Barbara Cockfield

Russell Sage College has named Barbara Cockfield as director of Diversity and Inclusion at its Troy and Albany campuses.

Cockfield is currently director of Student Engagement and Diversity at SUNY Adirondack in Queensbury, where she led, coordinated, planned and developed a collaborative, college-wide vision for equity, diversity and inclusion. She previously served as program manager for Equity, Diversity and Special Programs at Hillsborough Community College, a multi-campus institution serving 44,000 students in the Tampa area.

“Barbara Cockfield brings to us an outstanding record of creativity and achievements in advancing positive cultural change. She comes to Sage at a time that is especially ripe for progress and building community,” said Russell Sage College President Christopher Ames.

The director of Diversity and Inclusion coordinates Russell Sage College’s efforts to promote equity and social justice on campus. The position provides resources for all students, faculty and staff, including support, activities, education and training. Cockfield will be chair of the college’s Diversity and Inclusion Working Group.

“I am very excited to join the Russell Sage College family and to continue to advance its legacy and commitment to equity, diversity and inclusion within the mission, curriculum and experiential learning of the institution,” said Cockfield, who begins her work at Russell Sage College on Nov. 2. “I’m extremely thankful and look forward to the opportunity to impact and change lives on a daily basis at such a critical time in both the college’s and our country’s history.”

Recent News

March 3, 2025

Russell Sage College Receives Campus Prevention Network’s Seal of Prevention for Commitment to Digital Student Wellness, Safety, and Inclusion Efforts

Russell Sage College has received the Campus Prevention Network Seal of Prevention for the second consecutive year.  Presented by Vector Solutions, the CPN Seal of Prevention recognizes institutions of higher education that have taken action to create safer, more inclusive campuses through evidence-based digital prevention education on issues such as sexual assault, alcohol misuse, mental […]
Read More
February 28, 2025

Russell Sage College Faculty and Students Present Research at Capital District Feminist Studies Consortium Conference

A Russell Sage College faculty member and three students presented their original research at the Capital District Feminist Studies Consortium’s 2025 Conference on February 26 at Union College. The annual conference is convened to advance interdisciplinary dialogue and collaboration around feminist and gender studies. Michelle Napierski-Prancl, professor of sociology and faculty director of Denise Taber […]
Read More
February 27, 2025

Inspired by Occupational Therapy Fieldwork, Graduate Students Continue to Volunteer at Double H Ranch

What started as a two-week occupational therapy fieldwork placement at Double H Ranch — an organization that provides recreational programs for children with chronic illnesses — turned into an ongoing volunteer commitment for three Russell Sage College Occupational Therapy graduate students.  “Our professor let us know about it,” said Cayla Callan, of the fieldwork opportunity […]
Read More