about us

The Consortium for Inclusion and Equity (CIE), LLC was co-founded by managing associate Dennis DePaul and principal, Dr. Stacey Miller; and is committed to the values of embracing diversity in the pursuit of building inclusive and equitable organizations. The backgrounds of its co-founders and associates allow us to bring unique perspectives, experiences, and knowledge to this work.

our team

  • Dr. Stacey Miller (she/her)


    Dr. Stacey Miller is co-founder and principal for the Consortium for Inclusion and Equity (CIE), LLC. She is nationally recognized for her educational workshops on diversity, equity and inclusion, leadership development, affirmative recruitment of staff and is sought out for her knowledge and expertise in the use of Restorative Practices in collegiate residential settings.

    She spent 29 years in higher education formerly serving as the Vice President for Equity and Inclusion and Director for the John Lewis Institute for Social Justice at Central Connecticut State University, the Associate Provost for Inclusion and Equity at Valparaiso University, and the Director of Residential Life for the Division of Student Affairs at the University of Vermont (UVM); positions she held from 2003 to 2022. Formerly, she served as the Chair for the Board of Trustees for the International Institute for Restorative Practices Graduate School in Bethlehem, PA, and currently serves as a Board of Trustee for Camp Ta-Kum-Ta, VT.

  • Dennis DePaul (he/him)


    Dennis DePaul is co-founder and managing associate for the Consortium for Inclusion & Equity, a consulting firm that works with organizations to promote inclusive and equitable work environments through intentional facilitation of intercultural, diversity and Restorative Practices trainings regionally and nationally.

    In his full-time work, Dennis serves as the Executive Director for Vermont’s Camp Ta-Kum-Ta, a year-round camping program that supports children with cancer. Previously, he served as Associate Dean in the Division of Student Affairs at the University of Vermont. With more than 30 years of professional experience in higher education and non-profit work, Dennis’ core experiences are in leadership, human resource development and business operations. He was also recently elected as a Board of Trustee for the International Institute for Restorative Practices.

  • ASSOCIATE (she/her)
    Area of Focus: BiPoC affinity group and healing space

  • ASSOCIATE (he/him)
    Area of Focus: DEI organizational development, intercultural competence, restorative practices, and intergroup dialogue

    Alex serves as the Intercultural Training Director in the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at Wayne State University. In this capacity, he leads efforts for individual, group, and system-level change for equity and inclusion. He provides vision and leadership for the development, implementation, and evaluation of activities that enhance awareness, understanding, and integration of diversity, equity, inclusion and intercultural competence. This involves partnering with staff and faculty across campus to create opportunities for reflection, dialogue, and action related to a variety of topics including inclusive leadership, implicit bias education, intergroup dialogue, and intercultural competency. He also co-leads the DEI Council at Wayne State.

    Alex is an Intercultural Development Inventory Qualified Administrator and has been trained by the International Institute of Restorative Practices. He is a doctoral student in Eastern Michigan University’s Educational Leadership Ph.D. program. He holds a Master of Education from The University of Vermont and a Bachelor of Science from Loyola University Chicago. In his free time, he enjoys spending time with his family, exercising, and catching up with friends.

  • ASSOCIATE (he/him)

    Area of Focus: diversity, equity and inclusion strategy

    Lilu Barbosa joined the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health in June 2020 as Chief Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging Officer. As Chief Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging Officer, Lilu plays a pivotal role in ensuring a diverse, equitable, and inclusive environment for students, faculty, and staff at the Harvard Chan School, leading the Office of Diversity and Inclusion (ODI) as well as the Dean’s Advisory Committee on Diversity and Inclusion (DACDI). His duties include vision development; strategic and resource planning; reporting, policy, and practice development; prioritization around efforts such as recruitment, retention, staff, faculty, and student development; and expanding and deepening discussions about diversity, inclusion, and related issues in the curriculum. He also collaborates across the University to learn and share best practices, serving as an advisor to create a more vibrant and supportive campus climate for all members of our community.

