Monica Motley PhD, MSEd, MPH
Dr. Motley is a proud native of Danville, Virginia. She holds a MSEd in community health education/physical activity, a Masters of Public Health, and a PhD in Biomedical and Veterinary Science. As a social and behavioral health researcher, she studies individual, community, and environmental influences on lifestyle-related health disparities in minoritized communities. Dr. Motley is also the CEO/Founder of The Motley Consulting Group (TMCG), a boutique research and design firm that helps community activists, universities, and organizations more strategically address community inequities and health disparities. TMCG also conducts equity and oppression-based workshops for STEAMH and higher education professionals in hopes of moving the workforce culture beyond “the science is all that matters” paradigm. As a result, TMCG wants to better ensure people can experience their best quality of life regardless of who they love, where they live, how much money they make, and what they look like. Dr. Motley has served in various senior-level roles across the public, academia, and government sector. For example, she has served as: 1) Senior Research Faculty at Virginia Tech’s Center for Public Health Practice and Research (2018-2023); 2) State Assessment Committee Chair for Virginia Governor’s African American Advisory Board (2019-2021); and 3) Health Committee Chair for Virginia Governor’s LGBTQ Advisory Board (2021-current). She was selected for the 2014 White House internship under President Obama as well as a 2016 and 2023 White House Fellow Regional Finalist. Dr. Motley has also presented her research at several national conferences such as the American Public Health Association National Conference (San Diego, Denver, Atlanta). Further, Dr. Motley has published her work in an array of community, lay, and scholarly publications. She is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc, Business Equality Magazine’s 40 LGBTQ under 40 recipient, and is currently Adjunct Teaching Faculty in the Department of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Virginia Tech College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. To learn more, click the following links
https://motleyconsultinggroup.com/
Google Scholar Profile; ORCID ID
Sample of Work; Resume
Copyright©2020-current. All Rights Reserved. Monica Motley. Confidential
Monica Motley, MSEd, MPH, PhD PO Box 10234 Danville, VA 24543
monicamotley@gmail.com Secondary Email: info@motleyconsultinggroup.com
PUBLIC HEATH/HEALTH EQUITY RESEARCH & PROGRAMMING Design, implement, and sustain innovative public health programs and research that use multi-disciplinary approaches (e.g. social justice, health equity, organizational change, workforce development, behavioral health) to address health disparities in minoritized communities Design, implement, and sustain innovative health behavior programs and research that use multi-disciplinary approaches (e.g. social justice, health equity, organizational change, workforce development, behavioral health) to address lifestyle-related disease in minoritized communities SOCIAL DETERMINANTS OF HEALTH RESEARCH & PROGRAMMING Develop and test workforce development trainings that address discrimination, prejudice, and bias within individual, group, and organizational practices responsible for the delivery of services impacted by social determinants of health Research, design, and identify solutions that address root social determinant of health issues (e.g. prejudice, discrimination, and bias) that shape community disparities, organizational challenges, and health inequities in STEMH fields EQUITY, INCLUSION, & DIVERSITY RESEARCH, EVALUATION, & PROGRAMMING Triangulate lived experience expertise, evidence-based research, practice-based lessons learned as well as inclusion, equity, and diversity methods to help community activists, universities and organizations more strategically address community disparities and health inequities DOCTORAL DISSERTATION RESEARCH Develop tools to assess: a) capacity and readiness factors specific to faith-based organizations (FBO); and b) characteristics of FBO that influence readiness and capacity to plan, implement, and evaluate lifestyle-related chronic disease programs, particularly in partnership with community, government, and academic organizations Identify and evaluate: a) capacity and readiness factors specific to government, health, and academic organizations and b) characteristics of such that influence readiness and capacity to plan, implement, and evaluate lifestylerelated chronic disease programs, particularly in partnership with community and faith-based organizations MASTERS OF PUBLIC HEALTH RESEARCH Develop a toolkit that will help FBO: a) self-assess factors important to capacity and readiness to implement healthrelated programs; and b) translate capacity and readiness findings into action-oriented plans that independently or collaboratively launch health-related programs EDUCATION Virginia Tech Blacksburg, VA Department: VA/Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine December 2015 Degree: Doctor of Philosophy 2015 GPA 3.89/4.0 Major: Biomedical and Veterinary Science Research: Capacity and Readiness Evaluation of Minority Organizations Addressing Community Health Issues via Collaborative Partnerships Virginia Tech Blacksburg, VA Department: Population Health Science May 2014 Degree: Master of Public Health 2014 GPA 3.89/4.0 Major: Public Health Education Research: Community Health Education/Translational Health Behavior and Obesity Research in Minority Populations Virginia Tech Department: School of Education Degree: Master of Science in Education Major: Health Promotions and Sports Performance
