November 3-4  2022 
Distinguished Speaker-Panelists
The State of DEI and
The Rise of Hate Crimes & Neo-Fascism
Thursday, Nov 3, 2022 - 1:00 pm to 3:00 pm Eastern
Session #One

Carol Ann Whitehead
Carol Ann Whitehead is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and an award-winning Managing Director of The Zebra Partnership. It serves as a Publishing, Events, and Campaigns agency working with consultants and performers on a project-by-project basis in the United Kingdom. The Zebra Partnership also serves a diverse overseas audience, from festivals to royal visits.

Her community service includes:
  • Being a Non-Executive Director and Heritage Trustee for the historic Portico Library and Newsroom.
  • Companion of the Chartered Management Institute (CMI).
  • Serving on the CMI Womens Board.
As an ally, Carol Ann was Executive Director and presenter of the ITV National Diversity Awards nominated for Your Manchester Media 2020-2022. It's an LGBTQ+ originated flagship weekly magazine show streamed via Sky Glass and other platforms with a million viewers in 2021.

Carol Ann is a bi-weekly BBC Radio Manchester contributor known as a 'Trender' discussing current affairs nationally and internationally. She is the Host of 'The Whitehead Files,' an Oprah-styled fireside interview in studio, online, or on location across many platforms.

Carol Ann serves as a guest lecturer at the University of Manchester, is on the Northern Power Women Power List, and is a Pankhurst Trust Ambassador.

She delivered an 'Improving Wiki Diversity' lecture at the United Nations Youth Association in Denmark and mentored young people to host their own Wikieditathon event. In 2019 she was honoured with Global Goodwill Ambassador status from the foundation, and in 2021 Carol Ann was named Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Champion in the top 100 Social Media Influencers. 

Carol Ann was awarded the 2022 'Inspiring Women Worldwide accolade from the Women's International Network in Geneva.
Dr. Joyya Smith

Joyya Smith serves as the Vice President of Diversity, Access, and Inclusion at Suffolk University and is committed to institutional community building, equity, and inclusive excellence. She has worked in a variety of roles in higher education ranging from Director of TRIO programs to adjunct professor, with the mission of embracing diversity and accelerating inclusion. 

Specific to her current role, she supports programming such as the Ambassador for Inclusion Professional Learning Community, Affinity@Suffolk Employee Resource Groups, Equity in the Curriculum Series, Access and Opportunity Fellowship Program, and the Truth, Racial Healing, and Transformation Initiative. 

In addition to her administrative duties, Joyya finds inspiration from her students. Understanding student experiences and perspectives allow her to work collaboratively with her colleagues to focus on practices that engage and support all institutional stakeholders. 

Joyya Smith is a self-professed life-long learner with a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and Master of Education in Higher Education/Student Services degrees from Georgia Southern University and a Doctorate of Education in Educational Leadership from Argosy University/Atlanta. She enjoys reading, traveling, and spending time with her family. 
Bithiah Carter
Bithiah Carter is President and Chief Diversity Officer of New England Blacks in Philanthropy. Bithiah sets the vision and course for the organization's work by changing the landscape of philanthropy.Through her leadership,  diversity, equity and inclusion lead to the best use of economic resources in communities of color. Bithiah is passionate about connecting the interest of affinity groups and aligning them across the business, public, private, and media sectors to achieve impact. 

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