The EMBRACE Diversity & Inclusion Conference explores how diversity and inclusion drives innovation within major companies. Recruit SCAD students and alumni dedicated to inclusion to your organization. Learn how top businesses support diversity and connect with industry leaders. Empower the next generation of creative leaders to navigate their industries by providing opportunities for personal and career exploration.
SCAD and the Black Student Association are excited to invite you to our diverse university this October for EMBRACE 2019.
Looking for the student RSVP? Visit scadembrace.splashthat.com
The EMBRACE Diversity & Inclusion Conference explores how diversity and inclusion drives innovation within major companies. Recruit SCAD students and alumni dedicated to inclusion to your organization. Learn how top businesses support diversity and connect with industry leaders. Empower the next generation of creative leaders to navigate their industries by providing opportunities for personal and career exploration.
Join AIGA's George Garrastegui, Jr. (M.F.A., graphic design, 2013), Kern, an Omnicom Agency's Timothy Liedel (B.F.A., interactive design and game development, 2010), Anomaly's Jezz Chung, and ZGF's Camilla Watson (M.F.A., interior design, 2012) in a panel discussion covering personal, professional and corporate journeys on the path to inclusion and acceptance.
Arnold Hall Theater, 1810 Bull St.
Simultaneous panels delve into the personal experiences of diverse professionals and their career journeys.Â
Arnold Hall classrooms, 1810 Bull St.
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Room 205: The International Force with Edin Rudic, MKDA; Zuzana Sekerova, Facebook; Paola Mariselli, Facebook; Mariana Silva, Facebook; Marcos Saldivar, Facebook; and Laura Silva, Bank of America.
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Room 206: Women Who Lead with Amanda Hertzler, MKDA; Morgan Ramsey, Google; and Erin Lansberry, Chico's FAS, Inc.
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Room 207: Diversability with Jezz Chung, Anomaly; Johan Vertsraete, Thinklusive; Chris Munoz, Walmart International; Jarad Kleinberg, MKDA; and Devin O'Bryan, IBM.
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Room 208: Racial Diversity: There’s More to be Done in the Workplace with George Garrastegui, Jr., AIGA;  Jasmine Wade, Kohl's; and Taylor Howard, Facebook.
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Room 209: LBGT: Building Community in the Workplace with Tj Liedel, KERN, an OMNICOM Agency; Caleb Holland, WITH/agency; Jose Medina, Facebook; Ralph Snyder, Kohl's; and Kristina Coppolino, Estée Lauder Companies.
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Room 210: Building a Veteran-Informed Culture with Tom Palesky, Facebook and Brandi Benson, Resume Advantage.
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Room 218: Women Who Lead with Maribel Barba, MG2;Â Allie Rotenberg, GhostRanch Communications; Ben Foerster, Chico's FAS, Inc.; and Lucy Truglio, TBWA\Chiat\Day.Â
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Room 219: Racial Diversity: There’s More to be Done in the Workplace with Camilla Watson, ZGF; Tysonn Betts, Procter & Gamble; Rachel Wakefield, Belk; and Peggy Szymanski, Walmart International.
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Simultaneous panels delve into the personal experiences of diverse professionals and their career journeys.Â
Arnold Hall classrooms, 1810 Bull St.
Â
Room 205: The International Force with Edin Rudic, MKDA; Zuzana Sekerova, Facebook; Paola Mariselli, Facebook; Mariana Silva, Facebook; Marcos Saldivar, Facebook; and Laura Silva, Bank of America.
Room 206: Women Who Lead with Amanda Hertzler, MKDA; Morgan Ramsey, Google; and Erin Lansberry, Chico's FAS, Inc.Â
Room 207: Diversability with Jezz Chung, Anomaly; Johan Vertsraete, Thinkclusive; Chris Munoz, Walmart International; Jarad Kleinberg, MKDA; and Devin O'Bryan, IBM.
Â
Room 208: Racial Diversity: There’s More to be Done in the Workplace with George Garrastegui, Jr., AIGA;  Jasmine Wade, Kohl's; and Taylor Howard, Facebook.
