La-Tarri Canty
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La-Tarri Canty is associate dean for community life and inclusivity. She oversees the Office of Pluralism and Leadership and the Native American Program, and the William Jewett Tucker and leads institution-wide diversity, equity, and inclusivity professional development initiatives for Community and Campus Life.
Most recently, Canty served as associate dean for intercultural engagement and director of the SPXCE Intercultural Center at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Over ten years at MIT, she held a variety of roles, including as inaugural director of multicultural programs and assistant director of student activities, interim assistant dean of student leadership and development, director of student activities, and assistant dean of multicultural programs. Appointed associate dean in 2018, she led the strategic planning process for the Office of Multicultural Programs, the Intercultural Center, and the Office of LGBTQ+ Services, among other accomplishments.
Canty earned her doctorate in education from Northeastern University and her master's in social science with concentrations in student affairs personnel and diversity from Binghamton University. She completed her bachelor's degree in English at State University of New York at Oneonta after earning an associate's degree in elementary education at City University of New York.
She began her career in student affairs as a residence hall director, first at SUNY Morrisville and later at SUNY Oneonta. She spent five years as assistant director of student life and engagement at the University of South Florida, where she spearheaded the creation of a multicultural center.
Canty calls the work of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) "my purpose and call." "It is important to me that every student have the appropriate resources and opportunity to thrive while completing their degree," she says. "My approach is to listen, build relationships, serve as a bridge to connect folks, and provide educational opportunities. I see value in all stories and perspectives and believe that all members of our community play a role in creating a sense of belonging for all students."