    Lilu also has experience in nonprofit sectors and holds certifications in restorative justice, social justice conflict mediation, and areas of bias response, and is licensed as an Intercultural Developmental Inventory (IDI) Qualifying Administrator. Lilu holds a BS in business administration and marketing, and an MEd in higher education and student affairs administration, both from the University of Vermont. He is currently a PhD candidate in the Human Development and Learning program at Lesley University, where his research focuses on strategic diversity leadership, professional development, and organizational learning and capacity-building.

  • ASSOCIATE (she/her)

    Dr. Julia Collett is the Assistant Director for Residence Life at SUNY Buffalo State College. She earned her M. Ed. In Higher Education and Student Affairs at Iowa State University in 2015 and her Ed.D. in Higher Education Administration at George Washington University in 2022. Her dissertation focuses on how students of minoritized religions cultivate sense of belonging on their college campuses. Dr. Collett’s work focuses on supporting religious, secular, and spiritual student identities through policy work, programming, and education. Her research focuses on sense of belonging, White Christian Supremacy, and the ways those systems of oppression impact the lived experiences of students of minoritized religions. Julia lives in Buffalo with her partner and two basset hounds. She enjoys hiking with the dogs and playing board games with her partner. On Sundays, you can find her cheering on the Bills.

  • ASSOCIATE (she/her)

    Areas of Focus: White affinity space, Mens Health & Restorative Practices

    Michele is a licensed social worker, facilitator, mediator and educator with over a decade of experience providing direct support to students, staff and faculty. Most recently, Michele worked at Northwestern University from 2013-2020 as the Assistant Director in the Social Justice Education office, providing hundreds of workshops for thousands of people each year, overseeing the Sustained Dialogue program, and creating Deconstructing Whiteness. Michele has worked with national companies, non-profit organizations, school districts, higher education institutions, and communities to provide education and strategic consulting on topics like white accountability, anti-oppressive practices, cultural humility, facilitation, and engaging in healthy conflict. In addition to her consulting work, Michele is a licensed social worker currently serving as a therapist for both individuals and groups at Meghan Finn Therapy and Consultation in Evanston, IL. Michele holds a BA in journalism from Santa Clara University, a M.Ed in Higher Education from Loyola University Chicago and a MSW from The University of Chicago.

    www.dynamiccooperative.com

  • ASSOCIATE (he/him)
    Area of Focus: LGBTQ+ Rights

    William “Will” Mann is a retired professor, LGBTQA+ activist and consultant. He offers workshops, lectures and consultations on LGBTQ experience, culture, and history. During his eight years as assistant professor of history at Central Connecticut State University (2014-2022) and four years (2018-2022) as campus LGBTQ Center director, he developed and taught courses on LGBTQ History, History of AIDS, LGBTQ Public History, LGBTQ Film, LGBTQ Fiction, and American Popular Culture. His courses were taught using an intersectional lens, understanding that LGBTQ issues are not separate from race, class, ethnicity, age, ability, or religion.

    As former LGBTQ Center director, he facilitated campus-wide conversations on queer issues, such as understanding gender identity, pronoun usage, implicit bias, racial injustice, and allyship. He developed ally trainings for departments, classes, offices, and cultural centers. His goal is to make the LGBTQ experience accessible and familiar.

    Before his time on college campuses, he was the coordinator of Your Turf, the first LGBTQ support group for queer youth in Connecticut. In the 1990s. He was also a member of ACT UP, confronting homophobia, sexism, and racism in the response to the AIDS crisis. As editor of Connecticut’s queer Newsweekly, he covered politics, culture, and health. He also worked as a journalist for many national publications and used pop cultural history background to pen articles and best-selling biographies of political and Hollywood figures, many of them queer, including Eleanor Roosevelt, Katharine Hepburn, James Baldwin, and Marlon Brando.

