FAPAC July First Friday Webinar: Federal Academic Alliance Program and Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion in the Workplace

July Friday Webinar

Join our panel of DEI experts and engage in discussion on how diversity, equity and inclusion each plays a role in creating a better workplace. Then hear from a representative with the U.S. Office of Personnel Management who will provide an overview of the Federal Academic Alliance program.

Panelists:

• Daniel Pascoe Aguilar, PhD, Founding Director of the Center for Social Justice and Chief Diversity Officer of Excelsior College, joined the College in December 2021 as the founding director of the College’s Center for Social Justice and chief diversity officer. Pascoe Aguilar brings a holistic view of social justice and diversity, equity, and inclusion to this role and is committed to developing the next generation of leaders. He has extensive experience as a leader in higher education, and has served on think tanks and strategy groups like the Future Talent Council. His collaborative approach to both the student and employee will be important to the work of DEI and social justice at Excelsior.

• Kendra Thomas, Ed. D. of Southern New Hampshire University, 

  was born and raised in Long Beach, California, but has deep roots in Louisiana, Arkansas, and Mexico. She is also a military veteran, having served 7 years in the U.S. Army and a military spouse of 21 years. Kendra has lived across the country, ranging from Hawaii to North Carolina, due to her military ties - her final home is in Florida with her husband and two boys, ages 8 and 20. She found her way into the world of higher education a decade ago as a director of career services and placement with one of Lawton/Fort Sill’s local colleges. As a Global Career Development Facilitator and Hawkeye Certified Veteran Development Coach, Dr. Thomas is passionate about finding solutions to support underserved and marginalized people. She accomplishes this goal by developing tools that provide awareness to enlighten and encourage others to persist along their life’s journeys.

• Dr. Ron Sheffield is the Executive in Residence, Clinical Assistant Professor, and Program Director of the M.S. in Human Resources and Organization Development Degree (HR/OD) Program at The University of Louisville. Dr. Ron Sheffield is a member of the Quechan Indian Tribe of Yuma Arizona. Ron conducted his dissertation research on the Fort Yuma Arizona Quechan Indian Reservation and this work is titled, ‘The Influence of Language on Culture and Identity: Resurgence of the Quechan Native American Tribal Language’. Dr.Sheffield interviewed many respected tribal elders and sought to gain an understanding of the influence that language restriction, and then later legitimization by the United States Federal government, had on tribal elder’s individual perspectives of culture and identity.Ron holds current and active certifications as: Six Sigma Black Belt (SSBB), Certified Scrum Master (CSM), Scaled Agile Framework (SAFe) Agilist, Citi Social and Behavioral Science Researcher and Project Management Professional (PMP).

• Denita Wright Watson, Associate Director of Equity, Inclusion, and Advocacy  at Penn State World Campus, provides support to students, faculty, and staff. In collaboration with other World Campus units, she advocates for students and empowers them as self-advocates to overcome barriers to their academic, professional, and personal success. Denita has served diverse populations of students from pre-school to graduate school by fostering inclusive learning environments, promoting equitable access to education and delivering social services for over 25 years. She earned her BA in Administration of Justice in 1993, Master of Leadership Development in 2018, and Project Management Certificate in 2018, all from Penn State University.