Dr. Candice Bledsoe is an internationally recognized expert in the area of leadership, diversity, and inclusion. She is the Chief Global Diversity and Inclusion Officer for the Action Research Center in Dallas, Texas. She is a professor and holds appointments at Penn State University, the Center for the Study of Higher Education, Anti-Racist Leadership Academy, SMU Cox School of Business, and Hunt Institute of Engineering and Humanity.

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The United Nations honored Dr. Bledsoe for with the UN Global Leadership Award for Sustainable Goal 4: Quality Education for her tireless efforts to increase access to education and school enrollment rates at all levels, particularly for  girls. In 2023, She received the Athena International Leadership Award for closing the wealth gap for underrepresented groups. Dr. Bledsoe was named aTop 100 Global Leader by the Global Diversity Council for her exceptional leadership qualities.

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Dr. Bledsoe has published many articles and received numerous fellowships including: The National Endowment of Humanities, the New Leadership Academy, National Center of Institutional Diversity, University of Michigan, the Boone Family Foundation,  and Dallas Public Voices. ​She has delivered hundreds of keynote speeches across the world.

 

Dr. Bledsoe received her Doctorate in Education from University Southern California.  She also holds degrees from Baylor and Southern Methodist University.