  • ASSOCIATE (he/him)
    Areas of Focus: Diversity, equity and inclusion, strategic & organizational planning and assessment, worth with faith based orgs

    Dr. Byron R. Martin currently serves as the Assistant Provost for Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion at Carnegie Mellon University (CMU). He is also an associate with The Consortium for Inclusion & Equity (C.I.E.) LLC. He also consults with universities, faith institutions, and organizations in both the public and private sectors, both national and international, in diversity, equity, and inclusion. Grounding his work in systems thinking and a justice-informed framework, Byron has activated change in organizations from an individual and systemic level.

    Dr. Martin is originally from Mesquite, Texas holds a Ph.D. from Cardinal Stritch University (C.S.U.) and a master’s and bachelor’s degree from Abilene Christian University (A.C.U.). Through effective systems analysis and an intentional focus toward underrepresented populations, Byron helps to advance the institutional mission by building support structures that increase the recruitment, retention, and development of the entire campus community.

    Byron is the Co-founder of the “Creating and Nurturing Inclusivity (C.A.N.I.) series.” This multilevel training curriculum gives participants the tools to answer “YES” to the theoretical question of “Can I work to create and nurture an effective inclusion culture in my community?”

  • ASSOCIATE (she/her)
    Area of Focus: BiPoC and affinity group healing space work

    As a storyteller, I create heart-centered spaces through workshops, community engagements, culinary food, and more! My intention is to make a collective difference within my local Vermont community (and beyond) one story at a time. I’m excited to spread love, gratitude, and affirmations through my various offerings, showing up with ALL HEART! Breathing in and affirming one another’s stories matters to me. We all have stories worthy of telling. So what’s yours?! Join me and my amazing family for upcoming storytelling adventures!

    allheartinspirations.com

  • ASSOCIATE: (he/him)

    Area of Focus: White affinity space and healing

    Josh Meyer has been a leader in a variety of academic and athletic areas as a coach, teacher and administrator during the past twenty plus years, following his experience as a student-athlete at Wesleyan University in Middletown, Connecticut. Recently, Josh guided equity related-work for the city of Burlington, Vermont as the Restorative Practices Coordinator for the Burlington School District. Josh is currently a storyteller with All Heart Inspirations, a BIPOC family business started by his partner, Ferene Paris Meyer, which leverages the power of storytelling to make change.

    Josh earned his master of education degree at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, where he worked with Professor Sara Lawrence-Lightfoot and Coach Tommy Amaker to produce the "Coach-as-Teacher" project, which explores teaching and learning in co-curricular environments. He graduated from Wesleyan with a bachelor of arts degree in economics. Social justice, restorative practices and mindfulness guide Josh's approach to leadership. Josh lives in Burlington, Vermont and loves outdoor activities like skiing, hiking and swimming with his family. He finds great joy in playing old school hip hop songs on the bass guitar and writing.

  • ASSOCIATE

    Areas of focus: research, statistics, and evaluation

    Dr. Michele Parker is from Brooklyn, New York. She double majored in Sociology and Political Science at SUNY Stonybrook. After college, Michele obtained a master’s degree in Higher Education and Student Affairs Administration. Later, she earned a Ph.D. in Educational Research, Statistics, and Evaluation at the University of Virginia. At UNC Wilmington, Michele is a Professor in the Educational Leadership Department. Since 2007, she has taught research and evaluation courses for undergraduate and graduate students. In 2020, Michele received the UNCW Chancellor’s Teaching Excellence Award and the Graduate Faculty Mentor Award. She is the Program Coordinator for two post-baccalaureate certificates: College Teaching and Learning and Coaching & Mentoring.

  • ASSOCIATE (he/him)
    Areas of Focus: Diversity, equity and inclusion, intercultural competence, and restorative practices

    Dr. Rafael Rodriguez became NYU's inaugural Associate Vice President and Dean of Students on October 25, 2021.

    Dean Rodriguez’s breadth and depth of professional experience and volunteer involvement on and off campus have earned him a reputation of being a connected, caring, and strategic leader. Throughout his career, Rafael has developed an expertise and proven track record in crisis response; organizational development and change management; recruitment, training, and retention of diverse staff; and implementing data-informed best practices that bolster the student experience. His work also focuses on providing holistic support to first-generation and marginalized students, fostering student leadership development, mentoring and developing professional staff, and developing quality assessment instruments.

