Speakers 2021
Alfredo Del Cid
Head of Learning and Development, Collective - A DEI Lab
Pronouns: He/Him, They/Them
Alfredo currently serves as Head of Learning and Development for Collective- A DEI Consultancy and Research Lab. He has been working in the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion space for over 12 years, helping organizations develop solutions that are bold, effective, and sustainable. He has worked with organizations across Latin America in developing and implementing DEI initiatives, work that led him to be recognized as a Next Generation LGBT Leader. As a queer individual who immigrated from Guatemala, they understand the importance of amplifying the voices of those in the margins so everyone can live to their fullest. Alfredo’s approach to DEI work is deliberate, strategic, and rooted in the value of both data and lived experiences. Alfredo’s work is grounded in the belief that DEI is a process and a goal, it requires accountability of self and others, it must be accessible, and can only be achieved through collaboration with care. He is involved in multiple community organizations that work towards the protection and advancement of LGBTQ individuals, Black and People of Color, and Immigrant communities. Their work often has them speaking and working across the country with organizations such as the National LGBT Task Force, the Obama Foundation, and the National Conference on Race and Ethnicity. In their free time, they enjoy competitive rowing, the art of drag, and exploring the connection between pop culture and DEI. Alfredo holds an M.Ed. in Learning Design and Technology from the University of Southern California and a BA in Sociology and LGBTQ Studies from the University of California Santa Barbara. Alfredo uses he/them pronouns interchangeably.
Anna spain bradley
Vice Chancellor, UCLA Equity, Diversity and Inclusion
Anna Spain Bradley is the Vice Chancellor for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion at the University of California, Los Angeles and a Professor of Law at UCLA School of Law. As UCLA’s chief diversity officer, she leads and advances campus strategies for enhancing equity, diversity and inclusion and oversees the university’s mechanisms for upholding civil rights protections.
An expert in international law and human rights, Vice Chancellor Spain Bradley is the author of Human Choice in International Law (Cambridge University Press, 2021) and Global Racism (Oxford University Press, forthcoming) in addition to numerous scholarly publications. Her current research concerns global mechanisms to combat racism and promote human rights. She serves as a legal expert to the United Nations on these matters.
Prior to joining UCLA, Vice Chancellor Spain Bradley served as Assistant Vice Provost for Faculty Development and Diversity (2017-2020) and a Professor of Law at the University of Colorado. She previously practiced international law as an Attorney-Adviser at the U.S. Department of State Office of the Legal Adviser where she received two Meritorious Honor Awards for her work representing the U.S. before the Iran-U.S. Claims Tribunal in The Hague and as a delegate to the United Nations Compensation Commission in Geneva. In 2021, she was elected as a Vice President of the American Society of International Law, having previously served on the Executive Council. She is a member of the Council on Foreign Relations, a member of the Academic Council of the Institute for Transnational Arbitration, and a founding member of Mediators Beyond Borders International. In 2018, she was one of four educators in the nation to receive the OZY Educator Award. She earned her J.D. from Harvard Law School and her B.A. from Denison University.
Anees Hasnain ’13
DEI Consultant, ReadySet
Pronouns: she/her
Anees grew up in a multicultural, multiracial environment leading to many questions and conversations about the world around her early on in her life. As the daughter of a Pakistani, Muslim father and an American, Catholic mother, her childhood existed at the intersections of Eid and Christmas, of biryani and beef stew. She witnessed how differently family members experienced life due to how they were racialized, the specifics of their faith, their gender and sexuality.
Anees takes pride in collaborating with laborers to address organizational change and development needs in order to foster more diverse, equitable, and inclusive work environments. Throughout her time in the tech industry, she partnered with executives, managers, and individual contributors to address biases in systems, structures, and processes. Prior to that, Anees planned fundraising events for an education nonprofit, improved donor engagement for a LGBT film festival, and oversaw a community service organization of ~2,000 undergraduate students, amongst a few other adventures. She earned her B.A. in Sociology from UCLA, and her Master’s in Organizational Leadership and Learning from George Washington University. Fun fact? She was an alternate on the USA taekwondo team for the 2008 Beijing Olympics.
Araceli Almazan '04
Senior Associate, Alvarez-Glassman & Colvin (AGC)
As Senior Associate at Alvarez-Glassman & Colvin (AGC), Araceli Almazan represents municipal entities and public entity clients in all areas of civil litigation, handling both litigation and transactional matters. She currently serves as Deputy City Attorney for the cities of Commerce, Pico Rivera, Montebello, Lynwood, Huntington Park, Norwalk and Buena Park, and as Special Counsel for the City of Santa Ana. Prior to joining AGC, Araceli represented employers in various areas of employment, including wrongful termination, discrimination, harassment and retaliation. Araceli also worked for a healthcare litigation firm, where she represented major California healthcare providers. Prior to law school, Araceli worked for the California State Senate, the Lieutenant Governor of California and the U.S. Department of Education in Washington, D.C. Araceli is an American Bar Foundation Fellow and has been actively involved in various trade associations. She has taken on leadership roles with the Los Angeles County Bar Association, the California State Bar, and the American Bar Association. Araceli earned her Juris Doctor degree from the University of California, Davis. She also earned a master’s degree in public administration with a concentration in public policy from Columbia University and a second master’s degree in public affairs with a concentration in Management from The London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE). Araceli is past president of the UCLA Alumni Southeast Network, active with the First Gen Alumni Network, a member of the Chancellor’s Society and also serves as an alumni mentor.
