Dr. Gregory J. Vincent (J.D. Ohio State, Ed.D. Pennsylvania) is a national expert on civil rights, social justice, and campus culture. For over three decades, he served as an award-winning professor of law and education, attorney, consultant, executive officer, and CEO. He is CEO and co-founder of Vincent Strategies, a global consulting firm focused on inclusive excellence, strategic planning, compliance, community engagement, and philanthropy. He also owns Gregory Vincent Law LLC, a civil rights, education, labor, and employment law firm.

Since 2018, Vincent Strategies has successfully assisted several clients to meet and exceed their strategic goals, including public and private educational institutions, research and policy institutes, membership organizations, public and private law firms, corporations, and nonprofits. He has presented over 500 continuing legal education seminars, keynote addresses, and panel discussions on civil rights, employment, and education law issues in 35 states and countries in Africa, the Americas, Asia, the Caribbean, and Europe. See the presentations page. Vincent has served as a book editor and lead author on several publications. He managed several annual budgets up to $100 million and has raised close to $50 million in external funding. A dedicated philanthropist, Vincent has donated close to a million dollars to several impactful organizations promoting educational excellence, civil rights and healthy communities. Read more about recent renovation and endowment gifts.

Vincent most recently served as the 21st President of Talladega College from 2022-2024. In a challenging higher education environment, he led a team that enrolled two of the most academically talented classes in school history while also continuing to serve as a national leader in social mobility. He also improved co-curricular offerings by reinstating the Honors Program, introducing the award-winning eSports, Battle of the Brains, and Hackathon teams, and rightsizing the Top Ten HBCU Band. The Gulf Coast Athletic Conference (HBCU Conference) awarded Talladega its prestigious All Sports Thomas Howell Cup for the 2023-2024 season. He also led the efforts to forge a strategic partnership with the Smithsonian American Art Museum and three key academic programs completed accreditation processes. A record number of donors contributed to Talladega from 2022 to 2024.

From 2020-2022 Vincent served for nearly three years as a professor of educational policy and law and the inaugural Executive Director of the Education and Civil Rights Initiative at the University of Kentucky. During his tenure, he hosted two national conferences and several webinars on civil rights and education law, taught K-12 and higher education law classes, and led a team that completed a comprehensive equity audit for a Kentucky public school district and report.

For 12 years, Vincent served as Vice President, W.K. Kellogg Professor, and Professor of Law at the University of Texas-Austin. His portfolio was comprised of a $50 million budget and 40 units, including the first Texas university-sponsored public charter school system, the statewide University Interscholastic League, the Hogg Foundation for Mental Health, the Office of Institutional Equity that investigated Title IX and employment discrimination complaints, five outreach centers across the state and a community engagement center in East Austin. As director of the Thematic Faculty Hire Initiative, he partnered with colleges, schools, and departments to hire over 60 faculty members in underrepresented academic areas. The Longhorn Center for Academic Excellence helped improve first-generation and underrepresented students’ first-year retention rate to 93%. Read the announcement and ten-year report.

Vincent led the effort for the University to achieve the Carnegie Classification for Community Engagement and the Diversity Champion Award from Insight Magazine. He taught K-12 and higher education law courses and was recognized as Professor of the Year by the Thurgood Marshall Legal Society. Vincent served as university spokesperson and helped develop the legal strategy for the United Supreme Court case Fisher v. University of Texas. He chaired the task force that recommended the removal of the confederate statues from the Main Mall and the name of a Ku Klux Klan leader from a residence hall. Vincent helped lead the effort to fully support undocumented students and vigorously fight antisemitism, anti-Muslim and other forms of hate on campus and in the community. Also while at UT Austin, Vincent chaired the Equity and Student-Athlete Well-being Committee as part of a year-long campus wide study of UT Men’s and Women’s Athletics as part of the Division 1 NCAA certification. He chaired the UT Chief Financial Officer search, where the incumbent managed a $2.87 Billion budget.

