Roles

Through the Lead Facilitator, using an appreciative inquiry model, the Guiding Coalition members met several times in advance (September 11, 17, and 22, 2020) of the Summit to narrow and focused the topic(s) to be explored at the Summit event. 

They also convened following the Summit to distill and process what was learned at the Summit and helped lay out next steps after the event.

Members

RaJade Berry-James, Associate Professor, Public Administration

Dr. RaJade M. Berry-James is an African-American associate professor of public administration in the School of Public and International Affairs and a resident fellow in the Genetic Engineering and Society Center at NC State University. Her research and teaching focuses on social equity, program evaluation and research methods. In her recent book, Why Research Methods Matter (2018), Dr. Berry-James focuses on evidence-based decision making in the public and nonprofit sectors. She is a fellow of the National Academy of Public Administration and chair-elect of the Faculty Senate at NC State.

Tiffany Dangleben, Vice President, Black Graduate Student Association (BGSA) 

Tiffany Dangleben (she/her) is a third-year school psychology doctoral student at North Carolina State University. She is a graduate of Lehman College (CUNY) in the Bronx, New York. There, Dangleben graduated with a B.A. in psychology and a dual minor in Africana studies and women’s studies. In Dangleben’s research, she identifies and combats disparities specific to African American families of children with autism, as well as educational inequities for all children in the K-12 public school system. Dangleben’s goal is to better the quality of life and educational experiences for all children as promised by U.S. law. Dangleben is also a social psychology instructor who incorporates mental health and social justice into her classroom. Furthermore, Dangleben is vice president of the Black Graduate Student Association at North Carolina State University.

Helen DiPietro, Chair-Elect, Staff Senate

Helen DiPietro (she/her) is an office manager for Engineering Communications. She is a Midwest girl, born in Indiana, but grew up in Utica, New York (midway between Albany and Syracuse). In 1981, she earned a 5-year Bachelor of Architecture degree from New York Institute of Technology. Prior to moving to Raleigh in 1995 with her family, she owned and managed her own construction consulting business in New York City, including maintaining the financial and administrative records. and then was hired by the North Carolina Department of Insurance, Office of the State Fire Marshal (OSFM)  as a building code consultant. During her time with OSFM, she was involved in the plan review of many university buildings on all the UNC campuses, including compliance with accessibility. She joined NC State in June of 2014 as part of the College of Engineering Dean’s staff. She has been in her current position since November 2016.

Darien Dixon, President, Black Graduate Student Association

Darien Dixon (he/him) is a Ph.D. student, and graduate teaching and research assistant in sociology. He earned a bachelor’s degree in Sociology from the University of Maryland, College Park, is currently a third-year doctoral student and is the president of the Black Graduate Student Association at NC State for the 2020-2021 academic year.

Melanie Flowers, Student Body President

Melanie Flowers (she/her) is a fourth-year studying communication with a concentration in public relations. As student body president, she serves as the principal advocate for student interests as the leader of the Executive Branch of Student Government, a voting member of the Board of Trustees, and the chair of the Council of Student Body Presidents for the UNC Association of Student Governments. She is excited to be a part of the Guiding Coalition for the inaugural Racial Equity Summit at NC State.

Pat Gaddy, Chair, Staff Senate

Pat began working at the university in 1991 is excited to be in her my 29^th year. From her first job with the university, which was working in the campus drycleaning/laundry room, to her current position as administrative support to the assistant vice chancellor, her motto has been “Everybody can be great, because everybody can serve.” (Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.) In addition to being active in the university community, she is also involved in community organizations, using her leadership skills to make an impact on others. She was nominated and fortunate to win the NC State University 2018 Equity Award for Women. 

Hans Kellner, Professor of English and Chair, Faculty Senate