  • ASSOCIATE (he/him)

    Areas of Focus: Diversity, equity and inclusion, organizational development and strategic planning

    Centering deep engagement and a strategic focus, Domonic Rollins successfully coaches organizations through diversity and inclusion change efforts. As the President of Rollins Consulting, Domonic works will clients to start, continue, and refine their efforts to make their organizations as inclusive as possible. Previously, he served as the Director of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at The Dalton School and as the Senior Diversity & Inclusion Officer at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. Both inaugural chief diversity officer posts affirm and catalyze a necessary condition for diversity, equity, and inclusion work in organizations: engagement.

    A hallmark of Domonic's work is translating big ideas regarding diversity and inclusion, into practical solutions and considerations for organizations and interpersonal relationships. Previously, he served as the Senior Education and Training Specialist in the Office of Diversity and Inclusion at the University of Maryland. His research focuses on issues of professional socialization, structural barriers to inclusive environments, social justice training in universities, and pathways to senior leadership for minoritized university administrators. His dissertation research investigated how Black male administrators navigate racism in higher education.

    Domonic serves and keeps connection with Academic Impressions, Leadershape Inc., the Social Justice Training Institute, Washington Consulting Group, and other professional organizations dedicated to inclusion. Passion areas for Domonic include diversity, social justice, organizational dynamics, and supervision. Domonic earned his Ph.D. in Higher Education, Student Affairs, and International Education Policy from the University of Maryland-College Park.

    rollinsconsulting.org

  • ASSOCIATE (he/him)

    Areas of Focus: Interfaith dialogue, Emergent facilitation

    Robert Taylor Jr. (he/him) is an intuitive facilitator and educator committed to supporting individuals' connections to their bodies, communities, and the world around them through a breath-centered mindfulness practice. 

    Presently, he works alongside students and community partners as they endeavor to cultivate a sense of belonging for religious, spiritual, secular, and interfaith communities at NYU. In this vein, he orchestrates holistic wellbeing initiatives and facilitates workshops on a number of issues concerning interfaith dialogue, mindful leadership, conflict resolution, and diversity within religious/spiritual spaces.

    Robert holds a B.A. in History and Gender & Sexuality Studies and an M.A. in History from New York University where he is the Program Administrator for MindfulNYU and Global Spiritual Life.

  • ASSOCIATE (he/him)
    Areas of Focus: Diversity, equity, and inclusion work

    Janelle White, is Director of the Office of Multicultural Student Affairs at the University of Chicago and as an Associate for the Consortium for Inclusion & Equity, LLC. As a DEI consultant, she has had the opportunity to work with education professionals, non-profits, and private companies to explore concepts of justice, inclusion, and equity within their organizational leadership, curriculum development, and community engagement initiatives. Janelle is the Co-founder of the “Creating and Nurturing Inclusivity (C.A.N.I.) series.” This multilevel training curriculum gives participants the tools to answer “YES” to the theoretical question of “Can I work to create and nurture an effective inclusion culture in my community?”

     Janelle holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology from Ball State University and a Master of Science in Education CSPA from Illinois State University She is is actively involved with (NASPA) as a co-chair for the African American Knowledge Community and as the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Advisor for her professional region.

  • ASSOCIATE (she/her)
    Areas of Focus: Organizational and leadership development and Restorative Practices

    Patience Whitworth serves as the associate vice provost for Operations and Strategic Initiatives for the Office of the Provost at Carnegie Mellon University. In this role, Whitworth supports day-to-day operations and strategic initiatives, including partnerships with offices of vice provosts and other reporting units, deans, department heads, faculty, students, community, university and external organizations.

    First joining Carnegie Mellon as the director of the Office of the Vice Provost for Education, Whitworth served on the accreditation leadership team, provided administration oversight of the new academic programs process and coordinated academic leadership efforts in support of diversity, equity and inclusion and student success.

