Event features leaders from across industries and will examine the dynamics of unseen contributions

University of Phoenix is pleased to announce it will be holding the newest webinar in its Educational Equity Webinar Series, titled “Promoting Equity: Redefining Roles & Recognizing Undervalued Efforts” on March 21, 2024, at 12:00pm MST. The event is part of a public series intended for educators, diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) practitioners, higher education leaders and administrators, employers, nonprofit organizations, government affiliates, and University of Phoenix faculty, staff, students, and alumni across the globe.

"Fostering equitable environments requires that we understand and examine how individual contributions are valued in the workplace," shares Tondra Richardson, MBA, director of Student Diversity & Inclusion at University of Phoenix, and a host of the series. “Once we understand how efforts are valued, we can explore strategies for promoting equity and recognition. We look forward to hosting a focused dialogue to help raise visibility on this important issue and facilitating an impactful discussion."

The session will be moderated by Erica Stroman, senior account specialist, Workforce Solutions, and Chair, Community Engagement and Partnership for the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion working group at University of Phoenix. The event will feature the following speakers:

• Jenna Beckett, full-stack web developer specializing in .NET & JS frameworks. She has a background in technical education and has worked to help hundreds of burgeoning technologists enter the field. As a developer, Beckett is passionate about working at the intersection of form and functionality, creating immersive web experiences for users. She is an outspoken advocate for women in technology who says her driving force is to advance the female voice in technology. Beckett works to encourage women and girls to enter the field of technology by serving in leadership roles across multiple organizations.

• Talona Johnson, Cadillac International product manager at General Motors Company. Johnson is a highly accomplished global leader with a strong track record of developing and leading cross-functional teams. She has extensive experience in manufacturing, product development, program management, and product management, which enables her to provide strategic insights that drive exceptional business results. As a lifetime member of the National Black MBA Association, Johnson serves as the Director of the Detroit Chapter Leaders of Tomorrow high school mentoring program, guiding students in leadership, financial literacy, college readiness, and career preparation.

“I am looking forward to the opportunity to learn and share at the session,” shares Johnson. “The experiences of women in the workplace are unique, but we can usually find common threads to leverage on our personal journey.”

Beckett also expressed her enthusiasm for the event, stating, "I am excited to explore what equity and inclusion can look like when we meet folks where they are at, in their reality, instead of trying to fit them in a box built by assumptions."

The discussion will be hosted by Tondra Richardson, MBA, director of Student Diversity & Inclusion and Saray Lopez, MBA, director, Student Diversity & Inclusion, both with the Office of Educational Equity (OEE) at University of Phoenix. The Educational Equity Webinar Series is part of a series of events with which the OEE engages aiming to foster cultural awareness, thought leadership and community alliances to promote and sustain educational equity and diversity initiatives. The OEE supports students and faculty year-round with programs like the Inclusive Leadership Summit and an internal offering for staff and faculty, The Inclusive Café.

Register for the webinar here.

Previous webinars can be accessed here.

About University of Phoenix

University of Phoenix innovates to help working adults enhance their careers and develop skills in a rapidly changing world. Flexible schedules, relevant courses, interactive learning, skills-mapped curriculum for our bachelor’s and master’s degree programs and a Career Services for Life® commitment help students more effectively pursue career and personal aspirations while balancing their busy lives. For more information, visit phoenix.edu.

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