The Future of Work is Diverse, Inclusive, Just and Equitable
GlobalMindED closes the equity gap by creating a capable, diverse talent pipeline through connections to role models, mentors, internships for low-income students, returning adults, First Gen to college and inclusive leaders who teach them, work with them and hire them.
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From Mexican Immigrant to VP of DEI at Norwich University, Giving Back to Veterans: Meet Latina Leader Dr. Julia Becerra Bernard
Dr. Julia M. Becerra Bernard is the inaugural Vice President of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Norwich University. Dr. Becerra started her involvement in diversity with a work-study as an undergraduate in the Diversity Resource office at Purdue University. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Purdue, a Master of Science in Marriage and Family Therapy from Purdue Northwest, and a Ph.D. in Child and Family Studies from Purdue University. She has a certificate in Leading for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion in Higher Education from the University of Michigan. She has published on sibling relationships, mediation, poverty, resilience, diversity, microaggressions, Trauma Informed Care, and leadership. She is a Certified Mental Health First Aid Instructor, a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist, a Clinical Fellow in the American Association of Marriage and Family Therapists, a Certified Family Life Educator, and a Trauma Informed Care Trainer. She serves as the Vice President of Accreditation on the Council for Standards in Human Service Education.
What is your personal/professional story?
I was born in San Juan de Abajo, Nayarit, Mexico, and immigrated to this country as a child. Thanks to amnesty in the 1980s, I was able to become a resident at age 11. My father was a factory worker with an eighth-grade education. My mother was a homemaker with a fifth-grade education. I was an ambitious child, smart and inquisitive. I was student council president in elementary school, and from the beginning, Dad supported my endeavors and campaigns, while Mom had her doubts about what she considered my non-feminine exploits. When I chose to go off to college, my mom was still not convinced I should be pursuing a degree. She thought it might be a good way to meet a prospective husband, so supported it, nonetheless.
I first attended the University of Houston. I did most of my undergraduate courses there, majoring in Psychology, and minoring in Mexican American Studies. I finished my psychology degree at Purdue University. I headed north to Purdue Calumet (now Purdue Northwest) to get my Master of Science in Marriage and Family Therapy. I returned to the main campus for my Ph.D. in Family Studies and minor in Women’s Studies. My first job took me to McNeese State University in Lake Charles, Louisiana. I was an assistant professor in Child and Family Studies. My next position was at East Tennessee State University in Johnson City, TN. Here, I started more diversity work, heading up a task force in my college. However, I did not feel comfortable with my background, so I sought out more education in diversity, earning a certificate in Leading for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion in Higher Education, at the University of Michigan.
I also maintained a private therapy practice, Bernard Family Solutions, LLC and only served veterans and active military through TriWest and Give an Hour. I had also begun training our community in Trauma Informed Care, becoming part of the founding group of the BRAIN (Building Resilience through ACEs Informed Networking) Trust. I received tenure and then moved into administrative roles in my department of Counseling and Human Services. I served as the President of the Southeastern Council on Family Relations (SECFR). I also began serving as the Secretary of the Board of the Council for Standards in Human Service Education (CSHSE) the accrediting body for Human Services. I had also begun a mentoring group to do executive coaching for Latinas, something I always wished I had as I navigated new spaces.
I then moved to Vermont to serve as the inaugural Vice President of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Norwich University, a senior military college and the birthplace of the Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC). In this new role, I combined my knowledge of the care of students with my passion for diversity and for serving those who serve us. In this new role, I get to encourage all students to train as future leaders, to challenge themselves to be people of distinction. Norwich University has a long tradition of producing leaders, both in the military, as well as in industry. We recently joined the Hispanic Association of Colleges and Universities (HACU), being the first senior military college, and the first university in Vermont to do so.
I have begun giving back to my Vermont community by serving as the chair of the American Heart Association’s 'Go Red for Women' event in Burlington. This is the 100th anniversary of the American Heart Association and they are making big strides in not just spreading the word about heart disease, but the social determinants of health that contribute to unequal numbers of those who have cardiovascular problems. I recently became the Vice President of Accreditation for CSHSE and also serve as a reader for the New England Commission of Higher Education (NECHE). I serve as a member of the board of Vermont Women in Higher Education (VWHE), as well. And, as many lifelong learners know, we are gluttons for punishment, so I am pursuing my MBA through Norwich Online, so that one day my money can work for me, not me have to work for my money. I am currently turning the lessons of my Latina leadership community into a book, set for release in August 2024, so that I can reach a wider population with the things I wish I knew along the way and encourage young people to try new things to propel them forward.
Personally, I have a love of outdoor activities, camping, fishing, and taking my son on new adventures. I have a huge extended family all over the world, which I love visiting on my travels. I am a big proponent of working hard/playing hard and finding your own work-life balance. I also encourage everyone to give back to the community when they can.
What key moments in your life led you to where you are today?
I think that there are many moments that moved me forward. I think that starting at an early age, I was willing to take risks to achieve my dreams. From moving to Texas for college from California to starting an inaugural position in Vermont, there are many times where taking a chance at something better really paid off. I also think that recognizing my strengths has helped me get to where I am. For example, I have always loved being the center of attention and as a child that helped me lead my student council, and as an adult it helped my leadership in the classroom as a professor, as well as a public speaker.
Where does your passion to serve come from?
My father always told me that I should always help others because someone had once helped him. I took those words to heart. When he arrived in this country, he had to rely on the compassion of others and the work of his own hands. It was both that helped propel him forward. He continues to always help, and that example is one I try to emulate.
How can GlobalMindED help you reach your goals?
