Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging Workshop

Aronté Bennett, Associate Dean of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, Associate Professor of Marketing, Villanova University

Dr. Aronté Bennett is the Associate Dean of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and an Associate Professor of Marketing at Villanova University’s School of Business. She approaches the task of cultivating a more inclusive community through collaborative conversations, endeavoring to serve as an agent of positive agitation. She believes in the value of data, quantitative and anecdotal, as a valuable tool to measure progress. Her research focuses on marketplace access for vulnerable consumers, political marketing, and corporate social responsibility; it has been published in the Journal of Public Policy and Marketing, the Journal of Consumer Psychology, and the International Marketing Review. She received her BS and MBA from Florida A&M University, and her Ph.D. from New York University.

Randy S. Groomes, Director of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, Terry College of Business, University of Georgia

Randy Groomes serves as the Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at the University of Georgia’s Terry College of Business.  Experienced in both corporate and educational leadership, Mr. Groomes is known for developing innovative programs that leverage diversity at the intersection between interpersonal relations and the core disciplines of business. Since 2009, thousands of students have trained in the Beckham Workforce Diversity Series that he developed to prepare leaders to interact across differences and drive interpersonal team effectiveness.  Before accepting his position at UGA, he managed the P&L for a multi-state book of business for a national insurance carrier and held regional responsibilities for the diversity marketing efforts within the organization. He was tapped by the CEO to serve on the corporate advisory board that developed the company’s Corporate Diversity Plan which raised the company to a top 10 ranking on DiversityInc’s Top 50 list.

In 2004, Mr. Groomes was selected as a Regional Finalist for the White House Fellows Program which inspired him to be actively involved in community and business organizations including Toastmasters, Rotary Club, and the Commerce Club in Atlanta. He served as president for both the Fulton Parks Foundation and the Atlanta Association of Insurance Professionals and on the Boards of the United Way of Clayton County and the Atlanta Diversity Management Advocacy Group.  The Governor of Georgia honored his outstanding service to the state and the Insurance Commissioner appointed him to serve on a special advisory task force. The group led a successful initiative to increase diversity among independent insurance agents and provide access to affordable insurance to underserved communities. Recently, he help found the Business Schools Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Collaborative which serves as a resource for educators and industry leaders in the DEIB field.

Randy holds a BBA in Risk Management and Insurance and an MBA in Strategy from the University of Georgia. Randy and his wife are empty nesters and the proud parents of two adult daughters.