Panelists and Moderators

LeeAnn Black ’83

LeeAnn Black is the chief operating officer of Latham & Watkins, where she oversees the law firm’s global business operations, financial management and strategic direction. Under her leadership, the firm has expanded significantly while maintaining the culture that defines its success.

Black has been instrumental in Latham & Watkins’ rise as a top global law firm, overseeing its international growth and operational evolution. She has championed innovation and the early adoption of technologies to enhance efficiency and client service.

A certified public accountant, Black began her career as a senior auditor at Arthur Andersen & Co. and now draws on three decades of leadership experience at Latham & Watkins. She has been recognized as a trailblazer in the legal sector, and she was named one of the Top 10 Legal Innovators for North America by The Financial Times in 2017.

Black serves on the President’s Advisory Council at Adelphi, chairs the board of trustees of The Chapin School, a private all-girls K-12 school in New York City, and is a board member of Pro Bono Net, an organization dedicated to expanding access to justice.

Joanne Corbin, PhD

Dr. Joanne Corbin has served as dean of the Adelphi University School of Social Work since July 2023, bringing extensive leadership experience from her years at the University of Connecticut and Smith College.

Dr. Corbin’s research focuses on the mental health needs of communities affected by armed conflict, particularly in Northern Uganda, where she studied the social and economic disruptions caused by war and developed community-based interventions. She has also contributed to psychosocial research in Tanzania and South Africa.

She earned her PhD and Master of Philosophy in Epidemiology and Public Health from Yale University, focusing on parental involvement in public schools and health policy. She also holds a Master of Social Service from Bryn Mawr College and a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Wellesley College.

Anita D’Amico, PhD ‘84

Gabriella DiSilvio ’14

Gabriella DiSilvio is the lead learning solutions attorney at Lawline, where she develops innovative Continuing Legal Education (CLE) programs for legal professionals. She is passionate about creating engaging content that enhances attorneys’ practical skills and long-term professional growth.

Before transitioning to legal education, DiSilvio practiced civil defense litigation in New York and Connecticut, handling cases from inception through trial. Her experience in high-stakes matters informs her approach to designing impactful learning experiences.

At Lawline, she leads content strategy, coaches attorneys and ensures programming remains at the forefront of legal education. She holds a JD from New York Law School and a BA in Political Science from Adelphi.

Beyond her career, she is active in community service through the Junior League of Long Island, New York, and lives on Long Island with her husband and son.

Taja Dockendorf ’00

Taja Dockendorf is the founder and chief creative director of Pulp+Wire, an Inc. 5000 agency specializing in branding, packaging and web services for consumer packaged goods (CPG) companies. As the leader of a 100 percent women-founded and women-run agency, she has helped hundreds of brands grow while fostering a collaborative, intuitive leadership culture.

Dockendorf has been recognized with awards such as Entrepreneur of the Year, Ad Age’s Small Business of the Year for Culture, and multiple Stevie Awards. She is the host of the Brand Alchemist podcast, where she highlights brand owners in the CPG space and has contributed leadership insights to Forbes, Entrepreneur and Insider.

An investor in emerging brands and technologies, she has also served on the board of the Maine Center for Entrepreneurs and the Susan Curtis Foundation. She founded the Ladies Wine & Design chapter in Portland, Maine, a network for women in creative industries.

Alexandria Faith ’15

Alexandria Faith ’15 is vice president and global marketing lead at Citi. She oversees content strategy and creative development to enhance brand visibility and engagement across global markets. She specializes in multichannel campaigns and data-driven marketing strategies and has led initiatives that have significantly increased consumer engagement.

Prior to Citi, Faith held multiple roles at AllianceBernstein, including AVP of social media, where she managed digital strategy for private wealth management. She has a strong background in marketing and finance, blending creative storytelling with analytical insights to drive business growth.

In addition to her corporate career, Faith is the founder and owner of Social Story, a full-service marketing agency for small businesses, which she has operated since 2017. She earned her BA in Communications with a concentration in Journalism from Adelphi University.

