Make Plans to Participate in the 2022 NNLM Virtual Symposium on Engagement through Research

Dr. Stacy Roberts is the founder and president of SMR Leadership Solutions, LLC, which is located in Evans, Georgia. She earned her executive coaching certification from the International Coaching Federation approved organization, Academy of Creative Coaching. In addition to her coaching certification, she also has obtained her Bachelor’s degree in Marketing from Augusta University and her Master's of Business Administration in Human Resources and Doctor of Business Administration in Human Resources from Liberty University. She is a lecturer in Augusta University’s Hull College of Business and also a licensed minister at her church, New Life Worship Center. She loves spending time with her family and serving in her community.

Stacy is an accomplished business leader whose focus is developing quality leaders in their professional and personal lives. As an executive coach with extensive HR, corporate, and community leadership experience, Stacy strives to help others WIN and reach their full potential as a leader in all areas of their life. Stacy’s drive and dedication are to help all individuals she encounters succeed. Allow Stacy to SUPPORT, TRAIN, ASSESS, and COACH you to develop the dynamic leader that’s within you. She assists in clarifying goals, developing a plan of action, and providing support for all clients. Founded on Philippians 4:13, SMR Leadership Solutions, LLC believes that success is possible in any organizational or personal situation, no matter what the circumstances are. You can and will win.

Tamisha Sales, M.Ed. | Ph.D. Student is a committed DEI practitioner, and nonprofit and community partnership leader with nearly two decades of experience serving the community. Sales has documented success in building sustained community partnerships and increasing nonprofit funding that drives innovative changes and lasting community impact. She is experienced in case management, curriculum development, program development and evaluation, training and presenting, development of recruitment and retention processes, and advocating for marginalized populations.

Sales has served in various nonprofit roles from volunteer to senior leadership. Tamisha Sales’ career passion is to positively impact individuals by guiding organizational solutions that take outcomes to the next level. As a third-year doctoral student, Sales research is focused on equity, intersectionality of identities, and inclusion inside of organizations and their impact on the delivery and allocation of information, knowledge and resources. Recently featured in September’s Speakers Magazine, Tamisha Sales is the co-founder and owner of Educational and Community Strategies, a diversity and inclusion and organizational management training and consulting firm.

Educational Background Ph.D. Student in Organizational Leadership Master of Education- Adult Education and Training Bachelor of Science in Psychology Associate of Applied Science in Child Development.

Dr. Larry Collier is an authority and fearless advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion. As an award-winning, retired school administrator and educator with 37 years of experience. He is experienced in supporting and leading poverty schools in transformational programming that encompasses connecting schools to nonprofits. Collier's work is guided by an unyielding commitment to reducing disparities for under-served and underrepresented populations; putting in practice diversity, equity, and inclusion across education and non-profit sectors. Dr. Collier helps organizations to solve the challenges diversity, equity, and inclusion present to their people, plans, and processes by translating data into strategies.

Over his 30+ years of leadership, Dr. Collier has worked with corporate, educational, and nonprofits, developed training plans, strategic planning, and accreditation processes, and created performance evaluation instruments for organizations all through the DEI lens. Collier has presented countless keynote presentations and training on issues such as unconscious bias, diversity and inclusion in the workplace, organizational leadership, “no excuse’ schools, and mindset. Dr. Collier’s presentations bring a mixture of expertise, life experiences, passion, vision, and authentic style to create actionable and practicable takeaways for participants.

Dr. Collier grew up in Alabama –a state historically known for its discrimination and its role in the Civil Rights movement. At a time of intense division and adversity, Collier stepped into the role of a principal in a high-poverty, school. Dr. Collier’s work in challenging the status quo and addressing inequities helped to close achievements in the student body. Overthe years, Collier worked his way up in rank in Decatur City Schools to a senior district-level administrator, transforming the approach and creating a model of expectations when serving underserved and underrepresented students and families. Collier is known for treating DEI not as a ‘check in the box’ but as a responsibility of humanity. His commitment to this work led to him being tapped by various institutions for his expertise which leads to the natural progression of co-founding Educational and Community Strategies; a DEI and organizational management firm.

