Join us for the Grad DEI Virtual Conversation Series this February via Zoom as we host virtual conversation spaces with alumna Dr. DaVida Anderson, Founder & Executive Director and Dr. Laila McCloud, Board Member of the Strong Sister, Silly Sister program.

Building Your Mentoring Network ft. Dr. DaVida L. Anderson, Thursday, Feb. 2, noon-1:30 p.m.

Dr. DaVida L. Anderson received her PhD in educational policy and leadership studies from the University of Iowa in 2019. She is the Director of Student Care and Integrity at Carroll Community College in Maryland. Dr. Anderson is also the Founder and Executive Director of Strong Sister, Silly Sister, Inc., a 501(c) (3) not-for-profit organization committed to empowering college women to embrace ethical choices and become their best selves. Through her LLC, she also is a motivational speaker who engages her audiences to embrace and maximize their full potential.

Teaching at a Primarily White Institution ft. Dr. Laila McCloud,  Thursday, Feb. 16, noon-1:30 p.m.

Dr. Laila McCloud is an Assistant Professor of Higher Education at Grand Valley State University. She holds a Doctorate in Educational Policy and Leadership Studies (Higher Education and Student Affairs) from the University of Iowa. Prior to pursuing a faculty career, she served as a student affairs educator focused on issues of equity and access at several institutions in the Chicagoland area. Dr. McCloud's research uses critical theories and methods to explore: (1) the professional and academic socialization of Black college students; (2) the professionalization of multicultural student affairs work; and (3) teaching and learning practices in higher education and student affairs graduate preparation programs. She serves on the Editorial Board for the Journal of College Student Development. Dr. McCloud is an active member and has held leadership positions in higher education and student affairs associations such as ACPA, ASHE, and NASPA. Her research has been published in the Journal of College Student Development, the Journal of Higher Education, and the Journal of the Professoriate. Dr. McCloud is a Research Associate with the Multi-Institutional Study of Leadership (MSL). In 2022, she was recognized as the NASPA Region IV-E Robert H. Shaffer Award for Academic Excellence as a Graduate Faculty Member.

Register now at bit.ly/grad-dei-convo-series