CARMEN YE
Head of People Culture and JEDI (Justice, Equity, Diversity, Inclusion), Make School
Carmen Ye is the Head of People, Culture, and JEDI (Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion) at Make School in San Francisco. Make School is redesigning higher education for the 21st century, and offers a 2.5-year Bachelor’s in Applied Computer Science. The majority of students at Make School come from low- to mid-income families, while nearly half identify as underrepresented minority students. As Head of People, Carmen leads integration of a JEDI lens into staff and student operations, learning and development, culture and organizational design, and morale-building.
Previously, Carmen was the Director of People Operations at LaunchCode, a national non-profit building a skilled workforce by creating pathways for driven people seeking careers in technology. She was responsible for ensuring equity, strengthening culture, driving talent, and managing human resources. During Carmen’s time at LaunchCode, the organization was a 2019 and 2020 honoree in the St Louis Women’s Foundation Women in the Workplace scorecard. This distinction recognizes employers who are committed to gender equity and initiatives to support women in the workplace. LaunchCode was also featured in Forbes’ 2019 Best Startup Employers.
Carmen holds a Master of Public Policy from the Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy at the University of Michigan, and a Bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Berkeley. Her policy interests include diversity, equity, and inclusion, leadership development, and identity formation among Asian Pacific Americans. Her personal interests include traveling, baking, and learning new languages, with fluency in Cantonese, Spanish, and Mandarin.
CAROL E. HENDERSON
Vice Provost for Diversity and Inclusion | Chief Diversity Officer | Adviser to the President, Emory University
Carol E. Henderson (PhD) is Vice Provost for Diversity and Inclusion, Chief Diversity Officer, and Advisor to the President at Emory University in Atlanta, Georgia. Prior to this appointment, Henderson served as the inaugural Vice Provost for Diversity at the University of Delaware, where, working with senior leaders to formulate diversity and inclusion plans across campus, Henderson developed numerous initiatives that have helped promote a welcoming and inclusive campus climate. This commitment and progress led to UD’s Higher Education Excellence in Diversity Award from INSIGHT into Diversity magazine in both 2017 and 2018. Prior to her inaugural role, she also served as associate director/director of undergraduate studies of then Black American Studies (now Africana Studies) and became the first chair of the department. The recipient of several community, professional and research awards, including the 2020 Outstanding Woman of Color Award by the Women of Color Initiative, Atlanta Collaborative in Higher Education. The author/editor of five books, the special issue editor for four journals, she has published numerous essays in critical volumes and journals. Her forthcoming article, “’All Eyez On Me: On Being Black, Female, and a First-Gen Leader in the Academy” will be published Fall 2021 in a special issue on Black women in leadership in Palimpsest: A Journal on Women, Gender, and the Black International. She is currently at work on an article that examines James Baldwin’s influence on writers Ta-Nehisi Coates and Jesmyn Ward. Henderson received her undergraduate degree in Political Science from the
University of California, Los Angeles, her Master of Arts in English from California State University, Dominguez Hills, and her doctorate from the University of California, Riverside. She is Professor Emerita of English and Africana Studies at the University of Delaware.
Cecilia B. Loving
Deputy Commissioner and Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer, NYFD
Pronouns: she/her
Cecilia B. Loving is Deputy Commissioner and Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer at the Fire Department of New York City, where she has provided leadership for developing and maintaining a positive and inclusive work environment for over 17,000 members since 2016. She is a winner of the National Diversity Council’s 2021 Top 100 Diversity Officers Award; the Department of Citywide Administrative Services’ 2021 Innovation Award for FDNY’s Inclusive Culture Strategy; Lawline’s Top Women Faculty of 2020 Award; and the City Bar Association’s 2020 Diversity and Inclusion Champion Award. She oversees countless diversity and inclusion initiatives, including but not limited to the Fire Commissioner’s Taskforce on Racial Inclusion & Equity, the Fire Commissioner’s Committee on Diversity and Inclusion, Courageous Conversations on Racial Inclusion, Bravest Women Talks, Women’s Summits, Diversity and Inclusion Innovation Labs, Inclusion Strategy Videos, Diversity and Inclusion Advocates, and a robust Diversity and Inclusion Curriculum. Commissioner Loving joined FDNY in 2015 as Director of FDNY’s General Law Unit, leading six legal units and providing legal advice for Human Rights, Equal Employment Opportunity, and other legal issues. She previously worked for the New York City Commission on Human Rights and served as Counsel at Patterson Belknap, as an Associate at Kramer Levin, and as Appellate Counsel at the Legal Aid Society. She is the founder of the Mindfulness Group at FDNY and is Chair of the NYC Bar Association’s first Mindfulness and Well-Being in the Law Committee. In addition to obtaining her Juris Doctor from NYU School of Law, Cecilia obtained her BFA from Howard University, her MFA from UCLA, and her MDiv from New York Theological Seminary. She has written several books, as well as numerous articles and blogs, including “Some Ways to Help Racial Healing”; “Setting the Tone Right Through Inclusive Leadership”; “The Power of Inclusion: Treating Others Well is Essential to Our Well-Being”; “More Support for Mindfulness: Reduction of Implicit Bias”; and “Restorative Circles: Finding Solutions from Ancient Traditions.”