Dr. Collier has been featured inSpeakers Magazine and on various podcasts. Collier has trained and consulted with educational organizations on diversity issues such as Jacksonville State University to a network of nonprofits like Community Action Agencies.Above all else, Dr. Collier is a proud veteran of the United States Air Force where he served in the role of military police. He served honorably and faithfully in defense of our great nation against both foreign and domestic enemies.

Dr. Lutza is an autistic/ADHD/dyspraxic psychologist, designer, and author of the multi-award-winning “Stress and Anxiety during COVID” graphic field guide. She was the lead designer of the award-winning All Kinds of Minds neurodiversity pilot at the Department of Education (around 100,000 employees in Qld/AU). She uses design thinking and co-design methods to develop innovative resources, services and systems for neurodiversity, mental health and DEI.

Dr. Lutza is a passionate neurodiversity and mental health advocate, and co-leader of NDGiFTS APAC, a neurodiversity social movement targeting education and awareness-raising for neurodiversity employment in the APAC region.

Lee E. Meadows, is an adjunct Professor of Management at Walsh College and a Consultant with over 30 years of experience working in, consulting for, writing about and presenting on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion issues. He has a strong background in Human Resources and is on the forefront of identifying trends that will impact the profession.

As a Human Resource professional, his practical experiences include having worked at Michigan State University, General Motors, the Kellogg Foundation, EDS/A.T. Kearney, Consulting Services, Con-Way Transportation Services.

He is currently the President of the State of Michigan Chapter of the National Association of African Americans in Human Resources.

His ongoing activities in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion have been focused on course design and delivery, writing articles, designing and delivering workshops, consulting on DE&I implementation and presenting at academic and professional conferences. He has successfully worked with for-profit, non-profit and government agencies in building sustainable DE&I practices.

He publishes monthly articles on his LinkedIn page and remains active in designing, developing and delivering leadership and DE&I strategies for several organizations. He is the author of the business leadership fable: Take the Lull by the Horns: Closing the Leadership Gap

Lambers Fisher, LMFT, MDiv, is a licensed marriage and family therapist who has counseled individuals, couples, and families from a variety of cultural backgrounds, in private practice, as well as corporate, nonprofit, and ministry environments. His encouraging and shame-free Diversity Made Simple trainings have equipped professionals in a variety of fields around the country in their efforts to improve cultural self-awareness, increase confidence in their diversity competence, as well as strengthen and repair personal and professional relationships.

Vashtina “Vashti” Boyce (she/they) is the founder of Wild Iris Consulting, a Portland-based leadership development, and management consulting agency. Vashti holds a Masters in Humanistic Psychology from the University of West Georgia as well as an MBA in Healthcare Administration. Vashti has spent almost 20 years volunteering and leading in various organizations, 7 years in the field of psychology, and 5 years of experience in non-profit healthcare management. Vashti is a board member in multiple organizations where she volunteers her DEI knowledge and education in service of the organization's goals. Vashti's technique is based on a holistic framework; valuing the complexity of human experience, subjectivity, perspective, and relationship with the self and society.

Raisa Ghazi is a political Scientist on a mission to reduce workplace inequalities and promoting diversity & inclusion in the tech space. She strives to spread awareness about diversity, inclusion, and inequality through her position as an advisor on various prominent channels and as an educator.

“I believe the topic of inclusion and discrimination in technology is becoming significantly more important. I want to create more awareness in the workplace about these topics and what can be done to reduce bias in technology and become more ethical in tech."

That's why she founded the High Tech Tea and SkillGenie, for promoting more equality in technology. The High Tech Tea is a network of thousands of women in technology. A platform that promotes D&I in tech through bi-annual events funded by the government & corporate partners. The motivation behind the mission of SkillGenie is to make information that promotes equality in the workplace accessible to everyone. All by using a Growth Mindset.

Jonette Marcus is Founder and CEO of The Equity Firm, a coaching firm that comesalongside organizationsworkingtowards success. She has a 20 year career in education as an elementary and middle school teacher, assistant principal, district literacy supervisor and director of elementary gradesas well as an education consultant. Jonette has master’s degrees in Educational Leadership and Elementary Education and a bachelor’s degree in Psychology.

Tamera Slaughter is a professional learning facilitator and education advocate. Sheuses her 15 years of experience in education to provide in-depth and thoughtfulprofessional learning opportunities in the areas of literacy, social and emotional learning(SEL), and diversity, equity and inclusivity (DEI). Through her work she hopes todeepen and increase the awareness and advocacy efforts needed to dismantleinequities in literacy, SEL, and diversity, equity, inclusivity.

