Areas of expertise:

• 20 years in diversity, equity, and inclusion work in higher education
• Training and facilitation
• Leadership development
• Anti-racism training and education
• LGBTQIA training and education
• Training and education on healthy masculinity
• Understanding and dismantling systems of oppression
• Strategic planning

Why Equity, Diversity and Inclusion? 
EDI is rooted in my life experience. Spanish was my first language and my family experienced much marginalization while I was growing up. I naturally connect with individuals and communities who are “left out.” I am motivated by work which dismantles barriers to human opportunity and progress in the world, in our communities, and in our organizations. I imagine a world where all human beings are given the opportunity to tap into their inherent gifts and talents, develop the skills to contribute greatly to our communities, find meaning and purpose in their work, and can believe truly that our unique, diverse and intersectional identities are genuinely valued.

Favorite comfort meal: My Titi Carmen’s Puerto Rican arroz con gandules.

Areas of expertise:

• Instructional Design
• Intercultural Communication
• Adult Education and Curriculum Development
• Capacity Building
• Business Operation Strategies

Why Equity, Diversity and Inclusion? 
I am increasingly encouraged by the work in EDI as I believe we must use innovative methods of community engagement to build a strong foundation for growth and understanding. I aim to question our unconscious biases, encourage cultural exchange, and develop creative educational solutions to have these difficult conversations.
This is something we can look for in all areas of life, and I continue to look for cultural preservation, integration and education in my personal life in music and food!

Favorite comfort meal: I find that my comfort food is really anything that has rice as the focal point of the dish: Paella, Biryani, Fried Rice, buttered Rice etc. 

Jasmin M. Robinson is a consultant, educator, and equity thought partner with over 12 years of professional experience. She works with higher education institutions, k-12 schools, corporate, and non-
profit organizations with diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives, strategic planning, program development, training, and facilitation. Jasmin currently serves as the Director of Diversity Equity and Inclusion Initiatives for MSM Global Consulting.

She is a certified qualified administrator for the Intercultural Development Inventory, LLC and is
completing a Ph.D. in Educational Administration. Her research examines the experiences of Black
women professionals working in historically white spaces. In her spare time, Jasmin enjoys cooking,
walking, thrifting at local stores, and brunch spots in the Chicagoland area.

Areas of expertise:

• Intercultural Communication
• Training and Facilitation
• Leadership Development
• Strategic Planning

Why Equity, Diversity and Inclusion?
My identity as cis-gender Black woman led me to EDI (equity, diversity, and inclusion) work. I
grew up on the south city of St. Louis, Missouri. I attended a diverse, historically white school in an
affluent neighborhood and experienced challenges both inside and outside of the classroom. It wasn’t
until I went to college and beyond that I understood how systems of oppression operated. To this end,
my mission is to transform spaces for racially minoritized voices so we can be valued, seen, respected,
and safe. Recognizing that change is incremental, I am equally empowered to do this work in a way that
honors rest, peace, and justice.

Favorite comfort meal: Steamed broccoli and crab legs (with tons of butter).

Areas of expertise:

• 5+ years of training and facilitation skills
  3+ years of workshop, content and program design
  5+ years of organizational DEI and communication/marketing skills
  Program management of global talent/HR/people programs

Why Equity, Diversity and Inclusion? 
I moved to the U.S. after living overseas for 15 years with my multicultural, interracial, and interfaith family. Advocating for DEI was and is my norm – my daily lived values and experience – due to my social identities as a woman of color, South Asian-American, and LGBTQ+ person. As a first-generation American, I experienced the effects of being categorized in a label or box, as well as the ignorance and fear that comes with being “othered.” When I moved to the U.S. it was a culture shock, but now, it saddens me to see many of our policies and movements as a country be at stake – particularly around racism and racist history, anti-LGBTQ+ legislation, women’s rights, disability rights, international/immigrant laws, and more. My goal is to ensure people with marginalized identities are heard and valued so they can do their best work. I want to help facilitate the challenges and breakthrough moments in this work; to help build equitable, inclusive, and diverse workplaces and the support systems for all employees to succeed and be psychologically safe. When we solve for the most marginalized, we solve for everyone, and ultimately make our organizations and policies better for the whole.

Favorite comfort meal: Bangladeshi beef curry with a special rice called “pulao” and daal

Areas of expertise:

• Almost four decades of experience in local, state, and federal government, higher education, museum administration, and nonprofits
• Adaptive Leadership
• Organizational Analysis
• Social Capital Development
• Executive Coaching exploring the nexus of leadership, spirituality, and personal development.

