Understanding Gender Equity

Ashley Rivenbark (Course Advisor)

Senior Associate of Leading for Equity and Inclusion

Catalyst

Ashley Rivenbark ( 艾莉) serves as a Senior Associate on the Leading for Equity & Inclusion (LEI) Team within Catalyst’s Learning and Advisory Services group. She is committed to collaborating with supporter organizations to shape and execute their inclusion learning and development goals. Ashley completed her undergraduate work at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in May 2014, receiving her Bachelor of Arts in Asian Studies (Chinese) and Romance Languages (Spanish). She went on to complete her graduate work at the Wake Forest School of Business in May 2016, receiving her Master of Science in Management. Ashley holds a Diversity & Inclusion Certificate from Cornell University.

Dnika Travis, PhD (Course Advisor)

Vice President, Research

Catalyst

Dr. Dnika J. Travis , vice president, research at Catalyst, is a recognized researcher, educator, and change leader. At Catalyst, Dnika leads research initiatives and manages content creation. Her most recent work involves building and piloting the Catalyst Inclusion Accelerator, a diagnostic and action planning tool to help companies measure the state of inclusion for employees and teams. Dnika’s renowned research on emotional tax experienced by people of color at work, along with her expertise on engaging i­­n tough conversations across differences, have been widely published and featured in top-tier media outlets such as CNN, Fortune, and NBC News. She was also named a “2017 Women Worth Watching” by Profiles in Diversity Journal. Prior to joining Catalyst, Dnika was an assistant professor at the University of Texas at Austin Steve Hicks School of Social Work where she maintains an affiliation as a fellow. Dnika earned her PhD from University of Southern California, MSW from the University of Michigan, and BA from Hampton University.

Julie Nugent (Course Advisor)

Senior Vice President, Learning & Advisory Services

Catalyst

Julie S. Nugent is responsible for strategy development and brand management of products and initiatives such as MARC (Men Advocating Real Change), Leading for Equity and Inclusion training, advisory services, and the Catalyst Inclusion Accelerator delivery. In her position, she leads multiple groups in evaluating, creating, and delivering global corporate and professional strategies to advance diversity, inclusion, and business results. Her work also consists of working with client to assess workplace environments and providing actionable recommendations. As an influencer in the diversity and inclusion space, Julie frequently speaks to corporate and public audiences and the media on topics including women’s leadership and advancement, mentoring, diversity and inclusion strategies, LGBT inclusion, and the Catalyst Award, which she chaired for over eight years. She has authored numerous external book chapters as well as many Catalyst publications, including reports focused on experiences of inclusion; a suite of company practices and Catalyst Award-winning initiatives; Making Mentoring Work and related tools; and tools and products focused on LGBTQ+ inclusion. In addition to her extensive consulting, research, and public speaking expertise, Julie taught a course on gender in the workplace as a former Adjunct Assistant Professor at New York University’s Robert F. Wagner School of Public Service. Julie holds her MA in Industrial/Organizational Psychology from New York University and received her BA in Psychology and English from Ohio University, where she graduated with top honors.

Dr. Terrence Underwood (Course Advisor)

Vice President of Learning Products and Programs at Catalyst

Catalyst

Dr. Terrence Underwood is Vice President of Learning Products and Programs at Catalyst, and is responsible for all aspects of Program Management for Leading for Equity and Inclusion, including business development, relationship management, and product marketing. Dr. Underwood has over 20 years of experience in diversity and inclusion, leadership, and organizational development. He has pioneered research on anger management in the workplace and is the author of Black Lives Matter and So Does Black Business: How Do We Keep Them Both Above Ground?

Joanna Duffett (Course Instructor)

Sr. Associate Librarian, Information Center

Catalyst

Joanna Duffett has been a librarian with the Catalyst Information Center since 2016. Along with answering complex custom research questions from Supporters and the public, she manages the internal operations of the custom research service. Additionally, she works on a variety of knowledge products including the Catalyst Guide to Benchmarking and Quick Takes.

She is a member of Beta Phi Mu and has presented at the annual conference of the Virginia Library Association. She received her MSLIS from Drexel University and her BA in English from the University of Virginia.

