Kanbar Diversity Action Committee

Yphtach Lelkes
Polarization and Creativity: Diving into the Exploration-Exploitation Dilemma

Yphtach Lelkes is an Associate Professor at the Annenberg School for Communication and holds a secondary appointment in the Department of Political Science at the University of Pennsylvania. He is a co-director of the Center for Information Networks and Democracy and the co-director of the Polarization Research Lab. His interdisciplinary research bridges political communication, public opinion, and political psychology, with a particular focus on the causes and consequences of affective polarization. Yphtach’s work is regularly featured in leading academic journals and informs public discussions on polarization, media influence, and the challenges facing democracy in a divided society.

Madia Willis
The story behind Black Paper Party: Giftwrapping solutions for the culture.

Madia is a Liberian-American designer and entrepreneur hailing from Washington, DC. She received her BA from Columbia and fell in love with fashion and textiles while studying abroad in Ghana, where she later returned to launch a clothing line named Biribelle. She continued her studies of textile design at Central Sr. Martins School of Art and Design in London, Drexel University and Philadelphia University. She then worked as a textile designer at Target, while also serving as the creative director of Retention Strategy, informing solutions to create a diverse community in Minneapolis. She then transitioned to positions in product development and sourcing at Walmart, where she successfully launched a $1 billion children's brand and at Five Below, where she created trend and developed seasonal, home, and stationary products. Madia is now the founder of Black Paper Party, a gifting and stationary company celebrating the special occasions in your life. 

Richard Shell
The Wharton's School's Thomas Gerrity Professor of Legal Studies, Business Ethics and Management

How to Stand and Fight for Your Values at Work

Employees frequently face pressures from bosses and peers to compromise core values such as honesty, fairness, social justice, and personal dignity. When this happens, you may confront an anxiety-provoking choice: speak up and risk your job or be silent and stay safe. In this talk, Professor Shell will provide practical tools to help you craft a third way: become an effective advocate for your values and advance your career by committing to become what he calls a “Leader of Conscience.”

Lauren Guthrie
VP. Global Inclusion & Diversity VF Corporation

Lauren Guthrie is the Vice President of Global Inclusion, Diversity, Equity & Action for VF Corporation.  

Lauren is responsible for developing and operationalizing the strategic framework, guardrails and program development that drive VF’s commitment to building a culture anchored in allyship, advocacy and belonging.  She works closely with key talent management and business leaders to amplify social impact initiatives within VF, in direct support of the diverse associates, communities and consumers served by the VF portfolio of brands.

Prior to joining VF, Lauren has held progressive merchandising and general management roles with global brands such as The North Face, Nike, Levi’s and Abercrombie & Fitch across a variety of businesses. She is a vibrant team leader and coach, who is passionate about developing powerful teams and fostering high integrity work environments where each player is celebrated for their unique contributions.

Reggie Miller
VP, Global Chief Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Officer McDonald’s Corporation 

As McDonald’s Vice President, Global Chief Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer, Reginald J. Miller oversees the company’s global I&D strategy with a focus on transformational change around the world.

Reggie began his career at McDonald’s in November 2020.  He joined McDonald’s from VF Corporation, where he served as Vice President, Global Inclusion and Diversity, where he built the company’s first I&D strategy and turned it into an award-winning program.

Reggie has worked in a variety of disciplines including supply chain, merchandising, international project management and multiple specialties within human resources.  Prior to joining VF, he was the Director, Diversity Strategy and Support, responsible for the D&I strategy, reporting, and consultation for all Walmart stores in the U.S. and was a recruiter and D&I leader at Tyson Foods.  He also was an instructor and faculty administrator for the University of Phoenix for several years. 

A US Army Veteran, he served as a Supply Sergeant with deployments to Afghanistan and Uzbekistan. In addition, he holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Education - HR Development and a Master of Science in Education - Workforce Development from the University of Arkansas.  He also received an MBA from Webster University. 

Reggie serves on the Executive Advisory Committee for the College of Business and Economics at North Carolina A&T State University.  Additionally, he serves as the Co-President for the board of directors for Camber Outdoors.  Recently, he was named to the 2020 Top 50 Chief Diversity Officer list by the National Diversity Council.

Tia Brown McNair
VP, AAC&U Diversity & Inclusion & Director of Truth, Racial Healing & Transformation Campus Centers

Dr. Tia Brown McNair is the Vice President in the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Student Success and Executive Director for the Truth, Racial Healing, and Transformation (TRHT) Campus Centers at the Association of American Colleges and Universities (AAC&U) in Washington, DC. She oversees both funded projects and AAC&U’s continuing programs on equity, inclusive excellence, high-impact practices, and student success. McNair directs AAC&U’s Summer Institutes on High-Impact Practices and Student Success, and TRHT Campus Centers and serves as the project director for several AAC&U initiatives. She is the lead author of From Equity Talk to Equity Walk: Expanding Practitioner Knowledge for Racial Justice in Higher Education (January 2020) and Becoming a Student-Ready College: A New Culture of Leadership for Student Success (July 2016). In March 2020, Diverse: Issues In Higher Education named McNair one of thirty-five outstanding women who have tackled some of higher education’s toughest challenges and made a positive difference in their communities.

To view Dr. McNair's presentation please email a committee member for a protected link and password.

