston, Rhode Island, United States of America
Kingston, Rhode Island, United States of America
01.2015 - 01.2017
- Led strategic planning, coordination, and promotion of campus programs and events that advanced diversity, equity, and inclusion, including Women’s History Month, Take Back the Night, Healthy Relationships Week, Diversity Week, MLK Luncheon, and the Diversity Awards.
- Developed, coordinated, and implemented culturally responsive educational programs and initiatives aligned with the Division’s mission and the diverse needs of the URI community.
- Collaborated with campus leaders, academic departments, community partners, and directors of multicultural, women’s, and gender & sexuality centers on strategic initiatives and signature events such as the Women at URI Conference, Black Women Conference, International Film Series, and Twenty Thousand Voices Conference.
- Managed program logistics including scheduling, budgeting, vendor coordination, resource allocation, and event operations to ensure successful program delivery.
- Monitored and evaluated program effectiveness using data collection, participant feedback, and performance metrics to inform continuous improvement and strategic decision-making.
- Developed and facilitated DEI trainings, workshops, and orientation sessions for first-year students, Housing and Residential Life staff, and program participants.
- Mentored and advised students, particularly women, first-generation, and underrepresented students, on academic success, leadership development, and personal growth.
- Served as advisor to the Multicultural Student Involvement Council (MUSIC), supporting student leaders with event planning, budgeting, conflict resolution, and leadership development.
- Provided case management, direct support, and referrals to campus resources including Counseling Center, Title IX, Health Services, and Academic Support.
- Documented incidents and concerns appropriately and escalated serious issues to campus safety or relevant university offices in accordance with institutional policies.
- Built and maintained partnerships with internal and external stakeholders to expand programming reach and strengthen community engagement.
- Managed program budgets, tracked expenditures, and ensured compliance with university policies and funding requirements through accurate documentation and reporting.
- Coordinated cross-functional teams, facilitated regular meetings, and implemented communication strategies that improved collaboration and program delivery.
- Implemented operational improvements such as streamlined registration systems, digital database management, enhanced website and social media presence, and shared online workspaces to increase efficiency and participation.
- Conducted needs assessments, analyzed participant data, and produced program reports to guide program development and demonstrate impact to stakeholders.
Education
Ph.D. - Education, Social Justice, Leadership, Adult & Higher Education
University of Rhode Island
Kingston, Rhode Island, United States of America01-2023
Master’s degree - Education, Adult Education, Leadership, Program development and evaluation
University of Rhode Island
Kingston, Rhode Island, United States of America01-2016
M.A. - French and Francophone Studies
University of Massachusetts
Amherst, Massachusetts, United States of America01-2007
Bachelor’s degree - English and African American Studies
Mount Holyoke College
South Hadley, Massachusetts, United States of America01-2003
Skills
- Decision-making
- People management
- Budget management
- Staff management
- Crisis management
- Strategic planning
- Relationship building
- Verbal and written communication
- Employee development
- Organizational development
- Issues resolution
- Change management
Affiliations
- NADOHE, National Association of Diversity Officers in Higher Education (2023-present)
- NALSAP, National Association of Law Student Affairs Professionals (2023-present)
- AMDiP, Annal Meeting of Law School Diversity Professionals (2023-Present)
- ACHE, Association for Continuing Higher Education (2020-2023)
- AHEA, Adult Higher Education Alliance (2017-2023)
- NASPA, Student Affairs Administrators in Higher Education (2015-2017)
LANGUAGES
Fluent in English and French; reading knowledge in Spanish
Timeline
Director of Student Leadership, Access, Engagement, and Diversity, School of Law
Roger Williams University, Bristol, Rhode Island, United States of America
07.2023 - Current
Justice, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (JEDI) Coordinator, URI
University of Rhode Island (URI), Kingston, Rhode Island, United States of America
01.2021 - 01.2022
Food & Housing Security Coordinator, Division of Student Affairs, URI
University of Rhode Island (URI), Kingston, Rhode Island, United States of America
01.2017 - 01.2021
DEI Program Coordinator, Division of Community, Equity & Diversity
University of Rhode Island (URI), Kingston, Rhode Island, United States of America
01.2015 - 01.2017
Master’s degree - Education, Adult Education, Leadership, Program development and evaluation
University of Rhode Island
M.A. - French and Francophone Studies
University of Massachusetts
Bachelor’s degree - English and African American Studies
Mount Holyoke College
Ph.D. - Education, Social Justice, Leadership, Adult & Higher Education
University of Rhode Island
PUBLICATIONS
- Brown, T., & Sagna, S. (2025). Girls of Color navigating oppression, identity, and belonging through insights from a social justice educational program. Gender and Education, 1-17.
- Sagna, S. & Vaccaro, A. (2022). “I Didn’t Just Do It for Myself”: Exploring the Roles of Family in Adult Learner Persistence. The Journal of Continuing Higher Education, 1–15.
GOVERNANCE, COMMITTEES & BOARD-ADJACENT EXPERIENCE
- Chair, Diversity & Inclusion Steering Committee, RWU Law (2023-Present)
- Member, RWU Law Dean’s Senior Staff & University Diversity Leadership Council (2023-Present)
- University-wide hiring Committees, University of Rhode Island (2016-2022)
- Police Arming and Advisory Committee, University of Rhode Island (2015-2017)
- Member, Student Success Committee (2019-2021)
- Conference Chair, Adult Higher Education Alliance (2018-2020)
HONORS & AWARDS
Diversity and Inclusive Excellence Award, URI (2020), Graduate School Diversity Award, URI (2017-2018), Black Scholars Award for Excellence in Graduate Studies, URI (2017), Micheline Dufau Teaching Prize, UMass Amherst (2007), Sebastyen Rostas Prize for Excellence in French, Mount Holyoke College (2002)