Christine Cadena ’84
Vice President, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, The Walt Disney Company
Pronouns: she/her
Christine Cadena is Vice President, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at The Walt Disney Company. In her role, she is responsible for advancing inclusive marketplace practices, growth across diverse consumer segments and building community partnerships. She has held progressive roles within Disney, including product development, feature film marketing and franchise development. In her current role, she has lead companywide initiatives focused on the Multicultural Consumers, Disability Inclusion and Narrative Change. Prior to coming to Disney, she began her career as a buyer and product development executive for Nordstrom and currently serves on the board of ASCEND and RespectAbility. Christine is a native of Los Angeles and a graduate of UCLA.
Daedra C. Staten J.D. ’13
Founder & Chief Diversity Consultant, SCG Diversity Consulting
Pronouns: she/her
Hi, I’m Daedra, and I’m a diversity, anti-racism, and inclusion ("DAI") consultant and educator living in Los Angeles. I believe that diversity, anti-racism, and inclusion touch everything that we do.
I am the founder and Chief Diversity Consultant at SCG Diversity Consulting which provides businesses, non-profits, and educational institutions with comprehensive diversity, anti-racism, and inclusion education, training, and programming. SCG’s projects vary in magnitude and depth depending on the client, but involve developing DAI panels and other educational programming, conducting organizational audits of internal DAI structures and practices, building and implementing DAI policies, and developing diversity recruitment and retention plans.
Prior to founding SCG, I spent the better part of a decade at UCLA Law, first as a law student, and then as the Assistant Director of Graduate Studies, working with international graduate law students. In this capacity, I traveled the globe recruiting a diverse class for several months out of every year while also developing diversity and academic support programming.
I graduated from UCLA Law in 2013 with a specialization in Critical Race Studies and a focus on International and Comparative Law. I received a dual bachelor's degree from the University of Southern California in 2010 in International Relations Global Business (Marketing) and Philosophy (Ethics, Law & Value Theory). I am a member of the California State Bar.
D’Artagnan Scorza ’07, Ph.D. ’13
Executive Director of Racial Equity, Los Angeles County
D’Art believes that education can be used as a tool for civic and social empowerment in order to advance justice in communities. Currently serving as the inaugural Executive Director of Racial Equity for Los Angeles County, D’Art’s work has centered on building leaders who fight for equity in communities and schools. He founded and was the Executive Director of the Social Justice Learning Institute, and served the Inglewood Unified School District as President of the Board of Education.
D’Art serves as a lecturer in the Fielding School of Public Health at UCLA, is a UC Regent Emeritus and is the current President of the UCLA Alumni Association. In these roles, he helped pass policies that established veterans’ services centers and prioritized $160 million for student services across UC campuses. He also improved sustainability in Inglewood schools by helping to secure $90 million to support school construction efforts.
As a US Navy Iraq War Veteran, D’Art believes that being a responsible leader means setting a strong personal example. Upon returning to his hometown of Inglewood from his tour in Iraq, he was eager to help youth in his community by expanding literacy programs, helping more teens to graduate high school and pursue higher education. D’Art created the Urban Scholars program to help train students to be social justice youth leaders while receiving opportunities for academic support, career pathway guidance, personal growth and college scholarships. Students who complete this program have a 95% graduation rate from high school, and 85% of those are successfully accepted into college. He also wrote and co-authored articles that focused on improving literacy practices for youth of color in urban communities.
For his work paving the way in advocacy, policy and philanthropy, he was recognized as one of the 40 Emerging Civic Leaders under 40 in 2018 and he received the UCLA Recent Graduate Achievement Award in 2016. He is an Education Pioneers Fellow and a Business Alliance for Local Living Economies (BALLE) Fellow, working to end discrimination against people in rural and urban communities by supporting them in their endeavors to start businesses and buy homes. He also serves on the PATHS UP Advisory Board, supporting workforce development for innovative and cost-effective technologies that heal chronic diseases in underserved areas.
Devon Dickau ’07, M.B.A. ’15
DEI Consulting Practice Co-Lead, Deloitte Consulting
Pronouns: he/him
Devon Dickau is co-lead of the diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) consulting practice at Deloitte Consulting. In this role, he conducts research and advises Fortune 500 organizations and large nonprofits on DEI strategy and the transition to the future of work. He is co-author of several recent Deloitte publications, including The equity imperative and Support your Black workforce, now. Prior to Deloitte, Devon's career spanned the nonprofit and education spaces, including starting UCLA's department of Parent & Family Programs and work as a social impact consultant focused on the entertainment industry. Devon is a proud double Bruin, earning his B.A. in American Literature & Culture from UCLA in 2007 and M.B.A. in 2015, and in 2018 he was named UCLA Young Alumnus of the Year. Devon also earned an M.Ed. in Technology, Innovation & Education from Harvard where his research focused on how media and technology empower social change. Additionally, Devon sits on the board of the Social Impact Fund and the Emerging Leaders Cabinet of the United Way of Greater Los Angeles, and is a former president of both the UCLA Young Alumni Development Council and the UCLA LGBTQ+ Lambda Alumni Association.
