Rhonda Sutton

Rhonda Sutton, PhD, serves as the Director of Leadership Programs for NC State University's College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS) and holds an adjunct faculty appointment in the Department of Agricultural and Human Sciences. With 19+ years in university administration and 17 years as an adjunct professor, she specializes in leadership development, team dynamics, and professional growth. She earned a BS in Business Administration from Appalachian State University, and both her M.Ed and PhD in Counselor Education from NC State.

• Leadership roles include former Director of NC State's Women's Center, first Director of the Postdoc Office, and Assistant Vice Provost for Equity.
• Certifications: Mediator, Licensed Professional Counselor, and administrator of EQ-i, DISC, Gallup Strengths, Crucial Conversations, and other assessments.

Her programs like the Agricultural Leadership Learning Institute (ALLI) and Academy to Advance Leadership within Extension (AALE) train thousands annually across CALS communities. Current initiatives focus on scaling postdoc equity pathways through NSF-funded projects.

• Awards: 2005 & 1990 Distinguished Performance Awards
• Notable Grant: NSF INCLUDES Alliance ($61K) advancing STEM equity for underrepresented postdocs