Charlene Grabowski ’95

Charlene Grabowski is a partner at Pathfinder Strategies, specializing in executive leadership development, career counseling, coaching and advocacy. A retired executive with more than 30 years at GE Healthcare, she most recently served as GM and vice president of the West Zone and Canada, leading a $1.3 billion commercial operations and sales team.

Previously, Grabowski was director of sales for QuickBooks at Intuit, overseeing P&L and a 500-person contact center, and GM of sales force excellence at GE Healthcare, where she led sales distribution, compensation and learning development. She also served as chief learning officer for GE Healthcare’s Commercial Organization and led the U.S. and Canada X-ray and women’s healthcare business.

Grabowski coaches for Harvard’s Anne Klibanski Scholar Program and Stanford Business School’s SEED Program (West Africa). She has held leadership roles on multiple boards, including the American Heart Association, Out & Equal, Milwaukee Urban League and Tucson Medical Center.

Kristin Graham

Kristin Lynch Graham has served as president of Sacred Heart Academy in Hempstead, New York, since 2016, becoming the first lay woman to lead the all-girls Catholic high school sponsored by the Sisters of St. Joseph on Long Island. She oversees the strategic direction and advancement of the institution, which enrolls approximately 650 students and has a network of more than 12,000 alumnae.

With an accomplished background in institutional advancement, alumni relations and strategic planning, Graham previously held leadership roles at Fordham University, serving as director of alumni relations and later assistant vice president for alumni relations and annual giving. She has also worked in development and alumni relations at Columbia Law School and The Schools of St. Mary in Manhasset, New York.

She holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in English Literature and a master’s degree in education from Fordham University, along with an executive leadership certification from the University of Notre Dame. She lives in Port Washington, New York, with her husband and two daughters.

Valerie Graves

Valerie Graves is an advertising industry pioneer with more than 25 years of experience as a chief creative officer for firms including Vigilante/Leo Burnett, UniWorld Group and Motown Records. Advertising Age named her one of the “100 Best and Brightest” in the industry.

Graves has led award-winning campaigns for General Motors, Ford, AT&T, Burger King and Pepsi, among others. Her memoir, Pressure Makes Diamonds, was an official selection of the 2017 PEN World Voices International Festival and won the 2017 African American Literary Award for Biography.

She has received numerous accolades, including the 2019 President’s Award from The Advertising Club of New York and the 2007 ADCOLOR Legend Award. Graves has also served as a creative consultant to the National Basketball Association and on the steering committee of I’mPART, The Advertising Club of New York’s diversity initiative.

Malika Grayson ’11, PhD

Dr. Malika Grayson is the founder of STEMinist Empowered LLC, an organization dedicated to advancing diversity in STEM through mentorship and leadership prograShe has mentored more than 30 women in advanced degree programs through her STEMinist Empowered cohorts.

A technology program manager in the aerospace and defense industry, Dr. Grayson has led teams in systems engineering, software development, R&D and strategic planning. She earned a PhD in Mechanical Engineering from Cornell University, specializing in wind energy, and a BS in Physics from Adelphi University.

A global speaker and bestselling author of Hooded: A Black Girl’s Guide to the Ph.D., Dr. Grayson has been honored with awards including the SWE Advocating Women in Engineering Award, Adelphi’s 10 Under 10 alumni award, and BEYA STEM’s Modern Day Technology Leader Award.

She also serves in leadership roles with DiscoverE, STEMNoire and the National Girls Collaborative Project, and is an alumni advisory board member at Cornell University.

Angela Guy

Angela Guy is a business consultant and strategist specializing in workplace diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI). She previously served as chief DEI officer for L’Oréal North America, where she shaped the company’s inclusion strategy across the United States and Canada.

During her 12-year tenure at L’Oréal, Guy spearheaded initiatives highlighting diverse beauty and led the company’s first DEI Advisory Board. She previously held executive roles in marketing, sales and general management at Johnson & Johnson and Levi Strauss & Co.

