About
Born in Trinidad and Tobago and a longtime resident of Providence, Dr. Joanna N. Ravello Goods serves as Vice President for Equity and Inclusion at Roger Williams University, where she leads efforts to create a more inclusive and socially just campus community. With extensive experience in higher education leadership, she has developed programs, partnerships, and policies that expand access, belonging, and success for students, faculty, and staff. Her work reflects a deep commitment to equity and the transformative power of education. As a certified administrator of the Intercultural Development Inventory (IDI), she integrates data-informed approaches to advancing intercultural competence and inclusive practice.
Before joining Roger Williams, Dr. Ravello Goods served as Associate Vice President for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Stonehill College and as Director for Community and Organizational Development at the University of Rhode Island. In these roles, she launched equity trainings, symposia, and strategic initiatives that turned community goals into lasting change.
For more than two decades, she has taught undergraduate and graduate courses in Gender and Women’s Studies, Human Development, Higher Education, and Sociology. Her teaching focuses on Black feminist thought, cultural competence, race and identity, and organizational development, preparing students for growth, success, and inclusive leadership.
She holds degrees from the University of Rhode Island and the University of Massachusetts Boston. Grounded in liberation theory, her research and practice advance justice in higher education. She lives in Providence with her husband, their blended family, and a thriving collection of tropical plants.