Theme: Civil Discourse and...

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Modern Theater
525 Washington Street
Boston, Massachusetts, 02111
United States

Alexandria Onuoha

Ph.D. Candidate in Applied Developmental Psychology at Suffolk University

Alexandria served as a Rappaport Public Policy Fellow at Harvard Kennedy School. Her research employs both qualitative & quantitative methods to investigate misogynoir & developmental strategies, including resistance among Black girls. She aims to translate her psychological findings into practical school-based interventions & family support.She has received the American Psychological Association's Psychology of Black Women Graduate Student Award & the 2024 Bates College Distinguished Young Alumni Award for her research & social impact. Her work has been featured in prominent publications like the Boston Globe, Teen Vogue, Al Jazeera, etc. She is also the founder of ACO STYLES, a creative arts initiative that celebrates the transformative power of dance in shaping Black lives & honors Black girls' achievements. Born in MA & raised by a Jamaican mother who fostered her love for the arts, she visits Jamaica annually with the goal of creating spaces of joy for Black Caribbean adolescents.

Christin Santiago

Clinical Recreation Therapist

Christin was selected as the Commonwealth Fellow at Suffolk University in 2023, earning a certificate in Human Service Leadership & Management, & is currently pursuing a master’s in public administration. Her professional expertise centers pioneering treatment programs that foster a holistic mind-body connection, especially for individuals who have experienced trauma. Grounded in Recreation Therapy, her approach integrates principles of Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) & Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT), utilizing a comprehensive “needs and vulnerabilities” framework to interpret behaviors. She has dedicated over 25 years to volunteering with the Special Olympics. In 2016, she was named Coach of the Year by Special Olympics MA & recognized as a finalist for National Coach of the Year. In 2018, she served as head Athletics coach for Special Olympics MA at the National USA Games in Seattle, WA. In 2019, she was inducted into the Special Olympics Hall of Fame.

Jacquetta Van Zandt

Vice President of Engagement at the Partnership, Inc.

As VP, Van Zandt is responsible for building, coordinating, & maintaining strategic relationships across the civic, political & business sectors to build systemic & sustainable influence in furtherance of the organization’s mission. Prior to The Partnership, Inc, she honed her political skills on Capitol Hill in D.C. & other state & federal campaigns. A highly sought-after political strategist, with a special focus on public policy & diversity initiatives. Her desire to bring about equal opportunities for women of color brought her back to MA where she was an instrumental force on many campaigns including Framingham’s first Mayor & only popularly elected woman of color to that post. Van Zandt along with Lori Lennon launched a growing & popular zoom-cast/podcast called “Politics and Prosecco”. A one-hour show where guests & hosts engage in current events & its impact on everyday life. Van Zandt currently serves on the board of directors for the Urban League of Eastern Massachusetts.

Renée Landers

Professor of Law at Suffolk University

Landers is the Faculty Director of the school’s Health & Biomedical Law Concentration & the Master of Science in Law Life Sciences program. She teaches administrative law, constitutional law, health law, & privacy law. She was a Distinguished Visiting Fellow at the National Academy of Social Insurance & helped complete the organization’s reports Examining Approaches to Expanding Medicare Eligibility: Key Design Options & Implications & Assuring Economic Security for the 21st Century. She was a member of the Study Committee examining “A Fairer and More Equitable, Cost-Effective, & Transparent System of Donor Organ Procurement, Allocation, and Distribution” for the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, & Medicine which issued its report in February 2022. In addition to health care, Landers has written on diversity in the legal profession & privacy and is a regular commentator on legal developments in constitutional law, health law, & administrative law for media organizations.

Su Joun

Principal at Diversity@Workplace Consulting Group/DEI Speaker/DEI Practitioner/DEI Facilitator

(she/her/hers)Principal of Diversity@Workplace Consulting Group which works with organizations to diversify their workforce and create inclusive, equitable work processes and environments through consultation and training. She was the VP of Talent, Diversity, and Inclusion at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts (BCBSMA). In addition to expertise in diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) and talent management, she has held leadership roles in IT & operations, marketing, product management, sales, and call centers in Fortune 500 organizations and various industries. Su received her Executive MBA from Suffolk University and her Master of Nonprofit Management from Northeastern University. She has taught Global Human Resources, Organizational Behavior, and CareerLaunch at Suffolk University and has presented to Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce, CFO Roundtable, UMASS Center for Collaborative Leadership, HubWeek, General Assembly, Skillsoft Conference, and the Boston Bar Association.