Risa Pappas, MFA (Course Instructor)

Director, Production Editor

Catalyst

Risa Pappas, MFA is Production Editor of Catalyst’s Global Brand & Strategic Communications team. She works to refine Catalyst content and ensure clarity of messaging, furthering Catalyst’s mission to create more inclusive workplaces. As a speaker on behalf of Catalyst, she focuses on helping women take charge of their careers and helping men become better allies, mentors, and sponsors to women.

Prior to her current role, Risa was a Digital Content Producer, handling day-to-day website operations. She also served on the Catalyst Award Evaluation Committee.

Prior to joining Catalyst, Risa worked in academia, serving as an adjunct professor of film studies and audio production and as station manager and radio personality at award-winning college station WP 88.7 Brave New Radio. She has also worked as a freelance reporter and editor.

She earned her MFA in Creative Writing at Fairleigh Dickinson University and her BA in Communications from William Paterson University of New Jersey. Risa is also a writer, voiceover artist, independent filmmaker, and is senior editor at Tolsun Books, a non-profit small press.

Lauren Pasquarella Daley, PhD (Course Instructor)

Senior Director, Women and the Future of Work

Catalyst

Lauren Pasquarella Daley, PhD , joined Catalyst in June 2013 as part of the Information Center and now works in the Development Department, leading the Women and the Future of Work strategic initiative for Catalyst. In this role, Lauren leads our efforts across multiple departments, developing the key priority areas which position women at the forefront of changes and where organizations can leverage gender equity to maximize their human capital strategies in the future of work. She serves as subject matter expert on women and the future of work for Catalyst, consulting and building relationships with donors and supporters who are committed to this area, creating a more equitable future for all in a time of rapid technological change. Lauren also works across teams to develop cutting-edge research and knowledge products, create holistic end-to-end solutions around women and future of work, and convenes communities of thought leaders to make sure organizations enable women to thrive in the 21st-century workplace.

In previous roles at Catalyst, Lauren managed and developed all of Catalyst’s fact-checking processes, working cross-departmentally to ensure that all Catalyst content was accurate and credible by thoroughly researching all facts, assertions, data, research, and sources.

Prior to joining Catalyst, Lauren worked in university career services for 10+ years where she was involved in researching, speaking, teaching, and counseling students on career development concerns. She also has 18 years’ experience in diversity and inclusion issues, through research, teaching, publications, speaking engagements, and committee work in the academic community. Her work has been published in peer-reviewed journals and she has extensive experience presenting at international and national events on topics related to the future of work, women’s issues in the workplace, career development, and diversity and inclusion.

Lauren is a former President of the Florida Career Development Association and was part of the National Career Development Association’s Leadership Academy. She earned her PhD in Counselor Education from the University of Florida and is a licensed mental health counselor. Lauren loves trivia and even appeared once as a contestant on Jeopardy.

Charlie Owen (Course Instructor)

Associate Librarian, Information Center

Catalyst

Charlie Owen has been a librarian at Catalyst since 2019. He answers complex custom research questions for internal and external constituents, checks research reports for factual accuracy, and creates knowledge products on a range of D&I-related topics. He has previously worked in academic and public libraries in both research and instruction roles. He received his MLIS in 2016 from Simmons College and his BA in International Studies from Virginia Tech.

Anna Sullivan (Course Instructor)

Senior Associate, Catalyst Europe

Catalyst

Anna Sullivan works with leading global organisations as a Relationship Manager to create more diverse, inclusive and flexible workplaces. She has extensive experience in Economic and Social Policy – working closely with Congressmen, Ambassadors, and members of the European Parliament.

Her passion lies in personal development and providing the tools for positive change in others’ lives. She believes that to change a culture, we must come from a place of understanding and start on the individual level. As a yoga teacher and facilitator, she does exactly that.

Currently based in Switzerland, Anna is a dual citizen (Italian + American) who grew up in the US and continued with her academic and professional career in Italy. In her free time, she likes to read, hike, listen to Oprah’s Super Soul Conversations, and explore different cultures through language and cuisine. Anna speaks French, Italian, and German.