Arvenita Washington Cherry, Ph.D. (She/Her/Hers)
About Arvenita Washington Cherry, Ph.D. (She/Her/Hers)
Arvenita Washington Cherry, Ph.D., is the Vice President of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and President of the Maximus Foundation, with extensive experience in anthropology, education, and social justice initiatives.
Company
Arvenita Washington Cherry, Ph.D., serves as the Vice President of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and President of the Maximus Foundation. She began her tenure at Maximus in 2022, leading efforts to enhance the organization's commitment to fostering an inclusive environment. Previously, she held the role of Senior Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Maximus from 2020 to 2022.
Past Teaching Positions
Arvenita Washington Cherry has a rich teaching background. She served as an Adjunct Professor at the University of Maryland Global Campus from 2010 to 2022. Additionally, she held the position of Professorial Lecturer at American University and was a Post-Doctoral Fellow at the University of Maryland Baltimore County where she contributed to the Language, Literacy, and Culture and Africana Studies Departments from 2011 to 2013.
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Leadership
As Vice President of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Maximus, Arvenita Washington Cherry leads initiatives designed to create a more inclusive and equitable workplace. Her efforts have significantly impacted organizational culture, focusing on social justice and anti-racism work. These contributions have been recognized with the Top 50 DE&I Professional Award at the 2024 OnCon Icon Awards.
Museum and Cultural Work
Arvenita Washington Cherry has extensive experience in museum studies, particularly involving African American cultural history. She served as a History Keepers Program Coordinator and Scholar in Residence at Prince George's African American Museum and Cultural Center from 2011 to 2014. Her work in these roles focused on genealogy and the exploration of family histories and cultural heritage.
Educational Background
Arvenita Washington Cherry holds a Ph.D. in Anthropology with a concentration in Race, Gender, and Social Justice from American University. Additionally, she earned an M.A. in Public Anthropology from American University. She has a Master of Teaching (M.T.) in Teaching Middle/Secondary Biology and a Bachelor of Science (B.S.) in Biology from Hampton University. She also holds a Graduate Certificate in Nonprofit Studies from The Johns Hopkins University.