Â
Room 209: LBGT: Building Community in the Workplace with Tj Liedel, KERN, an OMNICOM Agency; Caleb Holland, WITH/agency; Jose Medina, Facebook; Ralph Snyder, Kohl's; and Kristina Coppolino, Estée Lauder Companies.Â
Room 218: Women Who Lead with Maribel Barba, MG2; Allie Rotenberg, GhostRanch Communications; Ben Foerster, Chico's FAS, Inc.; and Lucy Truglio, TBWA\Chiat\Day.Â
Room 219: Racial Diversity: There’s More to be Done in the Workplace with Camilla Watson, ZGF; Tysonn Betts, Procter & Gamble; Rachel Wakefield, Belk; and Peggy Szymanski, Walmart International.
Employer guests are invited to tour the SCAD Museum of Art and SCADstory — an immersive 4D experience that tells a universal tale of the dreamer in us all. Admission for both experiences are covered by your EMBRACE registration. If interested in participating, a shuttle will be available at Arnold Hall, departing at 2 p.m. and returning at 4 p.m.
Diversity as a Super Power: The value of diversity in the workforce is backed by countless studies, but what makes diversity a superpower? Why is it important to tap into our own superpowers? How can we leverage it in our organizations and even our day-to-day lives? In this talk, hear how Paola Mariselli, a product designer at Facebook, landed her dream job both because of and in spite of her diverse background. From growing up in Peru to working on Wall Street to attending Harvard University, Paola will use examples from her own journey to illustrate how identifying our own individual kryptonite can help us find a superpower in who we are.
Drew Borders is a senior 2D animation major with a minor in motion graphics design and the current President for the Black Student Association. She had previously served on the BSA Executive board as the Corresponding Secretary from 2017-2019. Events like Embrace exist so that minorities have a safe space to express their ideas and their hopes for diversity and inclusion without being looked over by the majority. It is her passion to make sure students from all backgrounds feel welcomed, valued, and seen both in the Embrace Conference and everyday life. As an animator, Drew strives to bring themes of her personal culture into her work to increase representation and encourages others to tell their story as well.
Infiniti Walker is a senior social strategy and management major with a minor in interior design. Infiniti currently serves as the Vice President of BSA, with prior experience as the Recording Secretary of BSA for 2017-2019. As a part of a minority group, Infiniti discovered that it was a little more challenging for people like herself to gain exposure through social media platforms. As a freelancer and upcoming designer, Infiniti wants to work directly with other minorities to establish their social presence and increase their audience engagement through different social media platforms and interactions.
Whitney Sylvain is an accomplished SCAD graduate, trend forecaster, and writer. She loves exploring fashion trends and the consumers who devour them, and she has a knack for identifying shifts in the fashion world. Whitney has taken her talents to Ross Stores Inc. as a Fashion Assistant. She previously held internships at Ralph Lauren, Her Campus Media, Bronze Magazine, and Perry Ellis International. She also serves as the Sheen Magazine Fashion Contributor while maintaining her self-titled fashion blog. Before graduating summa cum laude, Whitney served two terms on the BSA Executive Board as the clubs inaugural Miss BSA where she managed the club’s social media and community engagement initiatives. She was awarded the SCAD BSA Trailblazer Award at their 2018 BLACK Gala. Whitney remains a student of her craft, reveling in new learning opportunities. She is excited to join the Embrace Conference as a panel moderator and stresses the importance of not only diversity but ensuring inclusion, to enable every person to thrive.
Cindy has worked for SCAD for 16 years in various positions and departments. For the last three years she has served as the co- adviser for BSA. Cindy truly enjoys working with students who believe hard work always pays off, just as she believes. Assuredly, Cindy maximizes her experiences by continuing to develop the necessary skills needed to be a successful contributor to our community. Her positivity is infectious and influences all that come in contact with her effortlessly. At SCAD, Cindy has proven how she strives to support, encourage, mentor, and uplift SCAD’s student body. Specifically, while serving in her role as the BSA advisor, she has been afforded the opportunity to support and plan the EMBRACE Diversity and Inclusion Conference which seeks to empower students.