Vincent also served as a national leader for the My Brother’s Keeper Initiative and partnered with the White House, the city of Austin, Texas and Travis County, and other cities across the country to develop and implement mentoring strategies for African American boys and young men. See The Sigma Pi Phi Guide to Mentoring for Young Black Male Excellence, A Case Study in Social Action and Excellence, Pathways to Young Black Male Excellence and The Handbook of Research on Black Males.

During the 11 years before becoming Vice President and Professor at the University of Texas- Austin, Vincent held increasingly more responsible roles at three public flagship universities. He served as executive officer, vice provost, and law professor at Louisiana State University (LSU) and the University of Oregon, teaching education and employment law classes. As Vice Provost at both universities, he served on the President’s Cabinet and Dean’s Council. At LSU, Vincent was Vice Provost of Academic Affairs and Campus Diversity and managed a budget of nearly $69 million.   At LSU he oversaw 230 full-time employees and 200 part-time employees and the activities of the Division of Continuing Education, Division of International Programs, the Academic Center for Student-Athletes, Fire and Emergency Training Institute, Office of Multicultural Affairs, and the Women’s Center.

Vincent served as Assistant Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs, at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, conducting all high-profile investigations, taught and helped overhaul the labor and employment law curriculum as a law lecturer. Vincent also led a ten-month study of HR and diversity issues as part of the university’s accreditation project and established the Leadership Institute, which is still in existence today.

Before entering academia, Vincent joined the Ohio Attorney General’s Office as an assistant attorney general. In that position, he successfully argued precedent-setting civil rights cases before the Supreme Court of Ohio that set the standard for proving a Bona Fide Occupational Qualification (BFOQ) in Ohio and established the extraterritorial jurisdiction of the Commission. These cases included Little Forest Medical Center v. The Civil Rights Commission and State, ex Rel Natalina v. Civil Rights Commission. He secured over a million dollars in settlements and judgments for complainants and won all appeals cases in Ohio courts.

Vincent was promoted to Cleveland Regional Director and then Legal and Regional Affairs Director for the Ohio Civil Rights Commission, where he and his team successfully investigated over 4000 civil rights investigations and helped Ohio state law become substantially equivalent to federal law. Later, as vice president at Bank One, a subsidiary of a Fortune 50 Company, he represented the Bank before several agencies, including the Ohio Civil Rights Commission (OCRC), Ohio State Employment Relations Board, Ohio Unemployment Compensation Review Commission, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), and the Office Fair Contract and Compliance (OFCCP). Vincent also worked for two summers as an associate with Robinson & McElwee, a Charleston, West Virginia corporate law firm before his appointment as an Ohio Assistant Attorney General.

Vincent, the son of first-generation Americans and college graduates, attended New York City public schools, graduated from the Bronx High School of Science, and was recognized as a notable Alumnus. He competed as a student-athlete, earned a Bachelor of Arts in History and Economics, and was presented the Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Leadership Award at his graduation from Hobart and William Smith Colleges. Vincent was also awarded a 2023 alumnus citation and recognized as a notable alumnus. Vincent served as president at his alma mater where he managed a budget of $100 million and developed with Board approval the Path Forward Agenda, which strengthened co-curricular opportunities for students, reduced the budget deficit, and enrolled one of the largest classes in school history. He previously served on the HWS board of trustees.

Vincent received his Juris Doctor from The Ohio State University Moritz College of Law, where he was recognized as a notable alumnus. He received the 2012 Service Award and the 2022 Inclusive Excellence Award and, since 2008, has served on the National Advisory Council. He also received his doctorate from the University of Pennsylvania, where he was named the 2016 Educator of the Year.

Vincent was unanimously elected as the 48th Grand Sire Archon (CEO and Chairman 2018-2020) of Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity Inc., founded in 1904 as the first African American Greek letter organization and now comprised of 144 member boules across the United States, the United Kingdom, and the Caribbean. See the UNCF article. He is a life member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., founded in 1906 at Cornell University as the first intercollegiate African American Fraternity. From 2016-2020 he served as chair of the fraternity’s Commission on Racial Justice and currently serves as Chair of the Educational Activities Committee. He has chaired several boards, including the Standing Committee of the Episcopal Diocese of Texas, St. James’ Episcopal Church Vestry, Communities in Schools of Central Texas, and the Austin Area Urban League.