Blacksburg, VA 2009 GPA 3.97/4.0
Research: Community Health Program Development/Strength and Conditioning Development of Olympic Sport Athletes Areas of Expertise Community Based Participatory Research Equity, Inclusion, & Diversity Training Social Epidemiology Public Health Admin and Policy Development Community Health Programming Lifestyle-related Health Behavior Change
Qualitative Research and Design Systematic Change & Structural Oppression Qualitative Research and Writing Organizational Change & Policy Assessment Research Dissemination & Implementation Methods Program Evaluation & Design
PEER REVIEWED PUBLICATIONS & ABSTRACTS Hosig, K., Motley, M., & Savla, T. (2019). NP28 childhood obesity prevention with church, extension and academic partners in an integrated randomized control trial. Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior, 51(7), S22S23. Motley, M., Martinie, A., Poteat, C., Brown, J., Matheis, C., & Jamison, E. C. (2018, November). Community Health Assessment: Understanding Health, Health Inequity, and Social Determinant Experiences of Public Housing Residents in Danville, Virginia. In APHA's 2018 Annual Meeting & Expo (Nov. 10-Nov. 14). APHA. Motley, M., Poteat, C., Martinie, A., & Brown, J. (2017, November). Community Health Assessment: Understanding Health, Healthcare Access, and Health Experiences of High-Risk Communities in Danville. In APHA 2017 Annual Meeting & Expo (Nov. 4-Nov. 8). APHA. Motley, M., Hosig, K. W., Burke, J. E., Forburger, A., Jones, D., Teekah, T., & Banks-Thornton, K. (2016, October). Piloting the Capacity and Readiness Church Health Assessment (CRCHA): A Tool to Self-Assess African American Faith-Based Organizations (FBO) Organizational Capacity and Readiness to Implement Lifestyle Related Health Programs. In APHA 2016 Annual Meeting & Expo (Oct. 29-Nov. 2, 2016). APHA. Motley, M. (2015). Identifying and exploring capacity & readiness of faith-based organizations implementing lifestylerelated chronic disease health programs. [Doctoral dissertation, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University]. ProQuest Dissertations and Theses Global. Motley, M., Holmes, A., Hill, J., Plumb, K., & Zoellner, J. (2012). Evaluating community capacity to reduce obesity in the Dan River Region. American Journal Health Behavior, 37(2), 208-217. Zoellner, J., Motley, M., Wilkinson, M., Jackman, B., Barlow, M., & Hill, J. (2012). Engaging the Dan River Region to reduce obesity: Application of the comprehensive participatory planning and evaluation process. Journal of Family and Community Health, 35(1), 44-56. Allen, K., Estabrooks, P., Motley, M., & Zoellner, J. (2011). Understanding the internal and external validity of health literacy interventions: A systematic literature review using the RE-AIM framework. Journal of Health Communication, 16 (Suppl 3), 55-72. PEER REVIEWED ABSTRACT REVIEWER 2020 American Public Health Association National Conference. Community Based Public Health Caucus. 2019 American Public Health Association National Conference. Community Based Public Health Caucus. SOCIAL & BEHAVIORAL HEALTH, PUBLIC HEALTH RESEARCH, & SOCIAL JUSTICE PRESENTATIONS • • •
Virginia Tech, ALS 5024 Building Multicultural Competence in Agriculture and Life Sciences: “Bias in Action, What to Do About it,” Guest Lecturer (September 2022) Virginia Tech, HD/PHS 5254 Social Epidemiology & Health Inequality: “Intersectionality & LGBTQIA+ Health,” Guest Lecturer (October 2020, February 2022) Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine: “Power to Heal: Structural Oppression in the Health Care System,” 2|P a g e
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Guest Lecturer (February 2020) United Negro College Fund, Koch Scholars Program: “State of the Black College Student,” Keynote Panel Moderator (September 2019) American Public Health Association National Conference: “Community Health Assessment: Understanding Health, Health Inequity, and Social Determinant Experiences of Public Housing Residents in Danville, Virginia,” Roundtable Presentation, (November 2018) Contemporary Issues in Transformative and Innovative Leadership Conference: “Shifting the Science is All that Matters Paradigm. Helping STEMH Students and Faculty use Novel Approaches to Improve Departmental Culture and Promote Equity in their Labs, Clinical Experiences, and Research,” Presenter, (October 2017) American Public Health Association National Conference: “Community Health Assessment: Understanding Health, Healthcare Access, and Health Experiences of High-Risk Communities in