Chantée Eldridge

Chantée Eldridge is Strada Education Network's inaugural chief diversity, equity, and inclusion officer. She also has a dual appointment as a vice president, overseeing the organization's strategic outreach and events team. As the chief diversity, equity, and inclusion officer, her role centers on developing long-range DEI planning, implementation, and measurement, championing inclusive excellence and belonging, and working closely with leaders, staff, and key stakeholders in promoting equitable outcomes in postsecondary education and the purposeful connection to work and career.

Before joining Strada in 2020, Eldridge worked at the National Collegiate Athletic Association as a communications director. In this role, she oversaw employee communications, community affairs, former student-athlete outreach, and campus engagement, including serving on the national office inclusion team, embedding DEI best practices internally and externally on key initiatives under her area of responsibility. She brings nearly 20 years of experience working in government, energy, nonprofit, and in the private sector leading multicultural engagement, communications, public affairs, and learning and development. Eldridge is equally proud of the origins of her career, working in state government in the Colorado Office of Business Development in the Minority Business Office/Small Business Resource Center and at two small colleges in student affairs, first as an academic advisor and assistant registrar.

Eldridge is committed to community service, evidenced by her roles as a Girl Scouts of Central Indiana and Empowered Families board member. Previously, she was the first woman to serve on Clemson University's PAW Journey 5th Quarter board. She collaborates with various organizations as a moderator, panelist, presenter, and speaker.

A native of Denver, Colorado, Eldridge earned an executive coaching certification from Texas Christian University’s Neeley School of Business and bachelor’s and graduate degrees from Indiana Wesleyan University. She holds a doctorate in higher education leadership from Maryville University.