Chief Diversity Officer: Ainsley Thomas

As chief diversity officer, Ainsley acts as a community liaison for the college and oversees the following areas:

• Education and training initiatives on campus diversity;
• Student recruitment, enrollment and retention; and
• Employee recruitment and retention.

Earlier in his career, Ainsley was employed in state government, working as a Legislative Analyst for the New York State Senate Majority Office, where he focused on issues impacting higher education. He is also a certified teacher and taught social studies for seven years in the Albany City School District and at Bishop Maginn High School.

Ainsley is a graduate of LeMoyne College, where he received his bachelor’s degree in political science. He received his M.A. in political science and education from the SUNY Albany.

Ainsley currently serves as a board member at the Albany County District Attorney’s Felony Youth Diversion Program and the Capital District Educational Opportunity Center. He previously was a board member of the Independent Judicial Election Qualification Commission, a statewide network of independent screening panels for judicial candidates.

Ainsley has won numerous awards, including being a 2016 recipient of the “Outstanding Public Servant Award” from the Cameroonian Association of the Capital District, Inc. In addition, in 2018 he was awarded the “Adult Achiever Award” from the Capital District YMCA Black and Latino Achievers Program.

Statement from Ainsley Thomas

As the Chief Diversity Officer at Hudson Valley Community College, I recognize there are structural inequities within our communities and institutions. With the advent of social media, instances of excessive violence against people of color have brought enhanced awareness to this ongoing issue.

The Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion supports our brothers and sisters across all racial lines and gender expressions who are protesting peacefully and respectfully addressing the structural inequities in our criminal justice system, housing, education and systemic policies that are exclusive rather than inclusive.