Named to Savoy Magazine’s 100 Most Influential Blacks and Black Enterprise’s Top 75 Women in Business, Guy also serves as an advisory board member for the Global Diversity Colloquium and is a lifetime member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.

Cicely Horsham-Brathwaite, PhD

Dr. Cicely Horsham-Brathwaite is a licensed psychologist and executive coach specializing in leadership development, confidence-building and team culture. She works with executives and high-potential employees to strengthen their leadership skills and create equitable, high-performing teams.

A former tenure track professor at the University of Bridgeport, Dr. Horsham-Brathwaite taught multicultural counseling skills. She has provided workshops and coaching to hundreds of professionals, drawing from her executive leadership experience and background in employee assistance programs.

Her expertise has been featured in Essence, Entrepreneur, CNBC Making It, SELF, HuffPost, and the BBC World Service. She is the author of Better Daily Self-Care Habits (2021) and Self-Care Activities for Women (2024).

Dr. Horsham-Brathwaite earned her PhD in Counseling Psychology from Temple University and continues to be a sought-after speaker and consultant in leadership, workplace wellness and professional development.

Judy Jackson, P ’24

Judy Jackson is a respected thought leader in human resource management, known for her candid, authentic approach and commitment to bringing out the best in others.

In 2023, she founded JLC Ventures, a consulting firm dedicated to building inclusive workplace cultures and supporting underrepresented professionals in career growth and well-being. As an executive coach, she helps leaders develop strategies for fostering diverse, equitable and inclusive environments where employees feel valued and empowered.

Jackson has held senior people and culture roles at WPP, Wunderman Thompson, IPG Mediabrands, Digitas, Time Inc., ABC Disney and Planned Parenthood NYC. She has contributed to articles and books on HR leadership and has been recognized with awards including the 2024 Ad Color Lifetime Achievement Award and the 4A’s 2022 Gladiator Award. She serves on the board of BRIDGE and co-founded We All Rise Together, supporting communities most impacted by the pandemic.

Bonnie-Jill Laflin

Bonnie-Jill Laflin is a trailblazing sports broadcaster, TV personality, author and philanthropist. She made history as the first and only female NBA scout, serving in a front-office role with the Los Angeles Lakers. She is also the first woman to dance professionally for three teams across two sports—the NBA’s Golden State Warriors and the NFL’s San Francisco 49ers and Dallas Cowboys. She holds six championship rings—one Super Bowl ring with the 49ers and five NBA championships with the Lakers.

A respected sports journalist, Laflin reported for the Dallas Cowboys on the first all-female NFL show and has worked with ESPN, NBA TV, NBC and CBS Sports. She is the author of the bestselling book In A League of Her Own, which celebrates female sports pioneers.

Beyond broadcasting, she founded Hounds and Heroes, a nonprofit dedicated to supporting wounded veterans through animal rescue. She currently serves as a TV host and reporter for the Dallas Cowboys, Texas Rangers, Dallas Mavericks, Texas Longhorns and MMA.

Diane Lillo ’05

Diana Lillo is a visionary entrepreneur and designer, dedicated to transforming healthcare and commercial spaces. She co-founded InspireDesign in 2008, a Northeast-based firm specializing in interiors, artwork and signage, with a focus on biophilic design to enhance well-being.

Recognizing the need for flexibility and community in the modern workplace, Lillo co-founded MOSS Wellness Workplace in Garden City, New York, a collaborative space for professionals, entrepreneurs and remote workers. MOSS integrates wellness services such as mindfulness and art therapy, allowing members to prioritize self-care while maintaining productivity.

With a career spanning healthcare and interior design since age 21, Lillo is passionate about fostering community, empowering others and creating spaces that promote personal and professional growth. She believes in collaboration, continuous learning and design as a tool for well-being.

Maureen Paradine

Maureen Paradine is a partner and chief human resource officer at EisnerAmper, with more than 30 years of leadership experience in human capital management across education, retail and professional services.

