Keith Jenkins Headshot

Keith Jenkins

Vice President and Associate Provost for Access, Engagement, and Success

Access, Engagement, and Success
kbjgpt@rit.edu
585-475-6795
Office Location
EAS-7048
Office Mailing Address
George Eastman Building 12 Lomb Memorial Drive Rochester NY

Keith Jenkins

Vice President and Associate Provost for Access, Engagement, and Success

Access, Engagement, and Success

Education

BA, University of Arkansas; MA, Ph.D., Florida State University

Bio

Since joining the Department of Communication at RIT in 1992, Professor Jenkins, in addition to his current role as Vice President ; Associate Provost for Diversity & Inclusion, has also served as RIT Faculty-in-Residence (1993 – 1995), RIT’s first Assistant Provost for Diversity (1999 – 2002), Director of Undergraduate Degree Programs in the School of Communication (2011 – 2016), and Interim Vice President and Associate Provost, Division for Diversity & Inclusion (2016 - 2017).

Professor Jenkins is the recipient of many awards. Among the RIT awards are the 2010 Eisenhart Award for Outstanding Teaching, the 2005 Isaac L. Jordan Pluralism Award, the 2004 RIT Diversity Trailblazer Award, the 1993-94 Provost’s Excellence in Teaching Award, the 1996 and 1997 Higher Education Opportunity Program “Community Professor” awards which recognize a professor who has made a difference in the lives of HEOP students at RIT, and NTID’s (National Technical Institute for the Deaf) 1995 Pluralism Award.

Professor Jenkins’ scholarly publications and presentations center around studies in intercultural communication, political and visual rhetoric, and the rhetoric of gospel song. Most recently, the focus of his research has been on pragmatism and the rhetoric of inclusion in Barack Obama’s 2008 Presidential campaign.

kbjgpt@rit.edu
585-475-6795

Select Scholarship

Invited Article/Publication
Wick, David P. and Keith B. Jenkins. "Shaping an Institutional Narrative Around Diversity." INSIGHT Into Diversity. (2018). Print.
Published Article
Jenkins, Keith B., and Grant Cos. “A Time for Change and a Candidate’s Voice: Pragmatism and the Rhetoric of Inclusion in Barack Obama’s 2008 Presidential Campaign.” American Behavioral Scientist, 54.3 (2010): 184-202. Print.

Currently Teaching

COMM-304
Intercultural Communication
3 Credits
Intercultural communication provides an examination of the role of culture in face-to-face interaction. Students may find a basic background in communication, anthropology, or psychology useful.
COMM-306
Rhetoric Of Race Relations
3 Credits
Rhetoric of Race Relations examines the history of the struggle for freedom and equality for blacks in American society. This course traces the history and rhetoric of key spokespersons from the pre-Civil War period to the 20th century as evidenced in texts of selected public speeches and reactions to them.

In the News

  • September 11, 2025

    Higher Education and Distinction Champion Award logo

    RIT recognized for dedication to community and belonging

    RIT has been recognized with the Higher Education Excellence and Distinction (HEED) Champion Award, as announced by Insight Into Academia magazine. This marks the 12th consecutive year RIT has received the HEED Award and the 11th consecutive year of being named a champion.

  • September 4, 2025

    a timeline of events for rooted in community

    From RIT tunnels to City Hall, one student's quest to unearth student groups' impact

    Democrat and Chronicle speaks to Elizabeth Call, university archivist; Keith Jenkins, vice president and associate provost for the Division of Access, Engagement, and Success; and fourth-year student Kasim O’Meally about the history of the university's ALANA student clubs and organizations. (This content may require a subscription to view.)

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