Joseph E. Aoun, a leader in higher education policy and a renowned scholar in linguistics, is the seventh President of Northeastern University.
President Aoun has strategically aligned the University’s research enterprise with three global imperatives—health, security, and sustainability. Northeastern’s faculty focus on interdisciplinary research, entrepreneurship, and transforming academic research into commercial solutions for the world’s most pressing problems. During President Aoun’s tenure, the University has realized a 189 percent growth in external research funding, along with approximately 1,500 patent applications filed by faculty and students.
How can you stay engaged - and mentally strong - instead of succumbing to burnout and overwhelm? With the many challenges facing our world today, this is a more important question than ever for people who care about justice, equity, and inclusion. To learn how to balance being a change-maker with your own well-being, join this free virtual event featuring Dr. Stephanie Pinder-Amaker, a clinical psychologist and Harvard Medical School Professor committed to achieving multicultural excellence in organizations. Executives from State Street, Biogen, and Takeda will also share their lessons learned.
DR. STEPHANIE PINDER-AMAKER is McLean Hospital’s inaugural Chief Diversity, Equity &
Inclusion Officer, the Founding Director of McLean’s College Mental Health Program (CMHP),
an Assistant Professor of Psychology at Harvard Medical School, and Consulting Psychologist for the Boston Celtics. Guided by the models of Cultural Humility (Tervalon & Murray-Garcia, 1998) and shared responsibility. Dr. Pinder-Amaker is passionate about moving organizations beyond “diversity-by-the-numbers” toward sustainable inclusivity and promoting culturally-responsive mental health approaches. She has worked with dozens of universities, secondary schools, sports teams, and non-profits to develop interventions at the intersection of sociocultural identity and mental health. Her new book, Did That Just Happen?! “Beyond Diversity”-Creating Inclusive and Sustainable Organizations (2021), has been selected as a community reads choice by colleges and corporations, nominated for several national awards, and named as a top read for Black History Month by the Next Big Idea Club. In 2018, she co-founded Twin Star Intersectional Diversity Trainers with her DTJH?! co-author, Dr. Lauren Wadsworth, and serves on the boards of several organizations committed to social justice and health equity including the Augustus A. White Institute for Health Equity, The Steve Fund, Boston Celtics United for Social Justice, and The Steppingstone Foundation. She earned her B.S. from Duke University, her doctorate in Psychology from Vanderbilt University and completed her pre- and post-doctoral fellowships at Yale School of Medicine and Duke Medical School, respectively.
DR. CONSTANZA CABELLO (Connie/ she/ her) is the VP of equity programs at State Street. Dr. Cabello is an equity-minded leader committed to strategically positioning organizations to advance justice in their organizations and with their constituents. With foundations in leadership, facilitation, and counseling, she has spent her career working with organizations on their goals to advance diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). Her experience working with colleges/ universities, nonprofits, public and private organizations provided her with a multifaceted view of the unique challenges and opportunities organizations face, and how to work together through them. Dr. Cabello completed the EdD in organizational leadership studies program at Northeastern University, received a MS in counseling: student development in higher education from Central Connecticut State University and a BS in social policy and planning from the University of Connecticut. @statestreet
VALENCIA FOSTER is a senior manager/ thought leader liaison aligned with the Spinraza marketing team at Biogen. Foster is a native of Los Angeles, California and has been a Biogen employee for 17 years. For the last 5 years, Foster has been part of the Rare Disease division. Foster is a member of Employee Resource Networks at Biogen, the SMA DE&I Team, and a leader representing the field for the Global ERN, “Reach Out”. “Reach Out” is “Biogen’s network for LGBTQ employees and their allies, to increase awareness and acceptance of the Biogen LGBTQ community, supporting a best-in-class workplace for LGBTQ employees, and exemplifying our commitment to social responsibility and innovation.” As the mother of a bisexual young man, Foster is committed to serving and standing with all who identify under the rainbow of sexual orientation and gender identity. She serves as the Southern California State Chapter Leader for the non-profit, “Free Mom Hugs”. @biogen
UTHRA SUNDARAM is head of global product & launch strategy at Takeda. She leads the organization’s focus on realizing the promise of our pipeline, driving global brand growth, and becoming a center of excellence for both asset strategy and launch success. Sundaram brings a passion for building connections between commercial and R&D, as well as a broad global background in the U.S., Europe, and Asia. Sundaram joined Takeda as our global commercial leader for gastroenterology (GI) and moved into the USBU to build and lead our GI business unit. Her leadership principle is to inspire people with a clear and compelling vision while supporting them by elevating their cross functional skills. She believes in candid feedback, team empowerment, crisp decision-making, and being a role model of the values she advocates. Sundaram holds a degree in electronics and communication engineering, a post-graduate diploma in management, and an MBA from Yale School of Management. @takedapharma
DAMARIS SCHNEIDER is managing director at State Street Transformation management office. For over twenty years, she has been a dynamic leader in driving transformation, innovation, and inclusion. She is responsible for international engagement to support the organization’s transformation efforts, achieving and enabling enterprise-wide capabilities that drive efficiency, improved client and employee satisfaction, and growth for the company. Her international and business transformation experience includes professional services,
operations, leading international delivery organizations, diversity and inclusion, organizational culture, talent acquisition and development, partnerships, program
management, innovation, and strategic planning. As a sought-after speaker, proud Latina, and mother, she prides herself on being an authentic and empathetic leader— acknowledging people in all their facets and understanding unique needs. Throughout her career, she has mentored many individuals and teams as they navigate through continuous change. Schneider is a graduate of the State University of New York at Old Westbury. @statestreet
The Globe does not tolerate hate speech or incendiary language in our virtual events. In the event of any violation, we reserve the right to remove you from the event and take legal action against you, including but not limited to reporting your behavior to the authorities. Your participation in any event is subject to our Terms of Service.
By providing us with your email address as part of your registration to any Boston Globe or Boston.com event, you will also be added to our select newsletter lists. You may opt out of these lists at any time by clicking the unsubscribe links provided in the newsletters. View our privacy policy.
