Dr. Victoria Verlezza began her educational journey as the daughter of working-class parents, neither of whom attended college. As a student, she navigated learning disabilities including auditory processing challenges and dyslexia. Although she was not admitted to her first-choice college, she began at Gateway Community College, earned an associate degree, and later transferred to a four-year institution, an experience that shaped her lifelong commitment to access and equity in education.

Dr. Verlezza is an accomplished educator, consultant, and nationally respected expert in diversity, equity, inclusion, and access (IDEA). She holds a B.A. in Psychology with concentrations in Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies and Genocide Studies from Clark University; an M.Ed. in Higher Education Administration and Social Justice Education from the University of Massachusetts Amherst; and an M.A. and Ph.D. in Human Development from Fielding Graduate University.

Known as “Dr. Vee,” she is a leading voice on the neurodivergent experience, bringing both scholarly expertise and lived experience to her work. With over 20 years in DEI, she has supported thousands of individuals and organizations through learning, reflection, and meaningful change.