Raymond White serves to equip leaders with the necessary skills and conversations towards designing inclusive communities where every identity belongs and thrives. He engages with student leaders, organizational leaders and emerging leaders with a communication style that is very approachable, relatable, and empowering for listeners to take action.

Ray is a proven transformational leader by shaping team culture that brings everyone together for success. He pairs formal and experiential education with his style of teaching to make topics on social justice tangible, regardless of where they are on their journey. Ray has been active in the local community in the Pacfic Northwest through shaping Diversity, Equity and Inclusion strategies for organizations and providing guidance for emerging leaders to thrive in the workforce.

His Podcast, On The Mic W/ Ray White, brings a critical perspective on how we can apply the lessons we’re learning in life towards uplifting ourselves and others.

Company Name: Raymond D. White, Coach and Consultant
Website: www.raymondwhite.net
Instagram/Twitter: @ Raydevante
LinkedIn: Raymond D. White

Blaze Campbell-Jacobs (she/hers) received her BA in Strategic Communication and MA in African American Studies from Temple University (Philadelphia, PA). She is currently completing a doctorate in higher education administration at Bowling Green State University (BGSU) in Bowling Green, OH. For just under 10 years, Blaze has developed and facilitated educative experiences related to justice, equity, diversity, inclusion, and inter-group dialogue within higher education settings on the East, West, and Midwest regions of the United States for students, staff, and faculty. Most recently, Blaze has been working with a local school district helping create DEI professional development sessions curated for the specific needs of teachers, building staff, and administrators. Blaze also serves as the Assistant to the Project Director and Principal Investigator of a $1 million National Science Foundation grant-funded project titled BGSU ALLIES, which is focused on improving women's and racially minorized faculty’s experiences in STEM disciplines at BGSU. In this role, Blaze collaborates with the grant team to design and facilitate virtual (synchronous and asynchronous online modules) and in-person workshops for BGSU faculty members on various topics related to allyship and bystander intervention. Since being at BGSU, she has been awarded the 2020 Higher Education Administration Faculty Award for Academic Excellence, the 2019 award for Outstanding Contributions by a Higher Education Administration Student, first place presentation at the Shanklin Research Colloquium, and the Presidential Diversity/Winifred O. Stone Scholarship for her essay submission on the role of diversity in her discipline, higher education administration.

Freya Sullivan Huffman is a native of Waynesboro, Georgia, the Bird Dog Capital of the World! She attended school in Waynesboro - Burke County, Georgia. She was active in sports and earned a basketball scholarship to Claflin University in Orangeburg, South Carolina and is the former Miss Claflin University. She attended Clemson University as a graduate student and earned a Master of Business and Information Technology from Keller Graduate of Management. Freya completed Ph.D. coursework at Capella University focusing on Education with a concentration in Training and Performance Improvement.

Freya started her entrepreneurial journey after going through her first layoff at the age of 21. She started her technology training and web design company, The Teknowlogy Factory, to develop technology and training solutions for entrepreneurs and businesses. After going through a total of four layoffs, she started career coaching and has a signature program, Rebrand My Career, to help career professionals prepare for promotion, job changes and prepare for life in the event of a layoff.

Additionally, she created the Virtual Entrepreneurship Launch Academy to help entrepreneurs launch online businesses and coaching programs. While Freya is still employed in Corporate America, she encourages professionals to prepare for life before going through a layoff and gain knowledge and skills to remain competitive in the workforce.

Jennifer joined NDNU’s Department of Psychology and Sociology in the fall of 2015. With a doctoral degree in peace, conflict and development studies, Jennifer continues to teach and form part of the core faculty at two prominent peace studies graduate programs in Europe, the Universitat Jaume I of Castellón, Spain, and the University of Innsbruck, Austria.

She is also a guest professor for the Maestria en Derechos Humanos y Cultura de Paz at the Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Cali, Colombia. Jennifer’s teaching/facilitating, research, and curriculum development are informed by Peace Studies methods and philosophy, Critical Pedagogy, Critical Race Theory, Gender and LGBTQIA+ Studies and Postcolonial/Decolonial thought and analysis. Interested in stretching the boundaries of the classroom, Jennifer’s recent research focuses on invitational pedagogies and a post-oppositional politics of change and interconnectedness. Each day, Jennifer is inspired by her colleagues and the diverse and phenomenal NDNU student body.

