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Leo Wilton, professor of human development at the College of Community and Public Affairs, has been selected as a member of the third cohort of SUNY Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Social Justice Fellows.

The nine faculty fellows, selected from over 200 applications, will support other faculty in incorporating diversity, equity, inclusion and social justice into existing courses to meet DEISJ student learning outcomes in the General Education Framework.

“I have a longstanding commitment to addressing issues related to diversity, equity, inclusion and social justice (DEISJ) at the university level, community level and across professional associations,” Wilton said. “I am interested in supporting DEISJ curricular work in SUNY, including cultivating resources for developing and teaching general education DEISJ courses to support faculty, applying my research expertise in supporting the DEISJ general education survey implementation and facilitating DEISJ workshops. I would like to share my DEISJ experience and expertise as well as have opportunities for personal and professional growth related to these areas.”

The DEISJ Fellows program is open to all current SUNY full-time faculty. Preference is given to applicants who are scheduled to teach a DEISJ-designated course during the 2025-26 academic year; have experience with general education curriculum approval or assessment; have a record of working with organizations or initiatives on their home campus that demonstrate a commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion; and those who have professional experience with Title VI protections against discrimination and harassment.

“SUNY is committed to being a place of inclusion and equity for all, and all of our students must be prepared to succeed in diverse workplaces and communities,” SUNY Chancellor John King Jr. said. “Diversity, equity and inclusion is embedded in SUNY’s founding statute, and each of the 10 fellows’ accomplishments and expertise will help SUNY uphold its core principles and make sure students are well equipped for the future.”

Wilton is no stranger to DEI committees and social justice causes. Since joining the Binghamton faculty, he has taught social justice-focused general education courses, helped create and served on a university-wide Faculty-Senate Diversity Committee and chaired the Faculty-Senate Educational Opportunity Program (EOP) Committee for several years.

He is also a faculty advisor for Binghamton campus student groups, such as Supporting Overcoming Uplifting and Liberating (SOUL), an organization focused on Black mental health; has served as chairperson of the American Psychological Association (APA) Division 27 Society for Community Research and Action — Council on Cultural, Ethnic, and Racial Affairs (CERA) and the Association for Psychological Science (APS) Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee, as well as earned a number of awards for educational excellence.

As an African American clinical psychologist and a first-generation college student, Wilton aims to help foster a DEISJ community of practice within the SUNY system, focusing on student-centered learning connected to critical reflexive practice. He believes this is critically valuable in building a DEISJ community of practice.

So far, the fellows have hit the ground running, by supporting faculty in updating and developing courses that fulfill the DEISJ general education requirement; developing resources and providing support for DEISJ curricular matters; and surveying DEISJ implementation. They will further grow a community of practice on DEISJ curricular issues across the SUNY system and within their campuses by instituting “Office Hours with a Fellow” and providing a forum for face-to-face questions and connection, among other initiatives.

Fellows will also participate in the SUNY General Education Conference, scheduled for April 9-10, 2026, in Saratoga Springs, N.Y. This conference aims to bring educators together to share their expertise in teaching, research, course development and assessment within the General Education Framework. Its goal is to enhance student learning through innovative approaches, promote the exchange of ideas and facilitate networking to build communities of practice.

“Each day that I teach feels like a new beginning, because I am filled with so much passion as I work collaboratively with students, both inside and outside the classroom, in multiple contexts,” Wilton said. “My life has been enriched by the quality of the experiences that I have had with my students and colleagues over the years. My hope and vision are that students will take up the work of engaging in social justice and transforming their communities.”