Office Hours with John Gardner
We are searching for big ideas that inspire hope and action in higher education around institutional transformation and innovation to advance student success and more equitable student outcomes. Joining John Gardner are higher education leaders and other relevant persons of interest who will discuss innovation and strategies that improve higher education.The Gardner Institute, a 24-year-old non-profit, has been at the forefront of innovation in higher education; our mission very clearly connects us to the broader societal efforts to increase social justice.The Gardner Institute connects with thousands of professionals in the higher education ecosystem; through a wide array of activities such as Transformative Conversations, the Teaching and Learning Academy, and the Socially Just Design Series, and through our work as an Intermediary for Scale supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. As a leader in the student success movement in higher education, we strive to provide support for institutions interested in social justice and institutional transformation.
Office Hours with John Gardner
Tonya Bailey- Community Partnerships
Dr. Tonya C. Bailey(she/her/hers) is an accomplished executive leader with over 25 years of experience in higher education and corporate settings, leading transformative programming, and implementing award-winning diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, coaching, & teaching services.
Dr. Bailey is a sought-after speaker, workshop presenter, life coach, and inclusionist skilled in engaging diverse audiences by creating environments that accommodate the diverse needs of everyone.
Her professional experiences include serving in executive-level roles such as President Advisor, Vice President of Operations, Chief Diversity Officer, Program Director for Student Success, Lead Faculty, and Curriculum Development Director. Currently, she serves as the Associate Dean for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) and Community Engagement at Oakland University William Beaumont School of Medicine, where she also serves as an Assistant Professor in the Department of Foundational Medical Studies. She earned her Ph.D. in the Higher Educational Leadership program at Central Michigan University, received her master’s degree in public administration from the University of Michigan, and obtained her Bachelor of Science in Mass Communications.
Dr. Bailey is the CEO of her consulting business, TCB Consulting LLC. TCB Consulting, Inc. is a boutique executive/team coaching, corporate strategy practice, and professional development service. Founded in 2011 with a dual mission: to serve the most critical challenges faced by organizations and their leaders and to address professional development from the only place it works: from the inside out, TCB Consulting’s purpose is to make individuals and organizations wildly successful.
In addition to her professional career, Dr. Bailey is a podcast host, a licensed realtor, and a recording artist. She also serves the community in numerous capacities, including as Executive Board Member of the Michigan Health Council, National Association of Diversity Officers in Higher Education (NADOHE) Board Member, Michigan Coronavirus Taskforce on Racial Disparities Michigan Racial Disparities, and the Community-Based Organization Partners - Community Ethics Review Board. She was recently elected to the American Association of Medical Colleges (AAMC) Group on the Diversity and Inclusion Steering Committee, overseeing the entire Central Region for the association. The organizer and founder of Women in Power (WIP), an Annual two-day empowerment Summit for women and teens attracts over 300 attendees annually. Her mentoring program, Women Inspiring Scholarship and Empowerment (WISE), expands across three Michigan cities and supports college-age students.
In February 2023, Dr. Bailey launched national quarterly empowerment breakfast meetings entitled “The Renaissance of Women” to provide a safe space for women to retool, reassess, and refresh their skills. This fall, she will host Women Empowerment Sessions for women in leadership roles to further their professional development and help them realize their dreams. Dr. Bailey received the 2022 Michigan ACE (American Council on Education) Network Distinguished Woman in Higher Education Leadership Award. Dr. Tonya Bailey is cited for her efforts on behalf of the human need for community, connection, and belonging. She has founded and led several programs throughout Michigan focusing on leadership, entrepreneurship, mentoring, and inspiring women.
As a Certified Diversity Executive (CDE) ®, Dr. Bailey is a cultural diversity resource in any organization and lives by the motto, “You don’t become great until you make someone else greater!”
