KAAAC Executive Director
Mildred Edwards, Ph.D.
Dr. Mildred Edwards is a passionate community leader, mobilizer and advocate. A
community psychologist, her research interests involve the prevention and reduction
of disparity among at-risk or underserved populations including, disparity in health
status and resource access, social inequity and justice, economic status, and/or
cultural bias. Her professional and volunteer experiences include public policy
and advocacy activities, community mobilization, coalition building, capacity building,
program evaluation, and non-profit administration and board development. A lifelong
student of the art and science of leadership, Mildred’s special skills entail her
ability to think strategically and provide direction based on national trends and
local data.
A proud Wichita State University alumnus, Mildred is a former Shocker cheerleader,
Senior Honor Woman, and currently serves on the Alumni Association Board of Directors.
She obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Health Care Administration/Public Relations,
Master of Public Health, and Doctorate of Community Psychology from her alma mater.
Throughout her academic career Mildred focused her research on HIV/AIDS prevention
in both African American adolescents and in women. She conducted research on HIV
and the risk behaviors of women residing in Mombasa, Kenya and is an internationally
published author.
Prior to her appointment as Executive Director for the KAAAC, Dr. Edwards served
as a contract consultant who provided staff development training, non-profit grant
writing and federal grant evaluation for numerous agencies and organizations and
as the Project Director for a Drug Free Communities funded community coalition responsible
for coalition member recruitment, leadership development, grant and matching funds
management, program development, implementation and evaluation, collaboration building,
capacity building and training, research, and data analysis and dissemination. Her
coalition was the recipient of the 2007 Andrew O’Donovan Coalition of the Year award.
A true servant leader, Mildred is a Past President of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority,
Inc. – Beta Kappa Omega and Epsilon Alpha Chapters, the Urban League of Wichita
Guild, the Air Capital Chapter of Jack and Jill of America, and the Junior League
of Wichita. She currently serves as the Vice President of the Links, Inc. Wichita
(KS) Chapter, is a Links, Inc. Scott Hawkins Leadership Institute Cohort II graduate
and Mentor for Scott Hawkins Leadership Institute Cohort IV, and Mid-Western Region
Heritage Committee and Regional Program Committee member for Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority,
Inc. Dr. Edwards is a graduate of Leadership Wichita, member of the NAACP, and serves
on the advisory boards of the Wichita Children’s Home, Center for Health and Wellness,
Pure and Simple Lifestyle and the Wichita Area Sexual Assault Center.
In addition to her career and volunteerism, Mildred enjoys traveling nationally
and abroad, reading, watching football, and spending time with her family. She is
the proud mother of one daughter Leah and son-in-law William Peoples.