The potency of ‘first love’ has sidelined millions of adolescents from reaching their destiny. A teenage Karen overdosed on this euphoric emotion. She benched her college ambitions to marry her high school sweetheart, two months after graduation. By the time her third child was born, the euphoria had dissipated. The marriage was over.

Dr. Pruden has lived the blueprint that ‘dreams deferred, are not dreams denied’ when you put in the work. Her evolution from a teenage bride to award winning international motivational speaker is the receipt that a comeback is possible from any detour in life. Dr. Pruden blends her HBCU education with her Yale University training to inspire all under her voice. She has authored/co-authored 5 books and held the coveted position of Amazon #1 Bestseller for an anthology, Entrepreneurial Elevation: 31 Strategic Lessons and Personal Stories from Purpose Driven Entrepreneurs. She has been recognized by the Governor of Virginia for her work in Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion. Other awards and nominations include ACHI Magazine Woman of Inspiration, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Community Leader Award, ACHI Magazine Women of Excellence Award, SpeakerCon Motivational Speaker of the Year, and ACHI Magazine Author of the Year Award.

Determined to resuscitate the dormant goals of millions, Dr. Pruden is committed to compelling audiences to recognize that as long as you are breathing, you are poised for a comeback. Her thunderous call to action, “No Excuses, Make it Happen” can be heard vibrating off drywall internationally.

Maiya Winston of Be A Possibility is a coach, consultant and mentor in Dallas, TX. With over 15 years of corporate experience, she has seen firsthand the difference that working with PURPOSE and PASSION can make on the lives and careers of employees.

Maiya’s consulting areas of focus include Diversity, Equity and Inclusion within corporate spaces, leadership development and employee engagement. She is a National Diversity Council Certified Diversity Professional (CDP®), Aspen Institute Economic Opportunity Fellow, Certified

Career Coach and has served as Executive Director of the DFW Collective of Black Employee Resource Groups (BERGs).

Maiya earned her Bachelor of Arts in Theatre from the University of Southern California (Fight On!) and is a member of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Incorporated. She is currently pursuing her Lean Six Sigma Black Belt Certification and has a lifelong love of learning.

Mary Johnstun, President and Founder of Roadmap Research Global, has worked in the social sciences research field for 20 years and has surveyed over 3 million participants through her managed projects. She has been providing DEI-specific research and evaluation services since founding RRG in 2014. Over her career, Mary has managed upwards of 300 multi-mode, multi-audience research and evaluation projects involving employees, leaders, students, parents, and community members in 15 states, and is frequently asked to present on data collection best-practices and analysis. Ms. Johnstun carries an M.A. from Kansas State University in Culture Studies and Rhetoric. She carries the following certifications which aid in all projects she encounters: Certified Diversity Executive (CDE), Insights Professional Researcher Certification (PRC), and certified Project Management Professional (PMP). Roadmap Research Global is a proud Women-Owned Small Business, certified by WBENC.

Currently, the Dean of Students and Diversity Officer at Seton Hill University (Greensburg, PA), Dr. Momodu C.Taylor is responsible for coordinating tangible efforts that support Seton Hill’s Catholic mission, co-curricular learning and the university's four pillars of welcoming, learning, celebrating and serving. He leads efforts to support a vibrant and engaged campus climate for students that enhances educational opportunities, fosters a sense of belonging and is supportive of all students and will provide leadership for comprehensive inclusion-oriented experiences and initiatives for the university community in collaboration with campus partners.

Prior to Seton Hill, Dr. Taylor worked with Bowie State University, a public historically Black university in Maryland, where he served as Co-Curricular Assistant to the Vice President for Student Affairs. In this role, he created infographic reports in support of the vision and mission of the Division of Student Life and served as an advisor to the Vice President in areas such as best practices for student engagement, retention, professional development, and collaboration with academic affairs. In addition to his responsibilities at Bowie, Dr. Taylor also most recently served as an online Adjunct Professor of Interdisciplinary Studies/Liberal Arts at Wheeling University.

Prior to his work at Bowie State, Dr. Taylor served as the Director of Student Involvement at Lenoir-Rhyne University, where he oversaw student activities programming and student organizations with a focus on Diversity, Equity and Inclusion programming.

