Media Contact:
Tara G. Cunningham
Dillard University
tcunningham@dillard.edu
(504) 816-4024
New Orleans, LA — Dillard University proudly announces the appointment of Kim Vaz-Deville, Ph.D., as Chief of Staff to the President, bringing with her a nationally recognized portfolio of scholarship, cultural leadership, and academic coordination.
Dr. Vaz-Deville is a leading scholar of African American ceremonial culture in Louisiana, with an acclaimed body of work that focuses on spirituality, identity, and the preservation of Louisiana’s Afro-Creole traditions. She is the author of The Baby Dolls: Breaking the Race and Gender Barriers of the New Orleans Mardi Gras Tradition and editor of Walking Raddy: The Baby Dolls of New Orleans, both of which have become foundational texts in the study of New Orleans masking traditions. Her work has not only shaped local understanding but has reached international audiences through exhibitions in Louisiana and abroad, including at the Musée du quai Branly–Jacques Chirac in Paris.
In her new role as Chief of Staff, Dr. Vaz-Deville will support the President’s strategic priorities, foster campus-wide collaboration, and help guide the University’s academic and cultural mission. She brings to the position a wealth of experience from her previous leadership roles at Xavier University of Louisiana and the University of South Florida.
“Dr. Vaz-Deville is a dynamic leader and a cultural visionary whose scholarship and service resonate deeply with Dillard’s mission,” said Dr. Monique Guillory, President of Dillard University. “Her commitment to excellence, equity, and community uplift make her an ideal partner as we chart a bold path forward. I am thrilled to welcome her to our team and excited for the transformative impact she will have on our university.”
Dr. Vaz-Deville’s current work includes The Art of Resistance: Sacred Visual Creations of New Orleans’ African American Mardi Gras Maskers, a book project supported by the National Endowment for the Humanities and the Radcliffe Institute at Harvard University, where she recently served as the 2023–2024 Lillian Gallay Knafel Fellow. Her initiative to revive Louisiana Creole (Kouri Vini) through Baby Doll masking culture exemplifies her dedication to preserving and celebrating Louisiana’s unique cultural heritage.
In recognition of her significant contributions to education and cultural exchange, Dr. Vaz-Deville was named a Knight in the Order of Academic Palms by the French Republic in 2024.
At Dillard, she looks forward to working alongside faculty, staff, and students to enhance institutional alignment and advance the university’s role as a steward of culture, learning, and social responsibility.
