Jedi masters: gphedc speaks Greater Pi sburgh Higher Educa on Diversity Consor um 2021 Professional Development Conference This year’s conference will draw upon the exper se of our jus ce, equity, diversity and inclusion (JEDI) member and community experts to explore the experiences of two groups of professionals o en rendered invisible, even within our DEI work on campuses: BIPOC LGBTQ+ and La nx/ Hispanic professionals. Join us as we explore means and methods of hearing, honoring, and amplifying the diverse voices within our profession.
GPHEDC 2021 Leadership Team President
La Dawn Robinson, DEL, Carnegie Mellon University
Vice President
Anthony Kane, EdD Duquesne University
Secretary
Keisha Jimmerson, MBA Seton Hill University
Treasurer
Angelica Perez-Johnston, DBA, Community College of Allegheny County Committees and Chairs
Membership
Crystal McCormick, MSEd, G-CDF University of Pittsburgh
Government and Finance
Angelica Perez-Johnston, DBA Community College of Allegheny County
Fundraising
Vacant
Technology: Social Media / Marketing & Communications
Lorie Johnson-Osho, PhD University of Pittsburgh
Programs / Events
Paula K. Davis, MA, CDE University of Pittsburgh
Self-care and Well-being
Anthony Kane, EdD Duquesne University Bianca DeJesus, MEd University of Pittsburgh 2
CONFERENCE AGENDA Welcome & Opening Remarks
Dr. La Dawn Robinson, Carnegie Mellon University President, GPHEDC
GPHEDC Mission & Vision
Dr. Anthony Kane, Duquesne University Vice President, GPHEDC
Keynote
More than Professionalism: Inclusive Leadership Dr. Momodu C. Taylor, Chief Diversity Officer Seton Hill University Latinx/Hispanic in Higher Education Bianca DeJesus, Director of First-Year Programs University of Pittsburgh
Panel
Dr. Angelica Perez-Johnston, Chief Diversity Officer Community College of Allegheny County Dr. Chester Thompson, Associate Dean School of Business, Arts, Sciences, and Technology Community College of Beaver County BIPOC LGBTQ+ in Higher Education Dr. Ashley Grice, Director of the Pride Resource Center Colorado State University
Workshop
Dr. Andre Brown, Assistant Professor, Behavioral and Community Health Sciences University of Pittsburgh
Program Evaluation
Dr. Lorie Johnson-Osho, Director of Faculty Diversity & Development University of Pittsburgh
Closing Remarks
Dr. La Dawn Robinson, Carnegie Mellon University President, GPHEDC
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Keynote Address Momodu C. Taylor, PhD Chief Diversity Officer Seton Hill University Momodu C. Taylor, PhD. serves Seton Hill University as its Chief Diversity Officer, 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,. Dr. Taylor leads efforts to support a vibrant and engaged campus climate that enhances educational opportunities, fosters a sense of belonging, is supportive of all and provides leadership for comprehensive inclusion-oriented experiences and initiatives for the university community in collaboration with campus partners. Prior to joining Seton Hill, Dr. Taylor served Bowie State University, a public, historically Black university in Maryland, 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. At Lenoir-Rhyne, Dr. Taylor also served as the Lineberger Center for Cultural and Educational Development’s Multicultural Studies Scholar in Residence, a visiting professor of leadership studies. He also served the Prince George’s County Public Schools in Maryland as the Assistant Coordinator of the Academy of Law, Education, and Public Service and as a History Educator/College and Career Readiness Specialist. Dr. Taylor earned both a Doctorate in Leadership Studies and a Master of Arts in Teaching (History Education) from North Carolina A&T State University and a Bachelor of Arts in History from Livingstone College.
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JEDI Masters: GPHEDC Speaks Workshop Presenters Andre L Brown, PhD, MPH Assistant Professor, Assistant Professor, Behavioral and Community Health Sciences University of Pittsburgh, Graduate School of Public Health Dr. Brown’s research interests center on addressing the social determinants of health and achieving health equity for Black men–especially Black men who have sex with men. He has a special interest in uncovering the individual and socialstructural factors which are critical to improving the health and well-being of Black men across the life-course. Most recently, his research has focused on examining the social and cultural factors influencing Black men’s sexual behaviors. Specifically, he examines how experiences of race- and sexual-orientation-based stigma and discrimination, as well as diminished socioeconomic and educational capacity can lead to gender role strain and elicit stress-coping mechanisms that impact their health behaviors, such as concurrency (i.e., overlapping sexual partnerships). Additionally, some of his research focuses on how neighborhood conditions impact Black men’s sexual, drug use, and violence behaviors. Ultimately, he seeks to translate the findings from his research into policies, programs, and multi-level interventions which increase Black men’s access to health-promoting resources at the individual and socialstructural levels.
