Toby S. Jenkins

Dr. Toby S. Jenkins is a Professor of Higher Education Administration and Associate Provost for Faculty Development at the University of South Carolina. As a leading national expert on cultural inclusion and belonging, Jenkins has published six books. "My Culture, My Color, My Self: Heritage, Resilience and Community in the Lives of Young Adults" (Temple University Press, 2013) was named by the Association of American University Press to the list of "Top 100 Books for Understanding Race Relations in the US". Her forthcoming book, “The Hip-Hop Mindset: Success Strategies for Educators & Other Professionals” explores the professional values, practices, and beliefs found within hip-hop culture and translates them into critical leadership strategies. Prior to becoming a professor, Dr. Jenkins worked for 10 years as a student affairs administrator in the areas of Diversity & Inclusion, Student Leadership, Student Activities, Fraternity & Sorority Life, and Education Abroad. One of the campus-based programs that she created at the University of Maryland received a White House Award from the President of the United States and the Governor of Maryland and has run successfully on that campus for over 20 years. Her research, teaching, and professional studies have taken her to over 35 countries. Dr. Jenkins is a mom of a super-active 9 year old son, a wife, daughter, sister and friend. She is a breast cancer survivor who is also living with lupus. Culture, in the form of art, poetry, music, storytelling, elder wisdom, historical resilience, and street knowledge feeds her soul.