DIANA ZSCHASCHEL ’92, D.D.S. ’97, CERT. ’99, M.D.E. CERT. ’04
Owner, LA Dental Spa
Pronouns: she/her
Dr. Diana Zschaschel started her practice in 1999, incorporating her skills in behavioral therapy and hospital dentistry into her private practice. After dental school, she took a position with Children’s Miracle Network, a non-profit organization, providing dental care for the children of migrant workers in Northern California. Diana started Angels’ Smiles with the vision to bring optimum dental and overall quality healthcare to persons with disabilities. She has served on the medical board of directors for the PACE/Headstart program of Los Angeles. In 2001, Diana joined the Army Reserves to assist soldiers and travel for humanitarian missions around the world. In 2004, she was deployed to treat soldiers going to and returning from Iraq. She served as Battalion Commander for the 7452nd Medical Backfill Battalion in San Diego, where she was responsible for five medical, dental and veterinary companies comprising nearly 600 soldiers. She was Dental Consultant to ARMEDCOM division and currently is a Colonel and commander for the 185th Dental Company Area Support in Orange County, where she is responsible for 150 dentists and dental auxiliaries. For many years, Diana served as an Ambassador for the LA area Chamber of Commerce, which named her Volunteer of the Year. In 2007, she received Local Hero of the Year from Union Bank and was featured on KCET’s Hispanic Heritage Month. Diana received the Distinguished Alumna of the Year for Service by Chaminade College Preparatory.At UCLA and St. Vincent’s hospital she worked with medical anesthesiologists to treat severely disabled individuals, enabling them to receive quality dental care. While attending UCLA, she became a behavioral specialist for autistic children and continued to work as a therapist for several years while completing dental school. Following opportunities provided by the UCLA School of Dentistry to work with persons with disabilities, with the help of professors and classmates, Diana started a grassroots campaign with the statewide Special Olympics to provide oral screenings for the athletes. Among other awards, Diana received the Biotene Award for Excellence after completing oral exams of over 300 persons with developmental disabilities for a UCLA Public Health study. Diana is currently involved with the Prytanean Alumnae Association and has been a lecturer at the UCLA School of Dentistry general practice Residency program.
Grace Moss
VP Equity & Inclusion (Pipeline Programs), WarnerMedia
Pronouns: she/her
Grace Moss is the VP Equity & Inclusion (Pipeline Programs) for WarnerMedia. In this role, she helps oversee the enterprise’s efforts to expand the talent pool of underrepresented writers and directors and build additional pathways for diverse talent. Prior to WarnerMedia, Grace served as the Head of Talent Development & Inclusion for NBC Entertainment, where she spearheaded multiple programs that focused on discovering, cultivating and showcasing talented writers and directors of diverse backgrounds. Grace also managed nationwide outreach efforts and developed relationships with community partners, such as the National Hispanic Media Coalition, Coalition of Asian Pacifics in Entertainment and the Barcid Foundation. Before coming to NBC, Grace was a Development Executive at the Style Network, where she shepherded new series, from initial pitch to production. Prior to her stint at the Style Network, she worked as a freelance reality Producer and Director on a plethora of unscripted shows on a variety of networks, including MTV, VH1, TLC and NBC. Grace graduated from UCLA with a BA English and Minor in Asian American Studies. In her spare time, Grace enjoys playing tennis, wine tasting and baking with her son.
Hanna Song
Vice President & Chief Diversity Officer, Children’s Hospital LA
Pronouns: she/her
Hanna Song, PhD, is the Vice President and Chief Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Officer for Children’s Hospital Los Angeles.
Hanna oversees the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, providing vision, leadership and strategic direction to workplace DEI efforts throughout the enterprise. She reports to the President & CEO, serves as a member of Cabinet and is tasked with leading the development of a strategic roadmap for CHLA’s DEI work in order to foster an inclusive and equitable workplace culture that respects, appreciates and leverages diversity to achieve high performance, engagement and innovation in alignment with CHLA’s mission.
Hanna comes to CHLA from the California Institute of Technology, where she served as Senior Director for Inclusion & Diversity. There, she helped develop Caltech’s strategic plan for diversity including best practices for staff and faculty recruitment, retention and promotion along with changes to critical processes and policies to strengthen the Institute’s approach to diversity. Under her leadership, Caltech has launched campus-wide efforts to improve structural diversity, raise cultural competencies and awareness, and institutionalize programs, policies, and processes that promote an equitable and inclusive environment for all. Hanna has authored more than a dozen publications, reports and presentations on higher education and race and gender equity.
She also previously served as Assistant Dean for Academic Affairs at Occidental College and Chief Institutional Research and Planning Officer at Amherst College.
Hanna holds a PhD and a master’s degree in Higher Education and Organizational Change from UCLA, a master’s in Education Policy, Organizations, and Leadership Studies from Stanford University, and a bachelor’s degree in Sociology from the University of California, Berkeley.
Jaime Nack ’98, MPP ’02
President, Three Squares Inc.
