Kelly Downes (she/her/hers) serves as Bentley University’s inaugural Director of the Office of Equal Opportunity and Institutional Equity, joining the institution in September 2022.  Kelly also serves as the institution’s Title IX Coordinator.  Kelly brings over 25 years of combined experience in law and higher education to this role, having previously served as a criminal prosecutor, defense attorney, and in various leadership roles in Massachusetts state government. Prior to coming to Bentley, Kelly served as the Chief Equity Officer and Title IX Coordinator at Berklee College of Music.  In her current role, Kelly leads the institution’s efforts to address identity-based discrimination and harassment, as well as sexual and gender-based misconduct, providing students, staff, and faculty with access to resources and support, formal and informal reporting options, and educational programming.  Kelly earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Boston University and her law degree from Washington College of Law, American University.

Vin J. Ciampolillo [champ-o-lil-o]; (he/him/his) serves as Associate Director, Investigations and Alternative Resolution and Deputy Title IX Coordinator for the Office of Equal Opportunity and Institutional Equity (OIE) for Bentley University. This role primarily focuses on investigating complaints of Bentley University’s institutional equity system, as well as developing, facilitating, and assessing alternative dispute resolution pathways. Prior to Bentley, Vin worked and graduated from Cornell University.

Vin also volunteers for the Association for Student Conduct Administration (ASCA), where he served as a faculty member for the 2021,2022, 2023, and 2024 Gehring Academy. 

Additionally, Vin serves as a mediator and conflict coach for New York State’s Community Dispute Resolution Center (CDRC) and Massachusetts Community Dispute Settlement Center (CDSC). Vin also serves as an arbitrator for the Massachusetts Bar Association (MBA).

Vin is originally from Saugus, MA, and grew up on the North Shore.

DeeDee Cook (she/her/hers) serves as Bentley University’s Equity & Title IX Intake and Support Project Manager for the Office of Equal Opportunity and Institutional Equity (OIE). Prior to coming to Bentley, DeeDee served as the Project Manager at Berklee College of Music in the Equity and Title IX Office. In this role, DeeDee meets with parties involved with an equity matter to identify resources, explain the equity process, and provide support measures. In addition, DeeDee provides leadership around projects and programming. DeeDee earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication studies from New England College  and her Master of Science degree in Human Resource Management  from Johnson & Wales University.