Why Equity, Diversity and Inclusion? 
My encore career as a historian provides a platform to investigate societal patterns and behaviors that influence privilege, oppression and intersectionality in the journey for social justice reform. Along with my scholarly research, my lived experience as a child of the civil rights movement and a bridge-builder across racial divides add depth to EDI strategies that create impact.

Favorite comfort meal: A hard choice between an eclectic array of pan-Asian, dim sum, and the Southern comfort of fried fish, barbeque, mac and cheese with well-seasoned greens.

Areas of expertise:

• EDI Facilitation and Coaching
• Leadership Development
• Dialogue
• Understanding Systemic Oppression

Why Equity, Diversity and Inclusion?
Imagine what we could do if we could create spaces that liberate all human potential!

Favorite comfort meal: Sushi

Areas of expertise:

• Facilitation
• Consulting
• Research/Assessment
• Leadership Development
• Intercultural Communication

Why Equity, Diversity and Inclusion?
I believe that only when we excel in these areas – whether at work or in our personal lives – can we be our very best, see possibilities and fulfil our potential; again as both individuals and organizations.

Favorite comfort meal: Any food that allows my tastebuds to adventure into a different world of deliciousness!

Areas of expertise:

• DEI, leadership
• Team building
• Strategic planning/work with all levels of government (federal, state, local), non-profits and private sectors

Why Equity, Diversity and Inclusion? 

I believe that only when we excel in these areas – whether at work or in our personal lives – can we be our very best, see possibilities and fulfil our potential; again as both individuals and organizations.

Favorite comfort meal: Not a meal but when I need comfort, my “go to” is butter pecan ice cream; it always does the job.

Favorite comfort meal: Comfort meal: barbecue ribs, greens, and cornbread.

Areas of expertise:

• EDI Training, Facilitation, and Consulting
• Leadership development
• EDI Coaching
• Intercultural Communication

Why Equity, Diversity and Inclusion? 
As the daughter of immigrants from India who grew up in the Midwest of the US, I’ve always navigated differences in culture and power. I’m deeply committed to social justice, and I believe that transformational change is possible. That’s why I’ve dedicated my career to liberating individuals, organizations, and communities from systems of oppression.

Favorite comfort meal: My favorite comfort meal is my mother’s daal, green beans and potatoes, served with basmati rice or chapati.

Mrs. Sampson has been an educator for over twenty years. She has been a teacher, counselor, and administrator in several large public school districts. Mrs. Sampson has developed and led a continuum of programs to support, coach, and train leaders, staff, students, and families in the K-12 setting. In this work, she provides job embedded professional development on, intersectionality of race, language, and culture. She also works with schools to help implement organizational changes that end racial and social injustice for youth and adults. Mrs. Sampson also serves as a diversity equity and inclusion consultant where she has worked with private businesses, school districts, and government organizations.  

Areas of Expertise:

• Cultural Intelligence
• How White People Can Be Anti-Racist
• LGBTQIA+ Diversity and Inclusion
• Transgender Diversity and Inclusion
• Religious Diversity and Inclusion
• Community and Youth Empowerment
• EDI in Higher Education

Why Equity, Diversity and Inclusion? 
Engagement with EDI is part of my “happiness plan.”  One place I experience happiness is when I get to know others and seek a space where we are recognized as being of equal intrinsic value. This space sometimes becomes tricky to find given social injustice and our seemingly endless drive to put ourselves above others.  Yet, when I connect with people in ways which raise up everyone and diminish no one, I feel happy.

Favorite comfort meal: In sixth grade, I ate a peanut butter and jelly sandwich every day for lunch.  When I am feeling stressed, my PB&J always comes to the rescue!

Zimife Umeh is a researcher, educator, and consultant with over 10 years of professional
experience. She has been involved in organizational DEI work in a variety of roles, including
supporting organizations across the private and non-profit sector in developing and
implementing assessments, and developing DEI strategic plans.
She holds a B.S. in Finance and a B.A. in Africana Studies from the University of Pittsburgh, a
master’s degree in Education from Chestnut Hill College, and a PhD in Sociology from Duke
University. She has published peer-reviewed articles in the following journals: Social Science
Research and Sociology of Race and Ethnicity. Zimife is currently an Assistant Professor at the
George Washington University, where she teaches and conducts research on race- and gender-
based inequalities.

Areas of expertise:

• DEI survey design, data collection, and data analysis.
• Racial justice, gender equality, and approach my research and analysis using an intersectional framework.

Why Equity, Diversity and Inclusion? 
My interest in EDI stems from my commitment to producing research and strategies that eliminate barriers to racial equity and inclusion within the workplace.

Favorite comfort meal: Baked Mac and Cheese