Pronouns: she/her
Jaime Nack ’98, MPP ’02 is the President of Three Squares Inc. (TSI) – an award-winning sustainability consulting firm specializing in creating strategies for corporations, events, and communities. Nack is one of the nation’s most prominent environmental experts and has advised many Fortune 500 companies, cities, and large-scale events. Most notably, Nack served as the Director of Sustainability for the 2008 Democratic National Convention, marking the first time in history where measures were taken to reduce the environmental impact of the event on the host city. In 2011, Nack was named a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum. She also received an appointment under the Obama administration to serve on the National Women’s Business Council, an advisory council to the President, Congress and the SBA on economic issues of importance to women business owners. In 2013, Nack was named the “Environmental Conservator of the Year” by the L.A. Area Chamber of Commerce. Nack speaks to audiences around the world about the business case for sustainability and its impact on the future of the global marketplace. Nack has a Master’s in Public Policy from UCLA, where she also earned her Bachelor’s in International Economics, with a specialization in Latin America.
Joe Saucedo
Equity Program Manager, Partnership for College Completion
Pronouns: (he/him/él)
A proud Mexican-American from San Antonio, Texas, Joe Saucedo lives with his wife Cat and their three sons in Skokie, Illinois. Joe is a first-generation college graduate from Georgetown University and UCLA. He has more than a decade of experience engaged in college access, diversity education, and student success initiatives. In 2019, Joe joined the team of Chicago-based nonprofit, Partnership for College Completion. In his role as Equity Program Manager, he advises and consults with senior leaders at community colleges and universities across northern Illinois to assist them with closing graduation gaps that persist among Black, Latinx, and low-income students.
Joyce Liu-Countryman ’96
Facilitator and People Scientist, ReadySet Consulting and Cineclusion Consulting
Pronouns: she/her
Joyce Liu-Countryman is a multi-domain diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) practitioner with expertise that spans academic, corporate and creative verticals. She started out as a psychology major at UCLA and discovered anthropology, eventually graduating Summa Cum Laude and Phi Beta Kappa with a BA in both majors. At the Universities of Wisconsin and Hawai’i, her doctoral research examined the impact of racism and unconscious bias on the psychological assessments of ethnic minorities. Her research has been published in edited books and peer-reviewed research journals. Joyce cut her teeth on DEI program management, strategy and execution at Sony Pictures Entertainment, E*TRADE Financial and Nestlé USA, with over 15 years in corporate Human Resources roles. With an MFA in producing from the AFI Conservatory, Joyce has produced over 20 films and music videos, and will serve as Co-Executive Producer on an upcoming Asian American TV comedy series under the Sony Pictures Television banner.
Joyce’s film projects have screened and won awards at LGBTQIA+, Latinx, Native American and Asian American festivals, including the Los Angeles Film Festival, Bentonville, Portland Film Festival, Santa Barbara International Film Fest, OutFest Fusion, Frameline, NALIP, SkinsFest, CAAMfest and the Los Angeles Asian Pacific American Film Festival. Joyce is an active leader in the AFI Alumni Network and founded the AFI Alumni Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Committee in response to the Racial Reckoning of 2020. She currently leverages her DEI and creative producer expertise as consultant and coach to entertainment industry executives and production companies; and continues to produce film and television that amplify stories by, for and about BIPOC, LGBTQIA+ and intersectional identities. As a part-time Facilitator and People Scientist with ReadySet Consulting, she is directly engaged in the Television Academy's current inclusion assessment. She separately provides DEI consulting for smaller entertainment industry clients under her private label, Cineclusion Consulting.
Kausar Mohammed ’14
Co-Founder, Facilitator and Lecturer, SHIFT
Pronouns: she/her
Kausar Mohammed’s strategic intention is to create more visibility for communities of color and historically marginalized folks. She does so by fostering community in her daily life; producing and acting in TV, film, and live comedy projects; and facilitating discussions around race and gender through SHIFT. Kausar is accredited by NBC, Huffington Post, and Al-Jazeera for her comedy and activism work and has worked with various non-profits, such as LACER Afterschool Programs and Aga Khan Foundation, on their development and marketing campaigns. She is Queer, Muslim, and a Hufflepuff/Slytherin hybrid.
Kenya Yarbrough
Director, DEIA & Advocacy Girl Scouts of Greater Los Angeles
She/her/hers
Kenya Yarbrough is the Director of DEIA & Advocacy at Girl Scouts where she helps to build the sustainable integration of inclusive leadership competencies in girl programming and organizational culture, as well as promote policy and legislation in support of equity and opportunity for girls. She previously served as director of marketing for the organization, where she led strategies to strengthen the iconic brand and embolden girls to become brilliant, empathetic leaders. Under her tenure, GSGLA has established itself as a model for creating impactful cause marketing, persuasive messaging, and strategic community and corporate alliances that champion a gender-balanced leadership landscape. Kenya has made a significant impact in growing membership, representation, and presence for Girl Scouts in underrepresented communities throughout Los Angeles County and has played a major role in building a culture of philanthropy to the movement via corporate partnerships.
Prior to her role at Girl Scouts, Kenya’s career spanned the entertainment industry and the political arena. She was a lead journalist at Bailey Broadcasting, and associate editor for HITS Magazine. She transferred her skills and passion to empower into serving as a political fundraiser for prominent elected officials on the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, Los Angeles City Council, and the California State Assembly.
Kenya is motivated by the necessity of establishing equality and equity for marginalized populations. She is a member of Delta Sigma Theta, Inc., the Public Relations Society of America, Black PR Society, ColorComm, and serves on the UCLA Black Alumni Association Board. She was named a 2019 Los Angeles Impact Maker to Watch by Stratiscope, a 2017 Leadership Los Angeles Fellow and, and earned a BA in English: American Studies from UCLA, an MA in mass communication: broadcast journalism from Cal State University Northridge, and an MPA from San Diego State University this winter. An Alabama native-Cali transplant, Kenya can be found immersed in college football cheering on her beloved Bruins or the National Champion Crimson Tide in the fall/winter and devouring Girl Scout Cookies in the spring/summer.
