Welcome back to another powerful episode of Black. Girl. Iowa., where we share the voices, stories, and experiences of Black Iowans who are leading the way for change.
In Episode 11, I had the honor of sitting down with Dr. Keyah Levy, the inaugural Vice President for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Simpson College — my alma mater. Not only is Dr. Levy a trailblazer in higher education, but she is also a fierce advocate for Black women, community empowerment, and real change when it comes to DEI in Iowa.
This conversation couldn’t have come at a better time, especially as DEI initiatives are under attack nationwide, including right here in Iowa.
Meet Dr. Keyah Levy: From Waterloo to Simpson College
Dr. Levy is a first-generation college graduate raised in Waterloo, Iowa, by parents who moved north from Mississippi during the Great Migration. Her story is deeply rooted in community — from growing up in a predominantly Black neighborhood, being involved in church and athletics, to serving on boards like the NAACP, YWCA, and Human Rights Commission.
As she shared:
“I wanted to pour back into my community what had been poured into me… and provide a positive role model for Black girls coming up.”
This spirit of giving back led her to pursue a PhD in Education and Student Affairs Administration — with a dissertation titled “Hear Our Voices”, focusing on the experiences of Black women at predominantly white institutions (PWIs).
Why DEI Work Matters More Than Ever
As Iowa and other states move to eliminate DEI offices and initiatives from public universities, Dr. Levy explained why her role — and DEI work in general — is crucial:
“DEI is everyone’s job. It needs to be intentional. And there are systemic efforts that need to be addressed when it comes to hiring, recruitment, and retention of students, faculty, and staff of color.”
She also shared insight on how DEI has been unfairly reduced to conversations about “white guilt”, when in reality, DEI is about creating opportunities for all people, including poor white students, first-gen students, and those with disabilities or other marginalized identities:
“Under no circumstance has DEI ever excluded anyone.”
Wins and Challenges at Simpson College
As the first person to hold the DEI VP role at Simpson, Dr. Levy is building the blueprint from scratch — and she’s made some powerful changes:
✅ Hiring Reforms & DEI Training
Every search committee now undergoes bias training modules and must debrief with Dr. Levy or faculty leaders before reviewing applications:
“It’s about ensuring we’re not just checking a box but actually hiring people who are committed to DEI.”
✅ Bias Reporting System
Dr. Levy led the creation of a bias incident reporting system for students, faculty, and staff — giving people a safe way to report incidents and ensuring real accountability.
✅ Policy Development
From religious observance accommodations to symbols of hate policies, her office has created important policies to protect students and foster inclusion.
✅ First-Year Curriculum on DEI
Simpson revamped its first-year courses to include DEI-focused discussions and books, like Bias by Jennifer Eberhardt, helping students explore topics like systemic racism, policing, redlining, and identity.
Why DEI is Under Attack — And Why We Must Fight Back
In one of the most powerful parts of our conversation, Dr. Levy broke down why DEI is under attack:
“DEI has become synonymous with Blackness. But DEI is for everyone. And it’s also under attack because some people in power don’t want to give up control or see others have access and agency.”
We also discussed how over 100 pieces of legislation in 30+ states are threatening DEI programs — including Iowa’s SF 2435, which mandates the removal of DEI offices from state universities.
Advice for Black Women & Future DEI Leaders
When asked what advice she has for other Black women passionate about DEI work, Dr. Levy shared:
1. “Network and build social capital.”
2. “Volunteer and get involved with local organizations — even small ones.”
3. “Do your own self-work. Just because you’re a person of color doesn’t automatically make you equipped for this work — you need training, learning, and growth.”
4. “Know that DEI is a marathon, not a sprint. It’s a continuous journey, not a destination.”
She emphasized that DEI work is hard, emotional, and constant, but also necessary and rewarding.
Final Thoughts: Why We Must Keep Going
As I reflected on this conversation, one thing stood out:
“Understanding diversity, equity, and inclusion is a lifelong journey. And right now, it’s more important than ever that we keep fighting for these spaces, these conversations, and these students.”
Though the attacks on DEI are disheartening, people like Dr. Levy give me hope — hope that there are still leaders out there fighting to make Iowa, and the world, more inclusive.
💥 Thank you, Dr. Keyah Levy, for being a trailblazer and role model — and for fighting to ensure that ALL students feel seen, heard, and valued.
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