As a key member of EisnerAmper’s leadership team, Paradine drives transformation and change initiatives, oversees compensation and benefits, and champions diversity, equity, and inclusion. She plays a critical role in shaping the firm’s cultural evolution and employee engagement strategies as the company expands and innovates.

Previously, Paradine was senior vice president and chief HR officer at one of the largest college bookstore operators in the United States, leading human resources for a 15,000-person workforce across multiple business units. She also held senior HR leadership roles in the floral and gourmet food retail industry, managing global HR operations.

Paradine was inducted into the Long Island Business Hall of Fame in 2022 and named one of the 50 Most Influential Women on Long Island in 2015. She actively supports women’s leadership as a board member and adviser for the Athena Women’s Leadership Program and the Hofstra University Women in Leadership Program.

Lan Phan

Lan Phan is a renowned author, speaker and master trainer, specializing in purpose-driven leadership and mindset cultivation. Her book, Do This Daily: Secrets to Finding Success, Happiness, and Purpose at Work and Life, was published in April 2024.

A sought-after consultant, Phan advises CEOs and executives on navigating the evolving business landscape. She has built a strong digital presence, garnering millions of views annually on LinkedIn and YouTube, where she shares insights on leadership and personal growth.

Phan holds an honors degree in psychology from Stanford University, where she received the J.E. Wallace Sterling Award for her contributions to leadership and volunteerism. She also earned a master’s degree in teaching and curriculum from the Harvard Graduate School of Education.

Kadisha Phillips

Kadisha Phillips is an award-winning marketing leader with more than 10 years of experience in B2B and B2C marketing across entertainment, SaaS and tech. She specializes in direct response, brand and growth marketing, utilizing social media, email, paid media and influencer strategies to drive engagement and customer acquisition.

Phillips has successfully managed multimillion-dollar marketing budgets, created high-impact organic and performance marketing campaigns, and led data-driven growth strategies. A recognized thought leader, she has been featured by NPR, NBC, Reuters and the BBC and has spoken at Google, Chase, Pinterest and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.

Colleagues and clients describe her as visionary and results-driven, with a strong ability to execute marketing strategies that deliver measurable impact.

Cynthia Pong, JD

Cynthia Pong, JD, is an award-winning executive coach and speaker, empowering women of color to advance into leadership roles. She is a Forbes contributor and LinkedIn Top Voice for Job Search and Career, with features in the Harvard Business Review, The Atlantic, NBC, CBS, and NPR.

As founder and CEO of Embrace Change, Pong leads an elite all-BIPOC coaching team that has helped high-performing women of color break barriers and collectively negotiate more than $750K in salary increases.

Her Anthem Award-winning Leadership Accelerator has propelled clients to fellowships, promotions and top graduate prograHer book Don’t Stay in Your Lane: The Career Change Guide for Women of Color has solidified her as a leading expert on career advancement, negotiation and thought leadership.

Humera Qazi ’93, MBA

Humera Qazi is a managing director at Morgan Stanley. She leads client service and reporting for wealth management operations and is responsible for developing and implementing strategies to support wealth management advisers and clients.

Previously, she was a managing director at KPMG’s management consulting practice, where she built a career advocating for diversity and leadership development in financial services.

Qazi co-chairs Morgan Stanley’s Women’s Business Alliance, the firm’s largest employee network. She previously co-led Americas D&I for Morgan Stanley Operations and served as co-chair of KPMG’s Network of Women for Long Island, where she launched the ATHENA Awards.

She serves on the board of trustees at Adelphi University, where she chairs the audit committee, and has held leadership roles with Miracle Corners of the World, empowering youth leadership globally.

Irene Quarshie ’98

Irene Quarshie is the senior vice president of global supply chain and logistics at Target Corporation. She oversees 65-plus supply chain facilities that ensure seamless operations. She also leads network strategy, operational planning and process engineering while managing Target’s multibillion-dollar recommerce and unsaleable businesses.

