Biama Charles

Deputy DEIB Officer & Founding Director of the Office of Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging (DIB)

Biama Charles serves as the Deputy DEIB Officer and is the Founding Director of Hartwick College’s Office of Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DIB). She joined Hartwick in November 2016 as the Associate Director for Residential Life and Housing and later established the Office of DIB in September 2020, following the retirement of Dr. Harry Bradshaw Matthews, the Founding President of the USCT Institute and Associate Dean and Director of the Office of Intercultural Affairs.

In her role, Biama leads with empathy, developing impactful events, proactive trainings, and creative workshops that celebrate and enhance stakeholders understanding of diverse identities within the campus community and beyond. Her intentional and forward-thinking approach cultivates an inclusive environment, fostering a strong sense of belonging for all members of the Hartwick community. Additionally, Biama acts as Hartwick’s DEIB liaison with local Oneonta businesses and organizations.

Biama holds an MBA with a specialization in Project Management from Louisiana State University Shreveport, a Master of Arts in Higher Education Administration from Stony Brook University, and a Bachelor of Arts in English with a minor in Spanish from the State University of New York at Old Westbury.