Danville,” Poster Presentation, (November 2017) North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University Annual Contemporary Issues in Transformative and Innovative (CITI) Leadership Conference: “STEM in Leadership,” Panelist, (October 2017) National Gay and Lesbian Task Force Creating Change Conference: Racial Justice Institute Presenter/Faculty Facilitator, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013 Danville Public Housing Authority Commissioner Special Presentation “Community Health Assessment: Understanding Health, Healthcare Access, and Health Experiences of High-Risk Communities in Danville,” Presenter, 2017 Yale Bouchet Society Conference on Education “The Urgency of Civic Responsibility: Building a Movement to Leverage Scholar-Activism in the Academy,” Panelist, 2017 Yale Bouchet Society Conference on Education “Piloting the Capacity and Readiness Church Health Assessment (CRCHA): A Tool to Self-Assess African American Faith-Based Organizations (FBO) Organizational Capacity and Readiness to Implement Lifestyle Related Health Programs, Presenter, 2017 American Public Health Association National Conference “"Piloting the Capacity and Readiness Church Health Assessment (CRCHA): A Tool to Self-Assess African American Faith-Based Organizations (FBO) Organizational Capacity and Readiness to Implement Lifestyle Related Health Programs," Presenter, 2016 American Public Health Association National Conference "A Case Study: Exploring the Influence of Multilevel Capacity and Readiness Factors on Partner Experience Implementing a Collaborative Faith-Based Health Program,” Roundtable Presenter, 2016 United Nations Unitarian Universalist Association Office “At the Intersection of Racism and Homophobia: Joint Activism for Human Rights & Dignity,” Panelist, 2016 Virginia Tech Dean’s Research Forum: Race and Rhetoric Research Symposium “Identity and Background Matter: Balancing and Broadening the Research Agenda,” Presenter, 2012
RESEARCH, MANAGEMENT & TRAINING EXPERIENCE Teaching Faculty, Virginia Tech College of Agriculture and Life Sciences Blacksburg/Hybrid Remote, August 2023-present •
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Co-lead the development, review, and enhancement of curriculum content, assignments, lectures, and materials for advanced graduate level course building multicultural competency in agricultural and life sciences o “Multicultural competency” can be described as understanding and responding to the challenges and opportunities associated with cultural diversity and societal injustices relevant to where we work, learn, live, play, worship, entertain, etc. Deliver comprehensive instruction to masters and doctoral level students (i.e. >100) across eight departments and two schools, encompassing a diverse spectrum of subjects within the STEMH field o (refer to https://www.cals.vt.edu/departments-and-school.html) Assist with management, updating, and provision of technical assistance via the university course platform (e.g. Canva) to deliver course material using a hybrid teaching format that seamlessly integrates virtual and in-person components Employ multifaceted approaches to assess student progress and proficiency in coursework to include evaluating group participation, implementing experiential learning activities, and fostering critical reflections to ensure a comprehensive 3|P a g e
understanding of the subject matter CEO/Founder, The Motley Consulting Group, LLC Danville, VA, January 2016-Present •
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Founder and Chief Executive Officer of The Motley Consulting Group, LLC a boutique research, resource, and design firm the uses lived experience expertise; evidence-based research; and diversity, inclusion, and equity methods to help activist and organizations more strategically address health inequities and community disparities, with a special focus on rural areas Design organizational strategies and objectives to accomplish company goals: 1) help fill health equity, public health, and quality of life data gaps for and 2) increase access to and early adoption of innovative personal and professional development strategies to address equity and equality issues in communities, organizations, and government Oversee the company’s fiscal activities to include budgeting, reporting, and grant management, etc. Manage and lead client on-boarding and project design to include coordinating project teams, project objectives and goals, client needs assessment data collection, etc. Public Health/Research Clients include: Virginia Governor’s Office for the African American Advisory Board, Sentara Hospital, PATHS Medical Care DEI Clients include: Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine, Virginia Tech Department of Psychology, Sentara Hospital Department of Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion, The Point Foundation Workforce Development Clients include: Danville Chamber of Commerce, Middle Border Forward, National LGBT Taskforce