Previously, Quarshie was senior vice president of indirect, reverse and third-party supply chain functions, overseeing inventory, transportation and logistics of e-commerce returns. She has also held key leadership roles in product safety, enterprise risk management and corporate responsibility.

Before joining Target, Quarshie spent five years in strategy and management consulting at Booz Allen Hamilton. She holds a BA in Political Science from Adelphi University and a master’s degree in public policy from American University.

Christine M. Riordan, PhD

Christine M. Riordan, PhD, is the 10th president of Adelphi University and the first woman to hold the role in the University’s 128-year history. Dr. Riordan is an established expert in leadership, team building, career success, and diversity, equity and inclusion. She is also a seasoned and respected board member in the corporate and nonprofit sectors. 

Since her appointment in 2015, Dr. Riordan’s vision has transformed Adelphi into a nationally recognized modern metropolitan university. Under her leadership, the University community has grown more diverse than ever and 50+ innovative academic degree programs have been launched. U.S. News & World Report has consistently named Adelphi a Best College among national universities, a Best Value School and a Top Performer on Social Mobility. In 2024, Adelphi received INSIGHT Into Diversity ’s Higher Education Excellence in Diversity Award for the seventh consecutive year.

For more than nine years, Dr. Riordan has served on the board of directors of RE/MAX Holdings, Inc., is chair of the nominating and governance committee, and serves on the compensation committee. She previously served as chair of the board and a member of the executive committee for New York’s Commission on Independent Colleges and Universities and is also a member of the board of directors of the Long Island Association.

Dr. Riordan has published 70 academic and business press articles and is authoring a book, Shift Happens: How to Adapt and Thrive in a Rapidly Changing World of Work (christineriordan.com). Her honors include the Council for Advancement and Support of Education Chief Executive Leadership Award in 2021 and the ATHENA International Leadership Award in 2020. In 2019, Georgia State University honored her as a Distinguished Alumna. For many years, she has been named one of the most influential people on Long Island by the Long Island Press and City & State New York , and Long Island Business News lists her among its Long Island Business Influencers – Dynamic Women Leaders.

Dr. Riordan received her MBA and a PhD in Organizational Behavior from Georgia State University and earned her bachelor’s degree in Textile Engineering (now called Materials Science Engineering) from the Georgia Institute of Technology.

God-is Rivera

God-is Rivera is a marketing and strategy expert known for driving inclusive, culturally resonant campaigns for global brands. She served as a marketing executive at Twitter for more than four years, ensuring the platform’s campaigns reflected diverse and connected audiences. She later became vice president of inclusive marketing at The Walt Disney Company and chief content officer at Essence Ventures.

Earlier in her career, Rivera held leadership roles at VMLY&R, iCrossing and T3, specializing in channel strategy and inclusion-focused marketing. In 2024, she launched God-is Rivera Consulting, LLC, where she advises top global brands on marketing, strategy and inclusivity.

She has been recognized by Ad Age (Women to Watch), Adweek (Disruptor), BET (Top 100 Most Innovative Executives) and Fortune (40 Under 40). She was inducted into the American Advertising Federation’s Hall of Achievement (2023) and honored with a Bronx Walk of Fame induction for excellence in marketing.

A highly sought-after keynote speaker, Rivera continues to influence the marketing landscape through thought leadership and executive consulting.

Jasmine L. Travers ’09, PhD

Dr. Jasmine L. Travers is an assistant professor at NYU Rory Meyers College of Nursing and a leading nurse-scientist focused on transforming long-term care and aging policy. Her research examines nursing home quality, long-term services and supports (LTSS), and workforce challenges, shaping national conversations on elder care.

Dr. Travers was a member of the National Academies’ Committee on Nursing Home Quality, where she contributed to bold recommendations that led to proposed minimum staffing standards. She also worked with AARP’s LTSS State Scorecard to address equity in long-term care.

Her Congressional testimonies on COVID-19’s impact and nursing home workforce issues have influenced federal and state policy changes. Committed to improving elder care and strengthening workforce conditions, Dr. Travers continues to be a driving force in healthcare reform.