I am a middle-aged African-American woman, single mother of two, raised as the youngest of eight children by a mother with a 10th-grade education. I grew up on the East Coast in an impoverished and crime-ridden former industrial town where the illegal drug trade is now the mainstay of the economy. From the description of me above, some might have me currently pegged as … [Read more...]
Increased Gender Diversity in Military: “Not Your Father’s Army”
I work with both male and female military veterans as a psychologist at a large urban healthcare system with the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). Women are the fastest growing segment of the U.S. Military, as they represent 14.5% of the U.S. active duty force. This change in demographics represents an increase in the diversity of the military, and brings … [Read more...]
Envisioning a Successful Learning Environment for ALL Students
On April 16, 2013, I was one of three panelists for an event celebrating the 25th Anniversary of the Office of Academic Multicultural Initiatives (OAMI) at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, where the theme was “Reflections on Diversity and Excellence – OAMI Through the Years”, and the panelists were asked to answer 4 questions that touched on that … [Read more...]
Women and Leadership – Doing it Her Way
March is Women’s History Month, and it is a designated time to reflect on the accomplishments of women as leaders, and how much farther we have to go. On Ryerson University’s campus we celebrated Viola Desmond Day and International Women’s Day. Both celebrations underscored how women leaders are essential to advancing the status of women in North America. Julia … [Read more...]