Senior Research Faculty, Virginia Tech Center for Public Health Practice and Research, Department of Population Health Sciences Blacksburg, VA, February 2018-2023 • Manage implementation of United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) community-based healthy behavior and financial management research program to address nutrition and physical activity- related health disparities of African American family dyads in high-risk marker communities across Virginia • Lead community collaborative partnership identification, recruitment, and partnership development • Supervise and support 5-10-person internal research team, lead correspondence and scheduling with a 10+ member statewide collaborative advisory research committee, and manage 14+ community research implementation partners each with individual teams of 3-8 people • Design, conduct, and manage data collection, analysis, and interpretation for case study, CBPR, and randomized control trial research program research programs using mixed methods data collection processes with a focus on qualitative data processes to include process evaluations, semi-structured interviews, surveys, focus groups, etc. • Act as Co-Primary Investigator to develop, pilot, and finalize research management processes and protocols to enhance effectiveness of research design and outcome goals • Coordinate, oversee, and design internal research team, Cooperative Extension, and community partner on-boarding and training processes • Organize and maintain project accounting records, inventory, and expenses via university authorizing systems • Enhance professional and scholarly capacity and readiness of department undergraduate and graduate students by assisting Center Executive Director with mentorship, academic writing, community engagement, and research opportunities • Serve as committee member, subject matter specialist, and research advisor on dissertation committees and masters thesis practicums for graduate students in public health, medical, and health equity-related fields Consultant, Virginia Tech Carillion School of Medicine Roanoke, VA, March 2017 • Co-developed and implemented cultural competency and professional development training for medical student group to moderate group discussions as well as offer skills and strategies to help students unpack individual gender beliefs, understand how to recognize and respond to microaggressions and biases, and develop skills to improve the medical school gender-climate as well as promote gender equity throughout our future careers 4|P a g e
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Act as subject matter specialist and advisor to administrative and teaching staff regarding best practices to address diversity, belonging, & inclusion within medical school environments
Research Associate/Project Coordinator, Virginia Tech Center for Public Health Practice and Research Blacksburg, VA, March 2016-January 2018 • Manage and oversee implementation of faith-based family healthy behavior and financial management program with African American congregations in Central and Southwest Virginia (e.g. Richmond, Petersburg, Danville) • Develop and manage Institutional Review Board (IRB) research strategy, recruitment materials, consent forms/strategies, etc. • Coordinate and assist with partner and volunteer trainings and participant recruitment • Assist with data collection for faith/community partnered type 2 diabetes education management program for Latina/Latino community members in Northern Virginia (e.g. Arlington, Alexandria) • Design and lead post-program assessment using process evaluations and semi-structured interviews with participants, faith-based, academic, community, and health partners Consultant, Center for Global Policy Solutions Washington, DC, September 2016-November 2016 • Led development of CHILD Lab for Allies for Reaching Community Health Equity (ARCHE) grant funded by Robert Wood Johnson (RWJ) to promote public health strategies to combat disparities by race, gender, geography, and income regarding social determinants of health • Conducted literature and field reviews to identify theoretical frameworks, best practices, gaps, and innovations to guide development of training strategy and curriculum • Developed collaborative training program aimed to enhance the capacity of RWJ grantees, community advocates, and civic leaders to address racial justice and policy development at the intersections of health equity • Designed training structure and implementation strategy to include training timeline, online and in-person hybrid teaching strategy, participant identification and recruitment strategy/materials, and curriculum topics and presenters • Identified and outlined potential training evaluation strategy as well as data collection method and measures • Outlined initial draft of on-line training resource page to include page design, portal tabs, web platform, and additional web-based training resources (e.g. training calendar, story bank, case studies, curriculum outline, training application) Consultant, Virginia Tech Physical Activity Research and Community Implementation Laboratory Blacksburg, VA, July 2016 • Developed and implemented cultural competency and professional development training for graduate students and lab head to