Zakiya S. Wilson-Kennedy is the Ron and Dr. Mary Neal Distinguished Associate Professor of Chemistry Education and the associate dean for diversity and inclusion within the College of Science at Louisiana State University (LSU). Her research investigates the persistence of individuals from all backgrounds in STEM higher education and careers, focusing on faculty and student recruitment, retention, and success. Through these efforts, she employs mentoring models that integrate the theories of identity development, empowerment, social cognitive career theory, and community cultural wealth to create and test development structures that cultivate self-efficacy and agency, particularly for groups historically underrepresented in STEM. She received her bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Jackson State University and her doctorate in inorganic chemistry from LSU.