Meet the author

I'm originally from Central Kansas and am a citizen of the Navajo Nation. I hold a BS in Child & Family Development Psychology from the University of Kansas. I've worked in nonprofits for the past 20 years, primarily Boys & Girls Clubs and youth development organizations. I'm passionate about nonprofit community engagement, organizational best practices, youth development, and diversity, equity, and inclusion.I began my professional DEI work with Pacific Educational Group's three-year cohort/professional development initiative "Beyond Diversity: Courageous Conversations" while working for the Boys and Girls Club and Lawrence Public School in 2009. Additionally, I hold a Masters in Organizational Leadership with an emphasis in Strategic Innovation and Change Management Psychology from Colorado State University. Coupled with my lived experience as a Black and Navajo professional, I have served on previous organizations' equity teams/advisory boards/consulting teams and been a facilitator for DEI (rooted in racial equity) in the workplace and nonprofit programming, operations, and leadership development.