Bianca De Jesus, MEd Director of First Year Programs, University of Pittsburgh Bianca is passionate about creating inclusive spaces for students to thrive and strives to do this in her role as Director of First Year Programs within the Dietrich School at the University of Pittsburgh. She holds a bachelor’s degree in sociology and inclusive education from Nazareth College, a master’s degree in higher education administration from the University at Buffalo and is currently a doctoral candidate in Pitt’s School of Education. On a personal note, Bianca identifies as an AfroLatina from the Bronx, NY.
Ashley Grice, EdD Director of the Pride Resource Center Colorado State University Dr. Ashley Grice (she/her/hers) brings with her a passion and commitment to diversity, equity, joy and inclusion work, particularly from a lens of intersectionality that will continue to build upon all the great work that has been developed across various institutions and contexts. Dr. Grice completed her doctorate from the University of Pittsburgh in Social and Comparative Analysis in Education, and her dissertation focus was Faculty, Staff, and Student Perceptions of the Transgender and Gender-nonconforming (TGNC) Student Experiences at Carnegie Mellon University. Dr. Grice has invested much of her time and energy engaging, advocating and uplifting
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the LGBTQIA+ community on various campuses and in communities where she has lived over the years, and this is also true from a racial justice lens. As the Director of the Pride Resource Center at Colorado State University, Dr. Grice is eager to continue coalition building and collaborations across higher education to further contribute to the ongoing efforts of increasing inclusive, equitable, socially just and affirming campus communities for all.
Angelica Perez-Johnston, DPA Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Officer, Community College of Allegheny County Dr. Angelica Perez-Johnston (she/ella), Chief Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer for the Community College of Allegheny County is the only Chicana in a senior diversity position in higher education in Western PA. Her dissertation focused on the holistic approach to interventions to increase persistence and retention for systemically marginalized students. The 2021 Mena Valdez Latinx Inclusion award recipient, she is intentional in her support of increasing and advancing awareness of the ever increasing population of Latina/o/x identifying folks and the intentional ways in which these communities can be supported.
Chester (Chet) Thompson, ScD Associate Dean, School of Business, Arts, Science, and Technology Community College of Beaver County Dr. Chester (Chet) Thompson is a highly motivated academic, business, and civic-minded professional. He was awarded the MPA from the Graduate School of Public and International Affairs (GSPIA)-University of Pittsburgh and Doctor of Science, Robert Morris University. Chet was a sales executive with Pfizer, Inc., Bristol Myers Squibb (BMS), Oracle, and Verizon, marketing, selling, and promoting many pharmaceutical and technology products to hospitals and physicians, and other critical stakeholders in the pharmaceutical and healthcare industry. Dr. Thompson is Associate Dean, School of Business, Arts, Science, and Technology (BAST), and Chair, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion committee, Community College of Beaver County (CCBC), and former Director, the Black Male Leadership Development Institute (BMLDI), a joint program between the Urban League of Greater Pittsburgh and Robert Morris University.
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Panel/Workshop Descriptions “Latinx/Hispanic in Higher Education” Bianca DeJesus, MEd, University of Pittsburgh Angelica Perez-Johnston, DPA, Community College of Allegheny County Chester (Chet) Thompson, ScD, Community College of Beaver County This panel will address what it is like being a Latino/a in administrative roles within higher education. We will hear from an Associate Dean, a Chief Diversity Officer and a Student Services Officer about the challenges of being Hispanic/Latino nationally and in a region where the Latino/Hispanic community is detached. Each individual will provide insight on their individual professional paths and how they have been able to navigate thriving in the region and at their respective institutions.
“BIPOC LGBTQ+ in Higher Education” Andre Brown, PhD, University of Pittsburgh Ashley Grice, EdD, Colorado State University The demographics of leadership in higher education continue to be largely older, white, male and straight. Assuming leadership in the academy is challenging for those with intersectional identities outside the usual profile, particularly for BIPOC LGBTQ+ people who are dually marginalized. Ashley Grice, EdD, former GPHEDC member and director of Colorado State University’s Pride Resource Center, joins Andre Brown, PhD, assistant professor of Behavioral and Community Health Sciences in Pitt Public Health, and president of Pittsburgh Black Pride, to explore the challenges and recommendations for supporting the careers of BIPOC LGBTQ+ individuals on college and university campuses.
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Thank You! To the GPHEDC Professional Development Conference Planning Team, PCHE, and to all of our speakers, presenters and guests.
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