improve STEM lab’s ability to execute projects as a team as well as improve engagement strategies with community partners and participants • Identified curriculum topics (e.g. communication, bias and conflict management, and identity awareness) and presenters as well as co-lead implementation of trainings Consultant, Institute for Advanced Learning and Research/Dan River Region Collaborative/Danville Regional Foundation Danville, VA, April 2016-November 2016 • Developed and executed mixed-methods formative assessment that yielded information to further guide the development of a Community Health Worker Pilot Program (CHW) that aims to understand and improve healthcare use, access, health outcomes, social support, and local policy development of residents within 4 local public housing communities • Created community health assessment tools (i.e. community health questionnaire), purpose, methods, and analysis strategy • Conducted data collection and community engagement trainings for 6 community health workers (current or previous residents of target communities) to co-lead participant recruitment and assessment strategies • Managed and oversaw project budget • Led implementation of 4 community health assessments resulting in 209 community members from the targeted public housing communities completing the community health questionnaire • Coordinated community partners to provide healthy food options, basic health screenings, children’s activities, and volunteers to assist with community health assessments 5|P a g e
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Led and oversaw data input and analysis team Developed and presented analysis report with recommendations for program development and community health needs
Program Director, Partners in Health and Wholeness, North Carolina Council of Churches Raleigh, NC, January 2015-February 2016 • • • • • • •
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Oversaw all Partners in Health and Wholeness (PHW) programs, services, staff, and operations Managed budgets related to the program, grant funding, and oversaw the distribution of PHW mini-grants to congregations for faith-based health initiatives Identified, wrote, secured and sustained grant funding resulting in $2.1 million of grant funding awarded for 20152018 from the Blue Cross Blue Shield Foundation of North Carolina and The Duke Endowment Oversaw grant fund management such as developing short-term and long-term financial strategic plans, meeting with funders, and preparing required financial and program outcomes reports Supervised, retained, and hired staff, contractors, and consultants resulting in doubling PHW staff with a 100% retainment rate Convened stakeholders in faith-based health initiatives, helping to build diverse and collaborative partnerships with government, public health, social justice, faith-based, and research organizations Developed faith and health messaging that 1) supported the concept that health and wholeness are inextricably linked to faith and are essential to a socially just society, and 2) promoted congregation-level commitment to health via clergy pledges to promote health from the pulpit, increase congregational policies to guide health efforts, and provide financial support to congregational health leads to guide efforts Update communications strategies to include a website and print materials that reflect aforementioned concepts Communicated with judicatory heads, pastors, and other faith leaders to enlist their support for promoting health and wellness through their congregations Partnered with The Duke Endowment to develop and implement a strategic plan to increase food security and nutrition efforts of more than 100 Methodist congregations across North Carolina
Graduate Research Assistant, Department of Population Health Science, Virginia Tech Blacksburg, VA, August 2012-December 2015 • Conducted data collection, entry, analysis, and interpretation of quantitative and qualitative data using various methods including thematic coding and software such as SPSS software and Microsoft excel • Assisted primary investigators in the design, development, implementation, and evaluation of a NIH three-arm randomized control community-based diabetes research study (Balanced Living with Diabetes) that partners with minority faith-based and community organizations to improve diabetes management of type 2 diabetics in the African American community • Utilized theory and conceptual models to develop and implement research projects that evaluate capacity and readiness of faith-based organizations to implement lifestyle-related health programs independently and/or via collaborative partnerships • Identified, recruited, and/or trained students and community members to assist in project development, data collection, evaluations, project write-up and dissemination to scholarly and lay resources • Led and assisted in the development and submission of grant proposals to help fund dissertation research (i.e. NIH Research Supplements to Promote Diversity in Health-Related) and academic endeavors (i.e. Point Foundation Scholarship) • Used community-based participatory methods to develop research training materials and coordinate training sessions for community research personnel • Utilized community-based participatory methods (CBPR) to assist with the recruitment and coordination of community stakeholders to form research advisory and review committees that guide research objectives, methods, and goals • Led and assisted in the translation of research outcomes into peer review and lay community articles • Conducted anthropometric and/or biomarker data collection during diabetes research assessments 6|P a g e
