2023 Cincinnati Virtual NDC Certification Program
Faculty
Cecilia Orellana-Rojas serves as the chief of learning and consulting for the National Diversity Council. In this role, she oversees the execution of the organization’s strategic goals to generate new revenue streams. She leads the consulting function as well as innovative, high-quality educational and research initiatives in diversity and inclusion. She is the creator of the NDC Certification Program curriculum, which prepares professionals for successful careers in the DEIB space. She is also the developer of the NDC Toolkit, a unique diversity reference portal and research consolidator. Cecilia brings 15 years of experience at AT&T, where she started as a manager in diversity marketing. She spent most of her career at the telecommunications giant as associate director and lead consultant of corporate diversity. In this role, she offered support in the formulation, implementation and direction of AT&T’s diversity and inclusion strategy including metrics, communications, and training. She also provided consulting in all aspects of workforce diversity. Prior to her corporate role, she worked as a journalist and later taught in academia for more than 10 years in the area of sociology, with emphasis on U.S. race relations, gender, Latin America, and research methods. Cecilia is a passionate advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion. She was instrumental in the launch of the Texas Diversity Council and served as the first president of the San Antonio Advisory Board. As a founding member of the Texas Hispanic/Latino Summit, she played a leadership role in establishing the mission of the summit as a venue for Latino/a voices within the Texas Leadership and Diversity Conference. She has been recognized numerous times with the Diversity Champion Award and Diversity Leadership Award for her commitment and dedication to diversity business practices. Cecilia has served on the Emeritus Board of Directors for the Masters Leadership Program of Greater San Antonio and as an external member of the Workforce and Diversity Committee for the Association of Universities for Research in Astronomy (AURA). In addition, she has served on the Immigration and Refugees Action Team for the City of San Antonio’s Faith-Based Initiative. A native of Chile, Cecilia earned a Ph.D. in sociology from the University of Texas at Austin and a master’s degree in Latin American studies from the University of New Mexico. She graduated Summa Cum Laude with a bachelor’s degree in journalism from the University of North Dakota. She resides in San Antonio, Texas, with her husband, Henry, and their son, Rodrigo.
Speaker
Timothy Fair is the Vice President for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at Burlington Stores, Inc. Reporting to Burlington’s Senior Vice President for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, he is charged with providing leadership toward the advancement of Burlington’s DEI strategic priorities throughout its corporate, merchandising, and distribution centers. Most recently, he served as the inaugural Vice Chancellor for Diversity and Inclusion at LSU Health Sciences Center-New Orleans. In this role, he provided vision, direction, and a framework that leveraged diversity, equity, and inclusion to improve institutional effectiveness, advance equity, and accelerate a more inclusive culture. Prior to this position, he served as Chief of Staff and Deputy to the Vice President for Diversity and Inclusion at Auburn University, where he led strategic initiatives including recruitment and retention initiatives targeted at increasing demographic diversity throughout the institution, launching faculty training institutes on inclusive teaching, and hosting an annual conference bringing together individuals across industries to explore effective diversity and inclusion strategies, foster learning and stimulate innovation. Earlier in his career he held roles as Assistant Dean of Students at Cornell University and Assistant Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Mississippi State University. Respected for his scholarship on concepts of inclusive integrity and motivated awareness, he has also served as a course facilitator and instructional designer for eCornell’s diversity, equity, and inclusion certificate program, working with professionals from across the globe to expand their cultural acuity and professional skills in inclusion and diversity management. A native of Wisconsin, he holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Wisconsin - Stevens Point and a master’s and Ph.D. from Mississippi State University, both in public policy & administration.
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