About

Kemal Atkins, EdD is an accomplished higher education leader with more than 25 years of experience in institutional leadership and a deep expertise in enrollment management, student success, governance, strategic planning, and organizational development. As a consultant at the Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges (AGB), Atkins works with institutions across the country to implement transformative practices in business model innovation, revenue growth, change management, and board development.

In his previous roles, Atkins served as vice president at both Keene State College and Delaware State University. He has also held leadership positions at East Carolina University, the University of North Carolina System Office, and Appalachian State University and was the founding director of ThinkCOLLEGE, a college access program of Communities In Schools, Charlotte-Mecklenburg. Throughout his career, Atkins has demonstrated an ability to build and lead high-performing teams, improve institutional effectiveness, and achieve equitable student outcomes. His strategic leadership has led to increased revenue through innovative enrollment strategies, fundraising, and entrepreneurship.

Atkins is also a passionate educator and currently serves as an adjunct associate professor of educational leadership at Delaware State University. His classroom work integrates his professional expertise and scholarly research, providing students with valuable insights into higher education leadership.
In addition to his work in higher education, Atkins is an advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion. He has developed and implemented college-wide initiatives to promote these values, fostering environments where students from all backgrounds can thrive.

Currently, Atkins serves on the board of directors of San Francisco Bay University, where he continues to lend his expertise to institutional governance and strategic direction.

Professional Credentials

Atkins holds a BA and MA in English from Appalachian State University and an EdD in educational leadership from Delaware State University. He is also an alumnus of several prestigious leadership development programs, including the American Academic Leadership Institute’s Executive Leadership Academy and Gavin de Becker & Associates’ Advanced Threat Assessment and Management Institute. In addition, Atkins holds an Executive Coaching Certification from the Center for Executive Coaching and is a fellow of the North Carolina Education Policy Fellowship Program (EPFP).