Vincent has received over 100 awards for his professional and community service. The Cities of Austin, Texas; Baton Rouge, Louisiana; Toledo, Ohio; Louisville, Kentucky; and Detroit, Michigan, awarded him proclamations. In 2023, Vincent was inducted into the HBCU Pre-Law Hall of Fame for his sustained commitment to increasing access to law school for underrepresented students. In 2019, he was named a Kentucky Colonel, the highest title of honor bestowed by the Governor of Kentucky.

Vincent is licensed to practice law in Ohio and West Virginia and is a member of the American Bar Association, the Ohio State Bar Association, and the West Virginia State Bar Association. For ten years, he served as a certified civil rights mediator. He currently serves as senior counsel to the National Diversity Council (2018- present).

Kim Wilson Vincent (J.D. Louisiana State University), COO, and co-founder is an award-winning attorney, civic leader, DEI expert, and nationally recognized child and women’s welfare advocate.  Vincent earned her DEI certificate from Cornell University and is a certified mediator. As a founding partner of Vincent Strategies and founder of the Wilson Vincent Law, PLLC, she brings her two decades of experience as a successful entrepreneur and law firm owner to direct the business operations, case management, and client outreach for Vincent Strategies.

She is also the lead Vincent Strategies facilitator for gender and equity conversations, an experienced strategic planner, and a skilled facilitator. Vincent Strategies is a global consulting firm focused on inclusive excellence, strategic planning, compliance, community engagement, and philanthropy. Since 2018, Vincent Strategies has successfully assisted several clients in meeting and exceed their strategic goals, including public and private educational institutions, research and policy institutes, membership organizations, public and private law firms, corporations, and nonprofits.

In 2017, the Texas Governor commissioned Kim Wilson Vincent as a Yellow Rose of Texas for her longstanding commitment to community service and, in her capacity as a lawyer, the pursuit of justice for children, women, and indigent clients, child advocacy, leadership in the arts, and distinguished community service. The Yellow Rose of Texas is a coveted award given only through the Office of the Governor of Texas. It recognizes Texas women for their significant contributions to their communities and Texas. Vincent was also named 2016 Profiles of Prominence Honoree in Law by the Austin Metroplex Chapter of the National Women of Achievement, Inc. 

Through her legal practice and volunteer activities, Vincent has worked with various communities throughout Travis County. She is an active member of The Links Inc. and Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Inc. As the former chancellor of St. James’ Episcopal School and vestry member of St. James’ Episcopal Church, she donated generously of her time and resources. Vincent also served on the Executive Committee as Vice President of the Development for Mexic-Arte Museum from 2010-2022.

Vincent is currently involved in numerous national, state, and county cohorts focused on domestic violence prevention and child welfare work. She serves on the board of Improving Racial Equity Across Courthouses project (IREACh), working with the National Resource Center on Violence Against Women in the Black Community (Ujima Inc.) and the Center for Justice Innovation (CJI). Additionally, Vincent is an expert on Ujima’s Domestic Violence Fatality Review Project.  

Vincent also served as a board member at the Capital Area AIDS Legal Project. She volunteered at legal clinics serving AIDS Services of Austin clients, assisting with everything from housing discrimination complaints to estate planning. She has been significantly involved in court-appointed work, child protective services, mentoring young women, and art education in the local public schools. 

Additionally, Vincent has been involved in numerous national, state, and county cohorts focused on domestic violence and child welfare work. These include the Battered Women’s Justice Project, the Women of Color Leadership Cohort Project, and Texas Working at the Intersections for Safe Families. The cohorts met regularly to discuss the roles of stakeholders in the domestic violence and child welfare spaces and how those areas intersect. The cohorts worked to find ways to improve outcomes for the families impacted by both domestic violence and child welfare by reimagining how the system could be better and by having honest conversations about how these systems disproportionately impact families of color. 