Graduate Research Assistant, Department of Human Nutrition, Foods, and Exercise, Virginia Tech Blacksburg, VA, January 2010-August 2012 • Assisted in the development and management of a community-academic coalition (Dan River Partnership for a Healthy Community) with the mission to foster community partnerships to combat obesity in the Dan River Region (Southwest Virginia) & Caswell County (North Carolina) through healthy lifestyle initiatives • Conducted data collection and analysis of quantitative and qualitative data using various scientific methods including thematic coding and software such as SPSS software and Microsoft excel • Helped primary investigators in the design, development, implementation, and evaluation of experimental and non-experimental built environment, community garden, physical activity and nutrition research initiatives • Utilized community-based participatory methods (CBPR) to assist with the recruitment and coordination of community stakeholders to form research advisory and review committees that guide research objectives, methods, and goals • Led and assisted in the development and submission of local (i.e. Danville Regional Foundation “Make it Happen Grant”) and federal grant proposals (i.e. NIH Community Participation Research Targeting the Medically Underserved (R21) • Identified, organized, and established key community stakeholders and partnerships to implement and sustain the coalition’s community and research projects • Used theory and conceptual models to design a data collection tool and conduct research that evaluated the community capacity of the community-academic coalition • Fulfilled objectives and tasks as co-investigator for translational obesity research projects conducted in the Dan River Region • Led and assisted in the in the translation of research outcomes into peer review and lay community articles Research Project Coordinator, Dan River Partnership for a Healthy Community, Virginia Tech Translational Obesity Lab Blacksburg/Danville, VA, January 2010-May 2011 • Helped collect, maintain, analyze, and update multiple data sets from capacity, community garden, physical activity, and nutrition research programs • Planned and coordinated research travel, data collection, participant scheduling, etc. • Assisted with data analysis, cleaning, maintenance, and interpretation using software such as Microsoft Excel and SPSS • Utilized knowledge of research practices and Dan River Region to act as community/academic research liaison • Organized, coordinated, and implemented team research meetings • Maintained communication between researchers, research partners, facilities, and participants COMMUNITY SERVICE & LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE Board Member, Founding Chapter Member, and Parliamentarian, Black Chamber of Commerce Danville, VA, January 2021-February 2022 • Assist board officers, members, and guest with parliamentary procedure to better ensure meeting decorum, processes, and procedures are executed appropriately • Assist with strategic planning to serves as a Chamber of Commerce for Black-Owned Business in the Dan River Region Community Partner, The Boys & Girls Club of Danville Danville, VA, August 2017-2021 • Work with administrative staff to develop new and improve existing health and wellness initiatives for staff and youth • Co-led and coordinated “community walking tour” for club administrators, youth, and city officials to gain a better understanding of the built environment and transportation corridors that provide safe and healthy routes for families and youth to access the Boy & Girls Club, local businesses, schools, and health resources via walking and cycling Committee Member, Point Foundation Alumni Committee 7|P a g e
Los Angeles, CA, May 2016-2021 • Work directly with Point Foundation administration as well as Point Alum to develop strategic plans that will improve scholar to alumni transition, strengthen alumni networks in small rural communities, as well as retain alumni involvement post-graduation • Provide feedback and suggestions to guide alumni planning session for the Point National Leadership Conference (e.g. financial assistance to increase alumni conference participation, alumni relations presentation, conference regional planning sessions) • Lead regional planning conversation with fellow alumni to identify future projects and initiatives to build membership of Point Alumni in Washington, DC, Maryland, Virginia, and North Carolina Vice Chair, Dan River Partnership for a Healthy Community Obesity Coalition Danville, VA, October 2012- October 