Employee Directory

Tony Laing Associate Lecturer
PAL

Dr. Tony Laing is a visionary leader, award-winning scholar-practitioner, and nationally recognized expert in Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB). With an interdisciplinary background spanning education, Black Studies, race, identity, and cultural analysis, Dr. Laing brings more than two decades of transformative impact across K–12 and higher education, community engagement, and public policy.

As the former inaugural Assistant Vice President for DEIB at Worcester Polytechnic Institute (WPI), Dr. Laing redefined what institutional equity can look like in STEM-focused environments. He led the creation of WPI’s first-ever DEIB Symposium, revitalized the institution’s employee resource groups, and drove systemic change through inclusive policy development and strategic partnerships. Nationally, Dr. Laing lends his expertise to organizations such as NASA, where he has reviewed equity-centered proposals that help shape the future of education and innovation. He is also a Fellow of The Royal Society of Arts, a global network that has advanced social progress and innovation for more than 260 years.

Previously, Dr. Laing served as the K–12 Director of the Wayland METCO program, where he and his team expanded academic access and opportunities for historically marginalized students, achieving a 100% college acceptance rate. He is also the founder and CEO of Laing Equity Education Group LLC, a consulting firm that supports institutions in reshaping their cultures through equity-driven strategies, leadership development, and capacity building.

A respected governance leader, Dr. Laing serves as a trustee of Montserrat College of Art and holds trustee emeritus status at Wheaton College (Massachusetts). He is an active member of the Black Trustees Network and previously chaired the board of the Alliance for Domestic & International Educational Programs.

Dr. Laing earned his Ph.D. in Educational Leadership and Policy Studies from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and holds additional degrees from Wheaton College (Massachusetts), New York University, and Harvard Graduate School of Education. He is a proud and active member of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, Incorporated.

A prolific writer and thought leader, Dr. Laing has published widely on culturally responsive education, student agency, and equity leadership. He is the co-editor of Black Student Support Networks: Creating Community at HBCUs and PWIs, a critical work that amplifies the voices and experiences of Black students navigating complex institutional landscapes.