Dr. Don Sawyer

Don C. Sawyer III was born and raised in Harlem, New York. He is the son of two dedicated parents who saw education as a tool for generational transformation and limitless possibilities. A first-generation college student, Dr. Sawyer graduated from Hartwick College with a B.A. in Psychology in 1999. Driven to continue his education, Dr. Sawyer enrolled at Syracuse University, where he graduated with a Ph.D. in Sociology in 2013 after earning his M.A. in Sociology in 2008 and his M.S. in Cultural Foundations of Education in 2003.Dr. Sawyer is the inaugural Vice President for Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging at Fairfield University in Fairfield, CT. He is also a tenured associate professor in the Department of Sociology and Anthropology in the College of Arts and Sciences. He previously served as the Vice President for Equity and Inclusion and the Chief Diversity Officer at Quinnipiac University in Hamden, CT. Dr. Sawyer teaches courses exploring race, education, criminal justice, hip-hop culture, and social research methods.With more than 20 years of higher education experience, Dr. Sawyer has worked diligently to nurture healthy relationships between academic and student affairs. He understands that collaborative partnerships create an environment conducive to the successful recruitment, retention, education, and graduation of civically engaged students. He builds on this social consensus to connect with multiple populations and help institutions address complex issues with solutions that engage and empower all campus community members.