Latrice Torres, SPHR, SHRM-SCP, is a globally recognized HR and DEI professional with over 20 years of people development experience. She launched LeaderKeys Consulting, LLC in June of 2020 with two focuses: building inclusive and equitable leaders and coaching professionals to enhancing their careers. Her approach to all interactions is to be a partner first, a consultant second, and then a cheerleader/supporter while her clients focus on execution.

From workplace ethics, diversity, equity & inclusion, talent development and performance management, to organizational culture and effectiveness—Latrice has learned that success comes from deep, meaningful connections that only happen when self-awareness is achieved first. For that reason, her business model starts with deep conversations before initiating any work to ensure there is alignment on how success is defined.

If you ask her, Latrice will say that she is about #makingpeopleawesome—this is because she is dedicated to bridging the gap between talents, passions, and personal values so that her clients reach their true potential. Her style has been described as relatable, honest, and motivational. Personally, Latrice is a daughter, auntie, mother and wife – business aside, she enjoys baking and decorating elaborate cakes, just to see people smile! She draws her strength from the happiness of others and considers that to be the foundation of what she gives back to the world.

Dr. Lillian Gibson, Ph.D., is a licensed clinical psychologist often referred to as a “mood make-over” expert. She is a highly recommended speaker, consultant, and mental health clinician. Dr. Gibson takes pride in combining her vocational rehabilitation counseling, and clinical psychology expertise to cultivate culture-affirming care for clients and protocols for agencies. Her professional footprints include places such as Johns Hopkins, and international research in South Africa. She is an HBCU graduate, and passionate about highlighting mental health wellness when diversity, equity, and inclusion are considered.

Lea Strickland is a high-energy, high-impact serial entrepreneur recognized for thought leadership and change advocacy. For nearly 30 years, Ms. Strickland has lead change initiatives and challenged “the way we’ve always done it” thinking. She has been a trailblazer inside Fortune 500 and Global 100 corporations like Ford Motor Company. She was the first woman in Ford’s finance executive development program to be a front-line production supervisor, serve on the quality committee for a manufacturing plant, and innovate corporate presentations to be paperless.

In 2002 Strickland founded the first of several entrepreneurial ventures, F.O.C.U.S. Resources℠, a strategic business consulting firm specializing in advising individuals and groups seeking to impact their organizations. She works with companies to innovate business models, technologies, products, and services to build fundable, sustainable, scalable ventures.

Working with her, clients have raised nearly $1 billion through grants, equity investors, debt, and operational sales and profits. Since 2002, Ms. Strickland has launched several other organizations, including Diversity Financial Fund, Inc., a 501(c)3 non-profit (“DFF”). DFF delivers business literacy programs, entrepreneurship education, coaching, mentoring, and other support services to underserved, under-represented, and socioeconomically challenged individuals and communities in the United States. DFF’s mission is to address the root cause issues that create inequity in the starting line for small businesses seeking capital to start, run, and grow. DFF was the first organization founded as part of a multi-organizational, holistic solution to address Diversity, Inclusion, and Equity in Capital Access.

Lamont Exeter is in constant search of balance. The balance between being an inquisitive learner, with a child-like mentality towards development, to being an innovative, inspirational leader. The balance between his first love of competitive football and his evolved love of meditative yoga. Lamont is constantly balancing.

Lamont believes that, as leaders, we have a responsibility to guide, empower, listen to, and evolve the next generation – which is why he is so passionate about the digital practice at TTEC, where he serves as vice president and partner. Lamont added diversity, inclusivity, and equality to his responsibilities at TTEC and became a Certified Diversity Professional (CDP®). As part of his newly found focus, Lamont is Chair of the Black Leadership Council and Focus Leader of the TTEC Diversity Council, and has worked to create products and services to further TTEC’s commitment to diversity and inclusion in the technology and customer experience industries.

Lamont holds Masters’ degrees from Schulich at York University and Universita Bocconi to complement his undergraduate degree from Ryerson University. He has industry certifications in project management, accounting, diversity, process improvement, and channel management. Lamont owns three invention patents.

Lamont was born in St. Vincent and the Grenadines and is currently based in Toronto, Canada. Keeping the calm island mindset and blending it with the entrepreneurial mentality of big city life is another example of Lamont’s constant search of balance.