    Previously, Whitworth was the assistant dean of students in the Division of Student Affairs at the University of Vermont. Prior to UVM, she served as assistant director of the Student Life Research and Planning at The Ohio State University where she was responsible for divisional strategic planning and assessment.

    Whitworth’s research focuses on the application of restorative practices in higher education and she is a certified trainer and practitioner of restorative practices. She is active in Mortar Board National Honor Society and currently serves as section coordinator for Pennsylvania chapters.

    Whitworth earned both her master’s degree in Educational Policy and Leadership and her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration at The Ohio State University. She also holds a Ph.D. in Education Policy and Leadership from the University of Vermont.

  • ASSOCIATE: (she/her)
    Areas of Focus: HR management, leadership development hiring and retention

    Dr. Harriet Williams is a SHRM certified human resources professional and Gallup Strengths Certified Coach who has spent the past 16 years engaging professionals around their leadership. She earned her bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Stony Brook University and holds a Doctorate in Educational Leadership from the University of Vermont. Harriet currently serves as the Director of Talent Management for the Division of Campus Life at Wake Forest University. Harriet has worked in higher education, nonprofit, and governmental agencies. She is specifically interested in how people manage transition and aids them in identifying their passions and attaining opportunities to discover and engage in their “heart work”. 

    Harriet deeply believes that our strengths and talents help to shape how we see ourselves within organizations and is skilled at identifying the mental barriers that are sometimes created when opportunities for change and growth present themselves. Dr. Williams works from a framework of leadership and organizational development and helps individuals, groups and teams strategically identify and solve organizational pain points. Using a variety of tools and assessments, Harriet engages teams using positive psychology to identify their best work and ways to create positive change and growth. 

    Harriet is originally from New York, and currently resides in North Carolina where she is learning how to be a really good empty nester!

  • ASSOCIATE (she/her/they/them)
    Area of Focus: Restorative Practices - Responsive Practices

    Kris identifies as white and was born in 1980 to a middle-class family in racially segregated Southern Oregon. Kris explains that like so many white “progressive” homes, they were taught to be color-blind and anti-Race, instead of an Anti-Racist. Now at age 42, Kris is committed to continuously interrogating the privileges their white skin gives them and using their power to fight white supremacy.

    Professionally, Kris began their career focused on ending gender violence, by teaching social emotional programs to public school students. In 2017, Kris received a Master of Science Degree in Restorative Practices from the International Institute for Restorative Practices (IIRP).

    As an independent consultant Kris provides training to schools, organizations and community groups seeking to develop restorative cultures and eradicate systemic oppression from their policies and practices. Her dream is to one day open a Community Conflict Center in New London to provide residents with access to services and support in addressing and resolving conflict outside of the criminal legal system. Kris is grateful to call New London, Connecticut home where she lives with her stunning wife, Laura, brilliant daughter, Lize and six naughty chickens who think they run the neighborhood.

what makes us different?

Becoming a more inclusive and equitable organization is a journey and CIE believes in experiential learning and the reality of the ever-changing landscape of this work. We all carry privileged and marginalized identities that impact and shape our understanding of the communities we live in and serve. As facilitators, we strive to share our journey in this work through multiple identity lenses, which include, but are not limited to race, gender, sexual orientation, immigrant status and ability. As we share our stories, we build trust by exposing our own struggles, truths, and successes.

As life-long learners, we engage our clients in meaningful dialogue that explores leadership and organizational development through the lens of diversity, intercultural competence, human behavior, and Restorative Practices. Using our facilitation skills, research, theory-based education, and storytelling, we help organizations strengthen interpersonal relationships so that they can better serve their clients. This work is a journey, and we believe that simply being on the journey will bring individuals, organizations, and communities to a place of mutual understanding in pursuit of inclusivity, equity, and justice.

our
mission

Is it possible to help individuals become more aware of the societal dominance they carry and how it impacts the way in which they interact in the world? Is it possible to help individuals within organizations communicate more effectively with each other around difference and social inequity? Is it possible to provide staff members of different ages, genders, races, religions, sexual-orientations, socio-economic class etc., a work environment where they feel safe and secure; an environment that affirms their multiple and intersecting identities? CIE believes it is possible to move individuals and groups forward in their understanding of each other, their differences, and the societal constructs that keep us guarded and less productive.

