Dr. Roger Cleveland

Dr. Roger Cleveland “has been at the forefront of equity and inclusion initiatives for over a decade. He has served as an equity advisor, and as a moderator, keynote and presenter at over 80 various conferences, forums and symposiums promoting diversity, equity and inclusion.”

Dr. Cleveland is widely sought after for his expertise in such areas as cultural proficiency, instructional equity, implicit bias and closing opportunity gaps. He has led staff development events for many school districts, social service agencies, state educational agencies and universities and has conducted training sessions addressing equity and inclusion issues from Alaska to Mississippi.

In academia, Dr. Cleveland has taught at Morehead State University, University of Kentucky, Middle Tennessee State University and Kentucky State University. He is currently a professor in the College of Education at Kentucky State University. Prior to moving into higher education, Dr. Cleveland was the Director of Instructional Equity and Federal Programs for the Kentucky Department of Education.

In 2013, Dr. Cleveland received the P.G. Peeples Equity and Excellence Achievement Award from the Fayette County Equity Council for his work in improving local schools. In 2014, Dr. Cleveland was inducted into the Kentucky Civil Rights Hall of Fame. Two years earlier, he was honored by the Kentucky Association of Blacks in Higher Education as Professor of the Year and was recognized as “Teachers Making a Difference at Eastern Kentucky University.”

Dr. Cleveland is also the associate director of the nationally recognized Black Males Working (BMW) Academy Program at First Baptist Church of Bracktown in Lexington, Kentucky. The Academy helps African American males prepare for colleges and careers through academics, leadership, mentoring, enrichment activities and college visits. He has also been actively involved with EKU’s Call Me MISTER Program, which encourages more African American males to enter the teaching profession. He was a member of the Fayette County Public Schools Equity Council until 2017.

Dr. Cleveland served two terms on the Kentucky Department of Education’s School Curriculum, Assessment and Accountability Council, and was appointed by Mayor Jim Gray to the Lexington-Urban County Human Rights Commission in 2014. Recently, Lexington-Fayette County Urban League honored Cleveland as “The Individual Champion for Diversity Award” at the League’s 48th annual Empowerment Banquet. The award recognizes an individual or business “that embraces, advocates and promotes equity and inclusion for all diverse people. He’s had audiences with North America Toyota Manufacturing Company, Ashland Oil, Valvoline and the U.S. Attorney’s Office, to name a Few.

He is the president and owner of Millennium Learning Concepts Educational Consulting Company.

He resides in Lexington, Kentucky with his wife, Audra and children, Maya, Taylor, and Dorian.