Dr. Orlando-Marquez C. Kittrell is the inaugural director of the Great-Start Great-Finish College Success Program. The program is a TRIO Student Support Services project. Prior to joining Millikin University, Dr. Kittrell served as the inaugural executive director for the Department of Access and Success, overseeing several college access and opportunity programs at Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania. For more than a decade, he has served and supported diverse student populations representing a broad spectrum of socioeconomic, geographic, racial, ethnic, cultural, heritage, gender identity, sexual orientation, religious and spiritual backgrounds.
Dr. Kittrell has served in both the public and private sectors, holding staff, faculty and executive leadership roles within educational institutions and community-based organizations. Throughout his career, he has provided a wide range of student support, counseling, instructional and developmental services designed to foster personal growth, academic success and community engagement. His areas of expertise include self-esteem and self-efficacy development, youth empowerment, family systems, cross-cultural psychology, student development, inclusive storytelling, interpersonal communication, autism spectrum disorder (ASD), ADHD support, trauma-informed care, and gender identity and sexual orientation affirmation.
In addition to his teaching and student-centered work, Dr. Kittrell is a recognized presenter and advocate for educational equity. He has delivered presentations at both state and national levels focused on advancing success for historically underrepresented and disadvantaged college student populations, particularly those pursuing STEM disciplines and licensed professions. Most recently, he served on the Leadership Council of the STEM Education Coalition in Washington, D.C., where he collaborated with Congressional partners and the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy to advance STEM education initiatives and opportunities nationwide. This work reflects Dr. Kittrell’s enduring commitment to educational access, student empowerment, inclusive excellence and the development of pathways that support lifelong achievement for diverse populations.
Beyond earning his doctorate, Dr. Kittrell has pursued extensive advanced training and professional certifications in lifestyle and behavioral medicine, health, wellness and nutrition. His commitment to lifelong learning and interdisciplinary practice reflects a holistic approach to supporting individual well-being, academic success, and community development. Dr. Kittrell maintains professional affiliations with several leading organizations, including the American College of Lifestyle Medicine, the American Psychological Association, and the American Counseling Association, among others. These memberships support his continued engagement with emerging research, evidence-based practices and professional collaboration across counseling, psychology, education and health-related disciplines.
His professional development portfolio also includes numerous certificate programs in executive leadership, organizational development and strategic management. Recognizing the importance of fostering inclusive and effective leadership, Dr. Kittrell completed multiple programs focused on inclusive leadership through the University of South Florida's Muma College of Business. These experiences have further strengthened his ability to lead diverse teams, cultivate equitable environments, and advance organizational excellence.
Driven by a deep commitment to creating equitable and inclusive living-learning communities, Dr. Kittrell has continued to expand his expertise through advanced coursework and professional training offered by distinguished institutions, including Harvard Medical School, Cornell University's Johnson Graduate School of Management, Harvard Business School, the University of Michigan and the University of Colorado, as examples. Through these educational experiences, he has enhanced his knowledge of leadership, organizational effectiveness and evidence-based approaches to fostering inclusive working and learning environments.
Collectively, Dr. Kittrell's academic preparation, professional certifications, leadership training and service-oriented experiences reflect his unwavering dedication to advancing student success, promoting health and wellness, championing inclusive excellence, and empowering individuals and communities to thrive.
Dr. Kittrell’s preferred pronouns are “he/him/his” and he respects those students/staff/faculty who prefer gender neutrality and gender inclusiveness.
Education
- PsyD - California Coast University (Santa Ana, CA)
- MS - Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania (Mansfield, PA)
- BA - Commonwealth University of Pennsylvania (Mansfield, PA)