She was a 2020-2021 fellow on the Marketplace of Ideas Advisory Committee. This virtual series curated and produced actionable ideas that set the agenda in child welfare/domestic violence prevention. Vincent served as Continuing Legal Education co-chair and board member for the Court Appointed Family Attorney Board. 

Vincent was born in New Orleans and raised in Houma, Louisiana. She earned her bachelor’s and law degrees from Louisiana State University.

Expertise: Community Engagement, Communications, Strategic Planning, Management

Erica Saenz is a skilled executive officer who most recently served as Chief Operating Officer at Waterloo Greenway. She has extensive experience in community engagement, communications, management, strategic planning, and fine arts programming and development.

Saenz served as Chief Operating Officer at Waterloo Greenway Conservancy from 2020-2025 and oversaw organizational and park operations, communications, community engagement, human resources and programming. Waterloo Greenway is a 1.5-mile urban park system supported by a public-private partnership with the City of Austin and. Once complete, the 35 acres of connected green space will be home to an array of natural and cultural destinations. The park system is being planned, designed, and built in three phases of geographic milestones. Phase 1 opened in August of 2021 and includes Waterloo Park and the Moody Amphitheater. Phase 2 construction broke ground in 2023 and Phase 3 is in the planning and design process.

Seanz has done consulting work with the City of Austin, the Hispanic Alliance for the Performing Arts, the Indigenous Cultures Institute, the Mexican American Cultural Center, Teatro Vivo, the Texas Exes Alumni Association and The Hispanic Alliance, among others.

In previous roles, Saenz served as Associate Vice President for Community and External Relations and Associate Vice President for Assessment and Strategic Planning at the University of Texas at Austin.

Saenz was born in the Rio Grande Valley and moved to Austin in 1993 to attend UT Austin. She holds a BA from UT Austin and an MFA from UCLA. Erica is an alum of Leadership Austin and Leadership Texas. Her board and service commitments include Austin Soundwaves, Community Advancement Network, Goodwill Industries of Central Texas, I Live Here I Give Here, Restore Rundberg, Somos Austin, Texas Exes Hispanic Alumni Network, Texas Exes Alumni Association Network Advisory Board, The Hispanic Alliance and The Long Center for the Performing Arts.

Expertise: Name, Image, Likeness; Philanthropy, Strategic Planning and Social Action

Ludwig P. Gaines, JD, is the co-founder and practice leader of the Vincent Strategies NIL group specializing in empowering colleges and universities to navigate the complexities of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) regulations while maximizing opportunities for their student-athletes and athletic programs. Ludwig is a seasoned leader with a distinguished career spanning government, higher education, private sector, legal advocacy, and nonprofit leadership. 

Ludwig Gaines is a seasoned leader with a distinguished career spanning government, higher education, private sector, legal advocacy, and nonprofit leadership. With a deep commitment to equity and social justice, Ludwig has earned a reputation as a dynamic strategist and bridge-builder, adept at advancing organizational missions through strategic planning, partnership development, and transformational fundraising.

Ludwig’s public service career includes both elected and appointed roles in government. As a former member of the Alexandria City Council, he worked to champion policies promoting diversity, economic opportunity, affordable housing, community empowerment and access to essential services for all constituents. His tenure in public office is complemented by a range of appointed leadership positions, where he has advised on critical issues including housing equity, criminal justice reform, health equity, and community development.

In higher education, Ludwig has been a tireless advocate for access and inclusion. Currently serving as a member of the Board of Trustees at Hobart and William Smith Colleges (HWS), he plays a key role on the financial management, advancement, and student experience committees. His efforts have supported innovative programs to improve the educational experience, promote student success, and foster a more equitable learning environment. They’ve also resulted in record fundraising giving and sustainability for HWS.

As an accomplished legal professional, Ludwig has leveraged his expertise to address systemic inequities and advocate for underrepresented communities. His legal career includes roles in both the public and private sectors, where he has focused on antitrust law, civil rights, housing law, and community empowerment initiatives.