CIE’s mission is simple: We believe by partnering with organizations, we can provide them with the foundational awareness, knowledge, skills, and language needed to create more inclusive and equitable work environments for all its members and the people they serve.

testimonials

  • Dr. Stacey Miller is a sought-after consultant and facilitator. Having witnessed her expertise in various settings and across a myriad of audiences, Dr. Miller centers content while also developing an excellent rapport with the groups/organizations she works with. I have enjoyed partnering with Dr. Miller and my teams have benefited greatly from her workshops/presentations.

    Dr. DeMethra LaSha Bradley
    Higher Education Administrator

  • Stacey’s leadership and facilitation style is rooted in a combination of authenticity, generating connections, and strategic planning. She is thoughtful in her approach to creating change, clear about her values, and welcoming to both individuals and communities. Stacey’s work results in organizational change that is more inclusive and equitable in its practices, policies, and people.

    Dr. Tomas Sanchez
    Director of Residential Life
    University of North Texas
    Division of Student Affairs

  • Dr. Stacey Miller is an outstanding professional and consultant. With years of experience in higher education and in leadership positions, she brings vision, compassion, and a social justice perspective to her work.  She is organized, flexible, and willing to work with your organization’s specific needs and goals.  Working with Stacey has always been a true pleasure. She understands the challenges often faced by leaders and connects with employees at every level of the organization. She is genuine and forthright in her work and often uses humor to illuminate the realities of today’s work environments’. Her insight and talents are invaluable.

    Dr. Annie Stevens
    Retired Vice Provost for Student Affairs
    The University of Vermont

  • Stacey worked with UNT’s Division of Student Affairs leadership (approximately 40 individuals) on better understanding our intercultural competency using the Intercultural Development Inventory. Stacey met us where we were developmentally and provided a training that left us eager to improve and learn more. She was able to return after the height of COVID and even with staff changes, was able to pick up right where we left off, and build on our prior learning, as well as introduce new staff members to previously facilitated content. Stacey presents an ethic of care in her approach, along with the perfect balance of humor and content that is effective.

    Dr. Melissa McGuire
    Vice President for Student Affairs
    University or North Texas

  • Working with Dr. Stacey Miller has been a highlight of our first year Orientation Program for several years.  Stacey delivers a message that is inviting and also challenging for students as they begin their college career at Champlain.  She helps to set the stage for how our community comes together to create the welcoming and inclusive environment that is Champlain.  Using her amazing skills combined with her vulnerability and candor leave students wanting more. Dr. Miller helps young people broaden their understanding of themselves and their role in their community.  She is an asset to our Orientation program and has made the difference in so many students first year experiences and beyond.

    Lisa B. Mazzariello
    Assistant Vice President of Student Affairs
    Champlain College

  • I have had the opportunity to work with Stacey in a variety of organizations, among individuals with significant background in multicultural awareness as well as those seeking clarification and support. Her working models create a safe setting within which to explore the nuances of human difference, share personal experiences and learn without shame. In my experience, working with Stacey and her colleagues enables organizations to effectively unravel complex individual and team interactions to create a culture of wholeness.

    Barbara Johnson, Ed.M. (she/her)
    HR Administrator
    Population Media Center, Inc.

  • Stacey Miller brings an unparalleled depth of insight, wisdom, and authenticity to her work. She has an uncanny ability to be able to not only help you unpack the unspoken hurt and traumas that exist within your organization but with gentle humor and deep compassion, help participants see beyond the hurt to the possibility of healing.   I have worked with Stacey for over 20 years and have also retained the services of CIE to bring awareness, understanding and language to my prior institution so that we could start the journey toward becoming a kinder, more compassionate, and inclusive environment. It is a journey and one that takes time. Working with Stacey and Dennis set those wheels into motion.

    Dr. Shadia Sachedina
    Associate
    Keeling and Associates