2013 • Assisted Chair in all assigned duties such as preside over meetings, select steering committee, appointed all standing and ad hoc committee chairs, oversaw committee activities, and served as a liaison between the community, partnership, and research institution • Designed, implemented, and conducted analysis for partnership evaluations regarding performance, research interest and development, leadership improvement, program interest, partner research participation, and committee development • Assumed and performed the duties of the Chair in their absence • Utilized knowledge of Dan River Region and research practices to act as community/academic research liaison • Aided corresponding and recording secretary to coordinate steering committee meetings • Advised the organization and execution of coalition meetings and activities ADVOCACY EXPERIENCE Health Committee Chair, Virginia LGBTQ Advisory Board, Governor’s Office Richmond, VA, September 2021-current • Lead the development, design, and analysis of a comprehensive health needs assessment exploring concerns and solutions for LGBTQIA+ Virginians • Interpret and translate data into report findings, utilized by the board and Governor to further guide recommendations to address identified issues • Create and oversee committee standards of operation and code of conduct State Assessment Committee Chair, Virginia African American Advisory Board, Governor’s Office Richmond, VA, September 2019-September 2021 • Lead the development, design, and analysis of a comprehensive needs assessment exploring concerns, needs, and expectations regarding 6 areas of focus • Interpret and translate data into report findings, utilized by the board and Governor to further guide recommendations to address issues within the African American community Workshop Facilitator, Creating Change Chicago, IL, November 2013- 2019 • •
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Co-facilitated breakout sessions within day-long “Racial Justice Institute” which helped more than 300 participants explore the intersections of race and sexualities, power and privilege, and how to integrate racial justice tools into our everyday work Assisted with the development of curriculum for two-hour session “Quieting the Voices of Internalized Oppression and Self Care as People of Color” that provide people of color an opportunity to explore and do healing work related to internalized oppression as it related to the intersections of race, sexual orientation and gender identity Customized and taught the use of an evaluation tool that allowed participants to create “intersection identity maps” 8|P a g e
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which are visual depictions that break down internalized oppression by exploring: 1) personal and socialized beliefs regarding individual identities, 2) how personal and socialized beliefs from one identity may influence personal and socialized beliefs of another (intersectionality), and 3) initial steps to practice self-care and initiate self-work based on maps Created and hosted “free space” which provided participants alternative and creative methods such as painting, meditating, journaling, stretching, quite time, and music to discuss and share perspectives and needs based on morning, small group, and breakout session experience Provided support and assistance to lead facilitators during large group sessions to help ensure all materials were distributed to participants and supportive and safe communication was maintained during small group discussions
AWARDS AND HONORS • White House Fellows, Regional Finalist, 2023 • Virginia Department of Education: Virginia Culturally Relevant and Inclusive Education Practices Advisory Committee, Appointee, 2020 • Business Equality Magazine LGBTQ National “40 Under 40 List”, 2019 • American Public Health Association Abstract Reviewer, Community Based Public Health Caucus, 2019 • Shenzhen-China USA Young Entrepreneur Cohort, 2017 • White House Fellows, Regional Finalist, 2016 • Yale and Howard University’s Edward Alexander Bouchet Graduate Honor Society, Virginia Tech Chapter, 2015 • Selected for Spring White House Internship, Office of Public Engagement and Intergovernmental Affairs, 2015 • The Point Foundation Scholar and Full Scholarship Awardee, 2012-present PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATION MEMBERSHIPS • American Public Health Association, 2013-present • Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Incorporated, 2011-present • National Strength and Conditioning Association, 2008-2011 • • • • • • •
PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATIONS Six Sigma White Belt Certification, 2024 Virginia Tech Research and Innovation Proposal Development Institute, 2023 Diversity Development Institute Diversity Ally Certification (Virginia Tech), 2012 National Institutes of Health Human Subjects Training, 2010 Nonprofit Management in Board Relations (Duke University), 2008 Certified Nurse Assistant (State of Virginia), 2003-2008 Adult and Infant CPR and First Aid (American Red Cross), 2003-present
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