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Tonya Cornileus holds the position of Vice President of Development, Inclusion, and Wellness at ESPN, where she plays a crucial role as a member of the Human Resources senior leadership team. She frequently serves as an advisor to other senior management within ESPN. In her role, Dr. Cornileus is responsible for various aspects, including learning and organization development, talent management, diversity and inclusion, and wellness. She became part of the ESPN team in November 2009.
Before her tenure at ESPN, Dr. Cornileus served as the Director of Executive Development and Organizational Effectiveness for Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. from 2004 to 2009. Prior to that, she held the position of Vice President of Training and Organizational Development for Aegis Communications Group, Inc. from 1998 to 2004. Dr. Cornileus embarked on her professional journey as an educator, working within different school systems from 1985 to 1996.
Dr. Cornileus is actively engaged in various professional and civic organizations. She contributes her expertise as a member of the Linkage, Inc. Women in Leadership Institute Advisory Board and sits on the boards of Goodwin College in Connecticut, the University of Florida Foundation, and the University of Georgia College of Education Board of Visitors.
Her contributions to the industry have not gone unnoticed, as she has been recognized as one of the CableFax’s Most Influential Minorities in Cable each year since 2012. In 2014, she received the University of Georgia College of Education Distinguished Alumni Award for Professional Achievement. Additionally, she was profiled in the March 2013 edition of CLO Magazine and was named one of the National Diversity Council’s 2012 Most Powerful and Influential Women Leaders in Connecticut.
Beyond her professional endeavors, Dr. Cornileus dedicates her philanthropic efforts primarily to the promotion of education. She has been actively mentoring high school students through the Hartford Consortium for Higher Education’s New Beginnings program since 2014. Furthermore, she supports the Greater Hartford Urban League, where she served on the board for several years.
Dr. Cornileus earned her Ph.D. and M.Ed. in Human Resources and Organizational Development from the University of Georgia, complemented by her bachelor’s degree in Telecommunications from the University of Florida. Her professional credentials include the Senior Certified Professional designation from the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM-SCP) and Professional Coaching certification from the Institute for Professional Excellence in Coaching (iPEC CPC). Her multifaceted expertise contributes significantly to ESPN’s human resources and organizational development efforts.