Ludwig’s extensive strategic planning, coalition building and partnership development skills have been instrumental in driving organizational growth and impact. Over his career, he has forged relationships with foundations, corporations, community organizations and government agencies, securing multimillion-dollar investments and launching initiatives that deliver measurable outcomes. His fundraising expertise spans major donor cultivation, campaign management, and innovative approaches to donor engagement, including estate planning and transformative gifts.

Whether leading policy change, advancing educational equity, or driving nonprofit success, Ludwig remains committed to servant leadership and creating opportunities for others. His unique blend of government, legal, and nonprofit experience, combined with his ability to build coalitions and deliver results, makes him a highly effective and visionary leader.

Leslie Blair is the Vincent Strategies Chief Communications Officer and owns Asher-Blair Communications in Austin, Texas.

Blair served as Executive Director of Communications for the Division of Diversity and Community Engagement for 12 years. She led a team of five communication professionals who oversaw more than 60 websites, several newsletters, and a print magazine.

While at UT Austin, Blair worked on numerous special projects including the unveiling of the Barbara Jordan statue, the memorial for 1968 Tower shooting, and on projects such as the renaming of a residence hall and relocating Confederate statues on campus. She was co-editor of As We Saw It: The History of Integration at the University of Texas at Austin, published by UT Press. Blair continues to work with UT Elementary School, a public charter school in Austin, as a volunteer for their communications and fundraising efforts.

Prior to working at the University of Texas, Blair worked as a Communications Associate and Project Director at Southwest Regional Education Laboratory, which provided training and technical assistance to school districts in a seven-state area through the federal Regional Educational Laboratory and Comprehensive Assistance Center grants.

During that time, Blair helped produce numerous toolkits and trainings for public school educators and administrators. She was also the editor of SEDL’s award-winning magazine for K-12 educators and edited several books on leadership and change during her 10-year tenure there.

Blair previously worked as a newspaper reporter, a communications coordinator at New Mexico State University’s Water Resources Research Institute, and a membership coordinator at the Texas Association of School Boards.

Blair holds a bachelor’s degree in Journalism and a master’s degree in English, with a concentration in Professional and Technical Communications.

Jason Molin, Chief Information and Innovation Officer, is a seasoned communications strategist with a two-decade track record of transforming digital landscapes in higher education. Shortly after graduating with a philosophy degree from New York University, he moved from his native Washington D.C. to Austin, Texas, where he has lived ever since. Molin studied and taught at UT Austin’s School of Information before launching his career at the university.

He began as the first Web Editor for the McCombs School of Business, where he launched two online magazines and pioneered blogging to connect prospective students with authentic student voices. Molin then joined the Division of Diversity and Community Engagement as their first dedicated Webmaster, expanding their web presence from one site to over 50. As Director of Digital Communications, he significantly grew the division’s digital footprint, engaging tens of thousands of community members monthly through websites, newsletters, and social media. His innovative approach earned him several accolades, including the President’s Exemplary Service Award and the Vice President’s Excellence Award.

Most recently, Molin served as Executive Director of Communications for the Division of Campus and Community Engagement at UT Austin. In this role, he oversaw communications for a 400+ person division, leading a team of creative professionals to craft compelling content across various media. As Director, he helped launch and implement You Belong Here, the University’s blueprint for incorporating equity and inclusion into the president’s strategic plan. He specialized in aligning messaging with UT’s brand and strategic goals, ensuring accessibility and engagement across all platforms. His expertise spans from traditional print media to cutting-edge digital formats, always with a focus on user experience and stakeholder needs.

Throughout his career, Molin has demonstrated a passion for connecting organizations with their communities through authentic communication. His philosophy background, combined with his technical skills and deep understanding of UT Austin’s culture, allows him to craft narratives that resonate with diverse audiences. Whether managing complex web ecosystems or developing innovative marketing campaigns, Molin consistently delivers results that elevate brand prominence and build meaningful community connections.