Jason Crook (Chair) is an Assistant Teaching Professor in the School of Business. Crook is an entrepreneur and industry consultant with a background in marketing research, advertising, and corporate branding. Since 2003 he has been the proprietor of an award-winning retail and eCommerce business, PHAG (Philadelphia Home Art Garden). For more than two decades, he has also served as principal at his own marketing communications and research consultancy. He holds a US patent as the co-inventor of “Methods and Systems for Analyzing Marketing Effectiveness”. Crook has been a faculty member in Kanbar College of Design, Engineering & Commerce since 2001, and currently serves as Coordinator of the college’s DEC Core course in Finding & Shaping Opportunity as well as the Coordinator of External Programs for the School of Business. He developed Jefferson’s undergraduate minor in Entrepreneurship and currently serves as coordinator for the annual Matt Glass Awards for Entrepreneurship.

Maribeth Kradel-Weitzel (Member) is an Assistant Provost, Associate Professor and founding director of the Master of Science in Health Communication Design program at Thomas Jefferson University. As assistant provost, she directs Jefferson’s Creativity Core Curriculum which serves students across the university. Kradel-Weitzel is an elected member of the national board of AIGA, the largest professional association for design in the world. She is a “Sappi Ideas That Matter” grant recipient, has lectured internationally and the work of her practice, Kradel Design, has been recognized with numerous awards. Kradel-Weitzel has a Certificate in Creative Leadership from the Yale School of Management, an MFA from Tyler School of Art and a BA from The Pennsylvania State University. 

Brian George PhD (Member) is an Associate Professor and Director of the engineering programs in the School of Design & Engineering, where he also oversees the composites and nonwovens laboratories. He has done research in the use of non-traditional materials in textiles applications, sustainability, hemp in textiles, and has produced fabric used in astronaut space suits. He can be seen on The Turkey episode of Modern Marvels and the Custom Chrome Made in Sturgis episode of Corbin’s Ride On. He received a BS in Textile Science and a PhD in Fiber & Polymer Science, both from NC State University. He is active as a merit badge counselor and a troop committee member for Scouts BSA, an executive board member of the Philadelphia Section of ASME, and as a board member of his local food pantry where he also volunteers.

Shubha Bennur, PhD (Member) is an Assistant Professor and director of MS in Fashion Merchandising & Management program in the School of Business, at Thomas Jefferson University. She obtained her PhD in Apparel Merchandising from The Oklahoma State University, Stillwater, OK. Her research focuses on Consumer Behavior and International Retailing which has appeared in several outlets, including the Clothing and Textiles Research Journal, Journal of the Textile Institute, Journal of Fashion Marketing & Management. She has co-authored a book titled Retailing in Emerging Markets, 2nd Edition, which is used as a text book in several academic institutions. Apart from teaching, she enjoys traveling and has already been to 37 states in US. Her goal is to visit all 50 states. 

Dana Scott (Member) is a multi-disciplinary artist, Associate Professor, and the Program Director of the Core Curriculum in Kanbar College. Her pedagogy focusses on Design Foundations and Educational Assessment. She teaches Design Essentials in the School of Design and Engineering and Finding and Shaping Opportunity in the DEC Core. Dana’s creative practice ranges from photography to installation, and focuses on translations of natural form based in aesthetics, exploration, and composition. She received her BFA from Rhode Island School of Design, her MFA from Tyler School of Art at Temple University, and was an Adobe Creative Campus Fellow and a Fulbright Fellow in the Czech Republic.

Jenna Musket (Member) is an Adjunct Professor in the Kanbar College of Design, Engineering & Commerce. A sociocultural anthropologist with multiple graduate degrees in Anthropology and Creative Writing, she teaches Research Methods, a DEC Core course cross-listed with Junior Integrative Seminar in Jefferson’s College of Humanities & Sciences. Prior to teaching at Jefferson, she was full-time faculty at Drexel University where she developed and taught a wide variety of traditional, community-based, side-by-side, and hybrid courses, first, in Drexel’s Department of Culture and Communication, and later the Departments of Anthropology and Sociology. In addition to academia, Jenna has twenty plus years of senior level non-profit management experience which includes serving as Executive Director of the West Philadelphia Partnership, and as a Project Director at Temple University’s Center for Social Policy and Community Development. 

Bethany Ragusa (Member) is Kanbar College’s Director of Student Services and Program Director for the Sports Management Minor. Ragusa earned her undergraduate at Neumann University in Sports Management and graduate degree from West Chester University in Public Administration. Ragusa’s background within both professional sports and collegiate athletics has led her to develop Jefferson’s sports management minor for which she currently serves as the coordinator. Ragusa’s role within the college is in close collaboration with advisors and all students for any academic advising needs. Her focus is on continual improvement of student retention and academic success while working with diverse populations across campus. Ragusa also teaches Finding and Shaping Opportunity in Kanbar College’s DEC Core.

Renée Walker (Member) is an Associate Professor in the School of Design and Engineering, where she teaches typography, information design, and human-centered design systems. Her information design work has been featured in many international new outlets and journals including The New York Times, The Nightingale Journal of Data Visualization, and Print Magazine. Walker earned her BS in Graphic Design from Northeastern University and an Interdisciplinary Design MFA from California College of the Arts. As principal of the woman-owned design studio Gold Collective, she brings deep expertise in branding, experiential, interactive, and information design. Her accomplishments include the Communication Arts Award for Excellence in Typography and keynote presentations at national conferences. Walker's current research explores multi-sensory design methods, the humanization of technology, and data visualization.