I think that I underestimated the power of connection when I was younger. Having attended GlobalMindED, I realize how beneficial it is to talk about our experiences to as MANY PEOPLE AS POSSIBLE. It was not just connecting to students, but to speakers and sponsors about things we had in common, and inspiration for the next generation.
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GobalMindED's
Hispanic Heritage Month Event
Latino Leaders Breaking Boundaries and Barriers: Fuerza y Fortaleza
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Introduction by:
Paulette Tate, Chair of the Board, Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Metro Denver
The founder of Cantilever, a company specializing in business and leadership development, Paulette is a global executive, entrepreneur, and leader with over 30 years of expertise in business development, operations, and executive management. Serving on a variety of boards and advisory committees, Paulette’s skills in strategic planning, finance, risk management, and relationship building make her a visionary leader in the international business world.
Panel Leader:
Elizabeth Suárez, Leadership & Negotiation Strategist, Avanza Business Group
Elizabeth collaborates with organizations across various industries on complex and sensitive matters, using her unique blend of respect, humor, and honesty. Her straightforward approach inspires her clients to take action and put into practice what they have learned, to positively impact their lives. Elizabeth has motivated thousands of professionals to become transformative leaders through her best-selling book, The Art of Getting Everything, as well as her media appearances and keynote speeches across the U.S., Latin America, Europe, and Asia.
With:
Diego Mariscal, CEO and Chief Disabled Person, 2Gether-International
As the leader of 2Gether-International, Diego has collaborated with corporations like Google, Blackboard, McKinsey, and Comcast NBC Universal, as well as the U.S. Dept. of State and the Organization of American States to frame disability as an asset for startups and entrepreneurs. He has been recognized by the Waldzell Institute in Vienna as an Architect of the Future and by the British Council as a Global Changemaker. Born with Cerebral Palsy, he represented Nuevo Leon in the Mexican National Paralympics. Diego is also the 2023 GlobalMindED Inclusive Leader Award winner for Entrepreneurship.
Christina Trujillo Privacy Officer, Legal Department, Sony Electronics
With decades of experience as an auditor in the financial services industry, and a background in ethics, compliance, and IT governance, Christina earned her Certified Information Privacy Professional certification. She has been with Sony for over 16 years and is now the Sony Electronics’ Privacy Officer. Christina was recently inducted into the Samurai Society, the highest honor one can achieve at Sony, and she is constantly involved with numerous volunteer organizations.
Dr. Jose Morey Chief Executive Officer, Ad Astra Steam Media
The Founder of Ad Astra Media, Dr. Morey provides role models and educational STEAM content to encourage more diversity in STEAM-related fields. He is the Chief Medical Officer for Ever Medical and is a health and technology keynote speaker, author, and consultant for NASA, Forbes, MIT, and the White House Office of Science and Technology. He is considered a leader in exponential technology innovation and excels at leading multidisciplinary teams that sit at the epicenter of biotechnology, AI, and aerospace.
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GlobalMindED/FSUN Special Event at the U.N.
Thursday, October 12th 10:00-4:00
Transforming Financial Boundaries in Education, the Environment, and the Economy
United Nations DDR
New York City
If you are a leader at a district, college, company, non-profit, or foundation supporting GlobalMindED’s Tenth Anniversary event in Denver on June 17 (pre-conference, Inclusive Leader Awards dinner) 18-19 (conference) 2024, you are eligible to attend.
Complete Program Below:
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Highlights from the 2023 GlobalMindED Annual Conference this past June:
Read What Speakers and Attendees said about the GlobalMindED 2023 annual conference:
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PBS12 Denver filmed and live-streamed the GlobalMindED Inclusive Leader Awards on June 7th as well as our main stage plenaries and presentations on June 8th. You can find them all individually on the GlobalMindED YouTube channel.
Here are links to the 2023 GlobalMindED Inclusive Leader Award Winners' introductions and acceptance remarks:
Miriam Calderon, Chief Policy Officer, ZERO TO THREE: Inclusive Leader - Early Childhood Education
Dr. David Miyashiro, Superintendent, Cajon Valley Union School District, Inclusive Leader - K-12 Education
Carrie Billy, CEO, American Indian Higher Education Consortium: Inclusive Leader - Higher Education
Afua Bruce, Founder & Principal, ANB Advisory Group: Inclusive Leader - Government
Dr. Elena Rios, President & CEO, National Hispanic Medical Association: Inclusive Leader - Health & Wellness
Hassan Salem, Head of Commercial Banking, US Bank: Inclusive Leader - Banking & Finance
Greg Robinson, James Webb Space Telescope Project Director NASA (ret): Inclusive Leader - Space & Aerospace
Mary Nichols, Professor, UCLA Institute of the Environment, Inclusive Leader - Energy & Sustainability
Michael Campbell, General Manager, Education Division, Intel: Inclusive Leader - Technology
Diego Mariscal, CEO & Chief Disabled Person, 2Gether-International: Inclusive Leader - Entrepreneurship
Mario Carrera, President & CEO, CLLARO: Inclusive Leader - Media & Arts
Nasruddin Rupani, Chairman, Ibn Sina Foundation: Inclusive Leader - Foundations & Funders
Rosanna Durruthy, VP, Global Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging, LinkedIn: Inclusive Leader -Global Impact
Kimberly Bryant, Founder & CEO, Black Innovation Lab; Black Girls Code: Inclusive Leader - Non-Profit
Click below to see Insights from GlobalMindED Leaders:
View the Main-stage Presentations:
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Would you like to give to support our student programs? You can scan the QR code below or go to our website to support our year-round programs. GlobalMindED is a 501(c)(3).
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Thank you to all of the Sponsors, Speakers, Students, and Attendees at GlobalMindED 2023
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