Prior to Governor Kelly’s appointment, Dr. DeAngela Burns-Wallace served as the Vice Provost for Undergraduate Studies at University of Kansas.
Dr. Burns-Wallace started her career as a Foreign Service Officer (FSO) with the U.S. Department of State. She served Foreign Service tours in Guangzhou and Beijing, China; Pretoria, South Africa; and in Washington D.C. She is also trained in French and Mandarin Chinese.
Dr. Burns-Wallace has been selected for various leadership opportunities, awards and honors throughout her higher ed and government career including being selected for the 2019 Leadership Kansas cohort, as a 2013-14 American Council on Education Emerging Leader, and as a University Innovation Alliance campus leader, participating in the 2018 White House Champions of Change College Opportunity, and earning a Superior Honor and three Meritorious Honor awards from the U.S. State Department.
In her work over the last few years she has delivered various keynotes and training around the country including her recent presentation at SXSW EDU on Utilizing Predictive Analytics and her 2018 “Ed Talk” entitled The Hidden Shame of Higher Education Administrators – Productivity. Dr. Burns-Wallace serves as a national trainer and curriculum developer for various national professional development organizations, non-profits, and higher ed institutions on issues ranging including micro-aggressions, multigenerational workplace differences, diversity and inclusion, change management, professional development pathways, and strategic planning.
Service is also a cornerstone of her journey. Dr. Burns-Wallace currently serves on Stanford University’s Board of Governors, and has previously held board roles in numerous local, regional, and national organization like the College Board, Heart of Missouri United Way, St. Louis Graduates as well as serving on national and international selection committees including Gates Millennium Scholars, Dell Foundation Scholars, and Rhodes, Marshall, and Fulbright fellowships. She is an active member of Alpha Kappa Alpha, Sorority Inc., a globally-impactful organization committed to servant-leadership in their communities.
Dr. Burns-Wallace holds a dual bachelor’s degree in International Relations and African American studies from Stanford University, a Master in Public Affairs from the Woodrow Wilson School of Public & International Affairs at Princeton University, and a doctorate in education from the University of Pennsylvania. Her research focuses on issues of access and success for students of color and low income students throughout higher education as well as equity-minded leadership. Dr. Burns-Wallace holds a courtesy associate professor appointment in KU’s Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies in the School of Education, as well as the Department of African and African-American Studies in the College of Liberal Arts & Sciences. Additional faculty appoints are held at the University of Southern California and the University of Missouri.
She is originally from Kansas City, Missouri and is the proud mother of 10 year old Xavier.