Michael V. Drake
President, University of California
In August 2020, Michael V. Drake, M.D., became the 21st president of UC’s world-renowned system of 10 campuses, five medical centers, three nationally affiliated labs, more than 280,000 students and 230,000 faculty and staff.
Dr. Drake previously served as president of The Ohio State University (OSU) from 2014 through June 2020. Prior to his six years at OSU, his entire academic career has been at UC, including as chancellor of UC Irvine for nine years from 2005 to 2014 and as the systemwide vice president for health affairs from 2000 to 2005.
Drake received his A.B. from Stanford University and his residency, M.D., and fellowship in ophthalmology from UCSF. He subsequently spent more than two decades on the faculty of the UCSF School of Medicine, including as the Steven P. Shearing Professor of Ophthalmology.
Under his leadership, Drake greatly enhanced UC Irvine’s reputation as a premier university. UC Irvine rose to join the top 10 public universities in U.S. News & World Report’s annual list and was ranked by Times Higher Education as the No. 1 university in the U.S. under 50 years old. During his tenure at the campus, the four-year graduation rate increased by more than 18 percent, while undergraduate enrollment and diversity significantly increased. In addition, Drake oversaw the establishment of new schools of law and education as well as programs in public health, nursing and pharmacy.
Drake has published numerous articles and co-authored six books. He served as a reviewer for several medical journals, including the Journal of the American Medical Association, Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science and the American Journal of Ophthalmology. Drake is a member of several national scientific and scholarly societies, and has received various awards for teaching, public service, mentoring and research. He is a member of the National Academy of Medicine and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. He received the UCSF School of Medicine’s Clinical Teaching Award, the Hogan Award for Laboratory Research, the Chancellor’s Award for Public Service, the Martin Luther King Jr. Award for University Service, the UC Irvine Medal, and the University of California Presidential Medal in recognition of his exemplary service to the University.
Drake’s extensive public service experience includes various roles for the American Medical Association, the National Eye Institute, the Association of American Medical Colleges, and multiple commissions on health in the state of California. He is a former chair of the board of directors of the Association of American Universities and currently serves as a member of the board of directors for the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities. He is also the chair of the board of governors of the National Collegiate Athletic Association, a member of the American Talent Initiative Steering Committee, and a member of the board of directors of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
In August 2020, Michael V. Drake, M.D., became the 21st president of UC’s world-renowned system of 10 campuses, five medical centers, three nationally affiliated labs, more than 280,000 students and 230,000 faculty and staff.
Dr. Drake previously served as president of The Ohio State University (OSU) from 2014 through June 2020. Prior to his six years at OSU, his entire academic career has been at UC, including as chancellor of UC Irvine for nine years from 2005 to 2014 and as the systemwide vice president for health affairs from 2000 to 2005.
Drake received his A.B. from Stanford University and his residency, M.D., and fellowship in ophthalmology from UCSF. He subsequently spent more than two decades on the faculty of the UCSF School of Medicine, including as the Steven P. Shearing Professor of Ophthalmology.
Under his leadership, Drake greatly enhanced UC Irvine’s reputation as a premier university. UC Irvine rose to join the top 10 public universities in U.S. News & World Report’s annual list and was ranked by Times Higher Education as the No. 1 university in the U.S. under 50 years old. During his tenure at the campus, the four-year graduation rate increased by more than 18 percent, while undergraduate enrollment and diversity significantly increased. In addition, Drake oversaw the establishment of new schools of law and education as well as programs in public health, nursing and pharmacy.
Drake has published numerous articles and co-authored six books. He served as a reviewer for several medical journals, including the Journal of the American Medical Association, Investigative Ophthalmology and Visual Science and the American Journal of Ophthalmology. Drake is a member of several national scientific and scholarly societies, and has received various awards for teaching, public service, mentoring and research. He is a member of the National Academy of Medicine and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. He received the UCSF School of Medicine’s Clinical Teaching Award, the Hogan Award for Laboratory Research, the Chancellor’s Award for Public Service, the Martin Luther King Jr. Award for University Service, the UC Irvine Medal, and the University of California Presidential Medal in recognition of his exemplary service to the University.
Drake’s extensive public service experience includes various roles for the American Medical Association, the National Eye Institute, the Association of American Medical Colleges, and multiple commissions on health in the state of California. He is a former chair of the board of directors of the Association of American Universities and currently serves as a member of the board of directors for the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities. He is also the chair of the board of governors of the National Collegiate Athletic Association, a member of the American Talent Initiative Steering Committee, and a member of the board of directors of the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame.
Natalie Bui
Manager, SHIFT
Pronouns: she/her
Natalie Bui (she/her) is a second-generation, Vietnamese American and comes to SHIFT with a background in policy and organizing. She's previously worked on voter education at Planned Parenthood, immigrant rights at the ACLU of San Diego, and policy advocacy at Asian Americans Advancing Justice - Los Angeles. She's also an illustrator and cares deeply about centering the narratives, identities, and politics of communities of color. Through her artwork, she's collaborated with organizations such as The National Women's Law Center, United State of Women, Asian Prisoner Support Committee, and more.
