Dr. Angela Spranger

Dr. Angela Spranger is an engaging facilitator who transfers her knowledge and experiences in ways that learners and participants can relate to and remember. Her life mission is to educate and encourage, and she believes in taking advantage of “any excuse to celebrate!” Professionally, Dr. Spranger serves as the inaugural Senior Diversity Officer for Carlson School of Management at the University of Minnesota, and founding director of the Center for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Business at Carlson.

Previously, she served for two years as Chief DEI Officer at Christopher Newport University (CNU) in Newport News, Va., having switched careers to education after twenty-plus years in industry. Angela had worked in human resources in the defense and nonprofit sectors, and in general administration in media and TV.

Her instructional experience includes teaching non-traditional learners at Hampton University and Regent University, specializing in marketing, labor management relations, and human resources. In 2012, she began teaching traditional learners at CNU, where she taught in the Luter School of Business for eight years. Subjects included organizational behavior, human resource management, leadership in business, and other management and leadership courses as needed. A Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) and SHRM Senior Certified Professional (SHRM–SCP), Angela was faculty adviser for the CNU student chapter of the Society for Human Resource Management (#5553).

Angela has held professional memberships in SHRM, the Academy for Human Resource Development, Academy of Management, and International Leadership Association where she is a frequent presenter and a former co-chair of the Followership Learning Community. In 2019, she launched the Collegiate Women’s Network, the first affinity group for employees at CNU. This group provided a model for the LGBTQ+ Faculty / Staff Allies group, for which she later served as executive sponsor.

As a consultant, Dr. Spranger delivered professional development workshops to churches, military installations, and professional associations. She provides corporate consulting on employee relations, professional development, and compliance and diversity. Her book, “Why People Stay: Helping Your Employees Feel Seen, Safe, and Valued” (Routledge/Taylor & Francis), was published in 2019, and she continues her intellectual contributions on inclusive excellence.