Makini L. King, Ph.D.

Assistant Dean for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion

Makini L. King, Ph.D. is a licensed psychologist who currently serves as Assistant Dean for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at UMKC School of Dentistry. She has worked in Diversity and Inclusion for more than 6 years. As Assistant Dean, King will lead and support faculty, staff and student initiatives and programs that embolden collective commitment and action toward an inclusive School of Dentistry. King formerly served as Assistant Vice Chancellor, Interim Vice Chancellor and Director of Initiatives for the Division of Diversity and Inclusion at UMKC. She received the Living the Values Award in 2020 and the Excellence in Multiculturalism, Globalism, Diversity and Inclusion Staff Award in 2022.

King attended Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia where she earned her B.A., with a Psychology major and Spanish minor. She attended the University of Missouri- Kansas City where she received her M.A. and Ph.D. in Counseling Psychology. After completing a post-doctoral fellowship at the Kansas City Veterans Health Administration, she worked as a behavioral health consultant at the Kansas City Care Clinic. King sometimes teaches adjunct courses and provides student clinical supervision for the Counseling Psychology Department at UMKC. She has presented on and published articles and chapters on topics related to diversity in secondary and higher education, and social media.

King currently serves on the boards for Economic Development Corporation of Kansas City, Central City Economic Development, Greater Kansas City Psychological Association and is a DEI board consultant for the Emma Willard School.

King sees clients part-time in private practice. She enjoys spending time with her family and friends, reading, traveling, watching movies, eating delicious food and being active.