Oscar Ll Boado, Jr. ’18
Utilization Analyst, Kaiser Permanente Southern California
Oscar L. Boado, Jr. is a Utilization Analyst for the Behavioral Health Utilization Department at Kaiser Permanente Southern California regional offices. Mr. Boado is also the National Co-Chair of the Kaiser Permanente Latinx Association. He’s been with Kaiser Permanente nearly two decades, which the majority of those years has been in the Mental Health Department. Recently, Mr. Boado was appointed Education Commissioner for the City of Bell Gardens. He’s also involved with UCLA Alumni diversity groups and networks. Mr. Boado earned a Bachelor of Arts in Sociology and a minor in Chicana/o Studies at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA).
Paco Retana ’87, M.S.W. ’90
Vice President, Wellnest
For nearly 30 years, Paco Retana has been serving the vulnerable youth and marginalized communities in Los Angeles. As a recognized mental health expert and vice president of programs at Wellnest (formerly Los Angeles Child Guidance Center), he is responsible for all clinical programs, including strategic planning, program evaluation and training in support of Wellnest’s mission to provide quality mental health services, promoting early intervention and ensuring easy access for a community in great need by initiating and implementing program changes to meet new funding streams for innovative prevention programs. Additionally, Paco has served as a consultant for numerous community organizations and educational institutions including First 5 LA, Watts Gang Task Force, Green Dot Public Schools and the Santa Ana Unified School District, providing professional development training, psychological and facilitation services, counseling, education and crisis intervention.
Paco is the former co-chair of the Latino Underserved Cultural Communities for DMH, he is a former voting member of the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health (DMH) System Leadership Team, and former co-chair of the Service Area Advisory Committee for South Los Angeles. Paco serves on the UCLA Order of the Blue Shield and as a Luskin Senior Fellow. He is also a UCLA Alumni Association Sustaining Donor.
Paco is the recipient of the Humanitarian Award from the National Conference for Community and Justice and an Honoree of NAMI Urban Los Angeles. Paco earned a bachelor’s in psychology and a master in social work from the UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs. He is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker.
Raja G Bhattar, M.A. ‘15, Ph.D. ‘19
Principal Consultant, Bhattar Consulting
Pronouns: they/them/theirs
Dr. Raja Gopal Bhattar is a nationally-recognized higher education leader, advocate, consultant and author. Previously, Dr. Bhattar served as the Assistant Provost and Executive Director of the Center for Identity + Inclusion at the University of Chicago, overseeing the Office of Multicultural Student Affairs, LGBTQ Student Life and Student Support Services along with campus-wide climate and inclusion work. Raja has also held positions at the University of California – Los Angeles, American River College (Los Rios Community College District), University of Redlands, University of Vermont, Champlain College and Semester at Sea (University of Virginia). They hold a PhD and Master of Arts degrees in Higher Education and Organizational Change from UCLA, a Master of Education in Higher Education and Student Affairs Administration from the University of Vermont and Bachelor’s in Psychology with a minor in Spanish Literature from Boston University.
Raja’s work straddles qualitative and quantitative approaches to intersectional identity development and the experiences of LGBTQ people, immigrants, first-generation students, international students and people of color in higher education. Raja’s research centers intersections of identity and sense of belonging, international students, HIV-AIDS in higher education, access and inclusion in global higher education and impact of diverse staff and faculty on student experience and campus climate. They have authored numerous articles and book chapters and present regularly at national and regional conferences. Raja has been featured in The Advocate Magazine, Huffington Post, BuzzFeed, India Abroad Magazine, Hinduism Today Magazine, the Vermont Quarterly and many other news outlets. Dr. Bhattar is an inaugural Racial Equity Fellow with InterFaith Youth Core’s Interfaith America initiative.
Raja has served in various leadership roles for NASPA – Student Affairs Professionals in Higher education with the Asian Pacific Islander Knowledge Community, Gender and Sexuality Knowledge Community, Region I, Region VI, Equity, Inclusion and Social Justice Division and various other committees. They also served as the People of Color constituency chair and Institute Chair for the Consortium of LGBT Resource Professionals in Higher Education.
Dr. Bhattar comes from a lineage of Hindu spiritual leaders and is a proud queer and gender non-conforming person of color, 1.5 generation immigrant, first-generation college student and spiritual practitioner. They approach this work with a passion for sustainable organizational impact and a bold vision of equity and access through social change.
Dr. Sangeeta R. Gupta
President and Lead Consultant, Gupta Consulting Group
Pronouns: she/her
Dr. Gupta is a globally recognized expert with more than 25 years of experience in Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Race & Ethnicity, Gender, and Unconscious Bias. Dr. Gupta is a trusted advisor to C-level executives helping them create a more inclusive, equitable, and productive work environment. Dr. Gupta works with organizations to define and create a holistic DEI strategy and implementation plan with impactful and actionable steps. She is a highly sought-after speaker and has published extensively in DEI including a series of children's books. Dr. Gupta has developed and implemented training programs and consulted on organizational effectiveness issues, particularly initiatives focused on diversity, equity, and creating an environment of inclusion. She believes that training should be interactive, engaging and that it should utilize real world examples. Her intention is to provide tools that can be applied immediately upon returning to the workplace.
