Kay Martinez serves as the director of Diversity and Inclusion Education and Training with Institute Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. In this role, Martinez is responsible for developing and leading diversity and inclusion curriculum-based training across Georgia Tech for students, faculty, and staff.

Previously, Martinez served as the Director for Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Justice Learning and Development at Lesley University in Boston, Massachusetts, and teaching fellow with Harvard Graduate School of Education. They’ve also held positions in diversity and inclusion training and curriculum development with Mass General Hospital Institute of Health Professions and Stanford University, and they have been featured as a subject matter expert by The Huffington Post, Diverse Issues in Higher Education, Monster.com, and Out in Tech.

They earned their bachelor’s degree in history and journalism from Loyola University New Orleans and their master’s in higher education administration from Boston College. Martinez was also the recipient of NASPA Region 1’s Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Award in 2021.

Carese serves as the diversity, equity, and inclusion training generalist developing and facilitating large-scale training programs for DEI issues, including but not limited to intersectionality, hate on campus, cultural competence, privilege, marginalization and oppression, microaggressions, and social justice. She also serves as a consultant to determine training and developing needs.

Carese has spent the last decade developing successful outcomes in education, specifically serving in roles that support diversity, equity, and inclusion, with experience in strategic planning and supporting underrepresented students. 

Before joining IDEI, she was the program manager for the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at the Elliott School of International Affairs at George Washington University. Prior to working as a program manager, she worked for three years at Washington College as the Director of Intercultural Affairs and program coordinator for the Washington Scholars scholarship program. As a director, she served as the chair of the bias education response team and the co-chair of the diversity committee. 

While in leadership, she recruited, retained, and advised students by fostering personal, social, and academic development for underrepresented students. Carese also expanded the Intercultural Affairs Office to an intercultural center to provide support services for students with differences.

Carese earned her B.A. in Psychology from Winston-Salem State University and an M.A. in School Counseling from Clark Atlanta University. She is currently pursuing her Ph.D. in Human Services from Walden University.

She is a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. Carese loves to travel the world, listen to music, and try new restaurants in her free time.