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 First-Generation College Graduate to WGU Regional Vice President: Meet Dr. Tonya Drake
Dr. Tonya Drake (Cowichan) (She/Her) has dedicated her career to expanding access and success to high-quality and relevant higher education. She serves as the Regional Vice President, Northwest at Western Governors University (WGU) where she expands educational access across nine states in key workforce areas including education, healthcare, business, and IT.
Her work is guided by the belief that higher learning transforms lives and she is passionate about creating pathways to opportunity. Drake has been a leader in higher education for nearly 30 years working in both 2 and 4-year colleges and universities with a focus on lifting raising and stranded talent, particularly for students traditionally underserved by higher education.
What is your personal/professional story?
I am a proud female, First Nations, first-generation college graduate! It has been a true honor to work in higher education for nearly 30 years. Reflecting on my journey, I started by working in a Federal TRiO program helping first-generation and low-income students navigate the complex admissions and financial aid process. This fueled my passion to help others succeed in accessing and earning a college degree. I now serve as the regional vice president for Western Governors University expanding access to education across nine states in the northwest. Recently, it pains me to read the growing debate about the value of education. Education continues to be the brightest-lit pathway to opportunity! I use the word opportunity to describe increases in individual income, career advancement, and stronger health prosperity. I also want to be clear that the pathway to opportunity is not easily accessible to all individuals particularly those underserved by traditional higher education. Because of this, there is much work to be done to ensure that all individuals who seek an education also have an opportunity to achieve a college degree.
What key moments in your life led you to where you are today?
There are multiple trailheads I have followed that have led me to where I am today. A few of my pivotal paths were education, traveling abroad, and mentorship. My education path started by staying in my hometown and attending a local community college. This allowed me to save money and gain the academic skills I needed to transfer to a university. Being able to stay in my community and learn where I lived was a key to my success. I developed a passion for learning which led me to continue my education and pursue my advanced degrees. My second pivotal path was traveling abroad. The most influential was traveling to South Africa with a group of college students where I had the honor of speaking about “deconstructing race” at a Global Leadership Summit. It was humbling and changed my perspective about race, privilege, and power. It allowed me to stop focusing on a deficit mindset and moved me towards focusing on a growth mindset by exploring all the ways I had the privilege and could make substantial changes to help others. The last area is mentorship. I have benefited from having influential mentors in my life who were my biggest supporters and practiced radical candor to help me grow and change. As a result, I always seek to pay it forward by mentoring others, particularly with a special focus on individuals who are women, indigenous, and those seeking advanced education.
Where does your passion to serve come from?
My passion for serving stems from a strong desire to make a difference in the lives of others. I value the worth of every individual and inherently believe that education changes lives. It changed my life and the lives of my family. Unfortunately, I have also met first-hand those who didn’t complete a degree and find themselves stranded in a job or career that doesn’t lead to advancement. I have also experienced those same individuals change their lives by completing a degree and seeing them walk across the stage during commencement motivates me every single day.
How can GlobalMindED help you reach your goals?
GlobalMindED can help me reach my goals by reinforcing the value of education for both youth and adults. Gaining education and skills does not stop right after high school. We are at a critical point in history and we need a well-educated workforce – not just for the privileged! We have far too many adults who have some college and no degree. It is a time to be bold and courageous by demanding both access AND success in higher education. Simply providing access to education misses the mark. Individuals must have higher levels of success in completing their degrees. GlobalMindED participants are our future leaders and deserve all of the opportunities afforded to them!
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Highlights from the 2023 GlobalMindED Annual Conference this past June:
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PBS12 Denver filmed and live-streamed the 2023 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.
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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View the Sessions from our United Nations Event: Transforming Financial Boundaries |
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Carla Harris, Vice Chairman, Morgan Stanley and James Rhee, Founder/Owner, red helicopter
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Michael Maquet-Diafouka, Managing Director, Global Family and Institutional Wealth, UBS, Chris Marsh, Managing Director, Private Wealth Advisor, UBS,Janet C. Salazar, Chairman & President, Foundation for the Support of the United Nations
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Tyler Naha, Student, Denver East High School, Dr. Mary Papazian, Exec. VP, Association of Governing Boards of Universities and Colleges, Dr. Philomenta Mantella, President, Grand Valley State University, Dr. Yustina Saleh, Managing Director, Innovation Solutions, The Burning Glass Institute, Alfonzo Alexander, Chief Ethics & Diversity Officer, National Association of State Boards of Accountancy
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Dr. D'Andre Weaver, Chief Digital Equity Officer, Digital Promise, Michael Woods, President, Woods Capital, the Honorable Dr. Kimberly McClain, Assistant Secretary, U.S. Department HUD, Preston James, II, Co-Founder and CEO, Divinc, Gaby Rowe, Founding Principal, Grow Associates
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Dr. Craig Jonas, Founder and CEO, CoPeace, Victoria Vasques, Owner & Chairwoman, Tribal Tech LLC, Sachin Chaudhry, Founder and CEO, TrustCircle and BringChange Foundation, Kyle Hybl, President & CEO, El Pomar Foundation, Beth Cobert, Acting President, Markle Foundation
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Dr. Denise Lujan, Director, Entering Student Experience, University of Texas at El Paso, Javaune Adams-Gaston, President, Norfolk State University, Dr. David Miyashiro, Superintendent, Cajon Valley Union School District, Gina Fratarcangeli, Managing Director, Google, Shital C. Shah, Sr. Advisor, Strategic Partnerships, Office of the Secretary, U.S. Dept. of Education
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Sam Lalanne, Managing Director, Morgan Stanley, Global Head of Diversity & Inclusion |
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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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