Dr. Gupta is a specialist in non-western cultures, and she speaks several languages. She is the author of six books including the Quick Guide to Cultural Competency and the forthcoming books Build Your Own Table: Women and Leadership 2.0, and Understanding & Mitigating Unconscious Bias, part of the Quick Guide Business Series designed for the busy professional. Dr. Gupta is also the co-author of a series of children’s books on diversity, inclusion and multiculturalism including Maya & Rajan Go to North India and Maya & Rajan’s Rainbow of Friends. She received her Ph.D. from UCLA and graduated summa cum laude, Phi Beta Kappa, and as a departmental scholar.
Talya Sharps ’14
Recruiter, Netflix
Pronouns: she/her
Originally from the East coast, Talya grew up in Southern California and is a UCLA alumna. She's always had a love for languages and cultures, she studied Middle Eastern & North African Studies and French in school. She started her career in talent acquisition by recruiting nurses to work in schools for children with special needs. As a Recruiter at Netflix, Talya recruited for the film, music, creative production, and legal teams. Currently, she focuses on hiring animation creative and production executives. During her time at Netflix, she's been an active member of their employee resource group for Black employees and led their recruitment and retention initiatives this past year.
Fun fact: Talya taught English abroad in Bali.
Connect with her on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/talyasharps/
Terry Chi, M.B.A. ’00
Director of Mobile & Digital Innovation, Caesars Entertainment
Terry Chi is the Director of Mobile & Digital Innovation at Caesars Entertainment. She oversees the design and development of the award-winning Caesars Rewards mobile app, and mobile marketing for the company’s 50+ casinos and resorts. As Chair of the company’s Asian business resource group called HAPA (Hawaiian, Asian, Pacific Islander & Allies), she leads a board of seven who have increased HAPA’s membership from 95 two years ago to 260 employees. Before moving to Las Vegas, she lived in Los Angeles for almost 20 years after graduating from UCLA Anderson in 2000 from the full-time MBA program. At UCLA, she served as President of the Asian Management Students Association. Terry received her undergraduate degree from Cornell University where she double majored in Government and Women’s Studies. #Feminist #StopAsianHate
Tiffany Bowden
Global Diversity Program Manager, Amazon
Pronouns: she/her
Entrepreneur, Business Consultant, Coach, and Corporate Diversity Expert, Dr. Tiffany Bowden, MA, Ph.D. has devoted her life’s work to transformation at the level of the individual, interpersonal, and social. Through the pathway of communication, she has sought to understand and heal how we communicate with ourselves and each other as an emancipatory work. Dr. Bowden has a Ph.D. in Communications with a specialization in Diversity and Inclusion. She holds a Master’s and a Bachelors from the E.W. Scripps College of Communication at Ohio University specializing in Cultural studies and Advertising Management. She has been featured in Ebony, Time, Vice, TED, Washington Post, Black Enterprise, Reuter’s, Bloomberg, High Times, CNN, and more. She has academic publications at the intersection of gender, identity, ethnicity, and more.
Tracy Mack ’12
Global Strategy Lead, Workforce Diversity, Google
Pronouns: she/her
Traci Mack leads global strategic initiatives for Google's Workforce Diversity team. She is responsible for helping Google actualize its company-wide Racial Equity commitments and creating strategic roadmaps for their implementation. Traci came into the racial justice space organically after years working to further diverse representation and content in tech, media and sports. She also established Google's first-ever Inclusion Partnerships strategy; in fact, in 2020, she led Google's first official partnership with Indigenous nations, establishing computer access for scores of underserved students in the early days of the COVID pandemic. She also created programs and services to empower Google employees of color during the pandemic, such as a speaker series on DEI topics featuring guests such as Alicia Keys, John Leguizamo, and Adm. Michelle Howard.
Prior to Google, Traci spent almost two decades working for ESPN and Disney in various executive roles, including conceptualizing and establishing ESPN's DEI-focused "Next" program for entry-level production employees; leading Disney-wide synergy projects for properties such as Star Wars and Marvel; and leading content strategy, partnerships, and sponsorship integration. She was directly responsible for 500+ hires at ESPN -- nearly half of whom were BIPOC -- and considers that the most rewarding part of her career.
An L.A. native, Traci is a current or former member of the National Association for Multi-Ethnicity in Communications, National Association of Black Journalists, Association of Women in Sports Media, and American Mensa. She is also a two-time Emmy winner from her previous life in TV production, and a former Jeopardy! contestant. She loves cheesy '80s action movies, hip-hop dance, and the Dodgers. When she's not working, she's keeping up with her 3-year-old daughter Margot.
Veline Mojarro ’12
Co-Founder & CEO, SHIFT
Pronouns: she/her
Veline Mojarro is an educator, and reproductive justice advocate from Los Angeles, California. Her work operates at the intersection of art, social justice, and equity. Veline is a co-founder of SHIFT: Sexual Harassment Prevention, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Consulting. Previously, she was the Director of Equity, Safety, and Inclusion for every one, a Goldenvoice initiative to prevent and stop any form of harassment at Coachella and Stagecoach music festivals. She also was a Lecturer in the Department of World Arts and Cultures/Dance at UCLA, where she also served as Director of Community Programs for the UCLA Art and Global Health Center.
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