Center for the Advancement of Women

Emerald Archer

Emerald Archer, PhD, is an associate professor of Political Science and director of the Center for the Advancement of Women at Mount Saint Mary’s University. She also serves as executive director of the Women’s College Coalition. She has dedicated her career to studying questions related to gender equity and the representation of women in non-traditional domains such as the United States military. Emerald has published numerous peer-review journal articles, chapters in research anthologies, and is the author of Women, Warfare and Representation: American Servicewomen in the Twentieth Century (Bloomsbury, 2017). She serves on the board of directors for the Foundation for Women Warriors and holds a PhD in Political Science from the University of California, Santa Barbara (2009).

Chinako Miyamoto Belanger

Chinako Miyamoto Belanger, EdD (she/her) is the associate dean of Student Life and Leadership and interim co-director for the Bernadette Gonzaque Robert Center for Equity, Diversity, and Justice at Mount Saint Mary’s University. She earned her B.A. in English Language and Literature from the University of California, Irvine and her doctorate of education in Organizational Change and Leadership from the University of Southern California. Her dissertation, Gender Beyond the Binary at Women’s Colleges: Transgender Student Success and the Role of Faculty, investigated the knowledge, motivation, and organizational influences that impact transgender student inclusion at women’s colleges. 

Chinako serves on numerous committees at the Mount including the Sexuality and Gender Awareness Committee and the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Search and Assessment Committee. Notably, her involvement as a co-chair in the Transgender Student Admission Policy Task Force helped to lead the university in developing an admission policy that would allow admission for transgender and non-binary students at the Mount. Her other roles on campus include serving as a Title IX Investigator, member of the President’s Advisory Committee, member of the Academic Assessment Committee, and member of the Ethnic Studies Advisory Board.

Joanna Bloor

“Every decision made about you and your opportunities is made in a room you’re not in.” - Joanna Bloor.

Joanna believes there are three things that influence this decision:

1. What you’ve done - The Past You. Your accomplishments, what you are known for doing. What they believe about your reputation.
2. Who you are  - The Present You. Your personality - how you’ll show up in a room. Are you someone the “room” wants to collaborate with?
3. Who you will be - The Future You.  Who you will be in the future. Does the room believe you are the right person to solve the problems they believe need solving in the Future?

Ask Joanna and she’ll say, “You can’t do anything about #1. And, if we’re really honest with ourselves, you’re not going to change #2. So why aren’t we talking about #3? I think we should. And when you do, everyone wins

As a former startup executive, Joanna is a veteran of playing in the undefined future. She is a Futentialist and aspiring Fairy Godmother, creating a new narrative about the Future Of Work and the idea that every one of you IS awesome and “that we just need to tell everyone else.” And no, not with your resume.

Betsabe Botaitis

Betsabe Botaitis has over 15 years of experience ranging from large financial institutions, fintech companies to a blockchain startup. Today, she brings her fintech expertise and passion for economic equality to drive the daily operations and strategic direction of Uplift’s Financial infrastructure, which includes accounting, treasury, and strategic finance. Prior to joining Uplift, she held various senior positions at renowned and leading-edge companies including Kueski (Mexico’s largest fintech startup), Lending Club, and Citigroup, at Citi Community Development and Financial Inclusion. As an entrepreneur, Betsabe co-founded a blockchain start-up focused on identity and privacy. Betsabe has served on the advisory board of the Nasdaq Entrepreneurial Center and is a member of Hipower, a network of executive women leaders laser-focused on accelerating one another’s success. 

Connie Chan Wang

Connie Chan Wang leads Global Brand Marketing at LinkedIn, where she is focused on building one of the world’s most beloved and trusted community brands. Through deep consumer insights, innovative creative, strategic media, and world-class integrated marketing, her team inspires professionals to come together to navigate the fast-changing world of work. Connie is passionate about bringing people together to drive social change with a focus on mentorship, diversity and inclusion. She has the privilege of pursuing her passion in her day job, as well as in her side gigs on the Board of the Stanford Alumni Association and as a mentor with the AdAge Generation Next Mentorship Program.

Rekha Chiruvolu

As an experienced litigator now serving as Nixon Peabody’s firmwide director of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, Rekha brings her career-spanning passion for diversity and inclusion in the legal profession to oversee the firm’s diversity initiatives. She develops trainings and other programming featuring inspiring thought leaders, and works with the firm’s practice groups and recruiting, professional development and business development teams to ensure that diversity and inclusion are woven into all aspects of the firm. Additionally, Rekha frequently assists firm clients with the development of their own diversity and inclusion programming, trainings and related initiatives. Prior to joining Nixon Peabody, Rekha was the assistant director of the Office of Career Services at the University of California, Los Angeles, School of Law.

Krystal De Souza

Krystal De Souza is the owner of California Yogi. A well-known yoga instructor, she has helped women over the years connect their body and mind through her yoga classes and coaching programs. In addition to yoga, she offers Sound Baths, Reiki and more. Her passion is empowering women to incorporate their mind, body and spirit into their everyday lives. 

Sharon Evans

Sharon Evans is a passionate and transformational business leader and economic development practitioner with over 30 years of expertise in finance, supplier diversity, and business development and has overseen Business Resource Group for 22 years.  She is committed to expanding access to opportunities for diverse and women-owned small and medium-sized businesses and works diligently alongside major corporations, public agencies, and nonprofits to bolster the economic well-being of business owners and their employees. Sharon believes that "small business success is everybody's business" and calls upon corporations, government, and academia to utilize business and education as the catalysts to ignite the flames of change that can positively impact and uplift all communities.

Kimberly Nao

Kimberly Nao is a transformative educator who holds the Fritz Burns Endowed Chair Assistant Professor of Education at Mount Saint Mary's University where she teaches courses on language diversity, linguistics, and teacher professional development. She currently serves as Interim Co-Director of the Office of Equity, Diversity, and Justice. Kimberly’s research interest is exploring the intersections of schooling, contemplative practices, and social justice. She works extensively on antiracism in education and the work place with a particular emphasis on the intersection of race and gender. She facilitates discussions on these issues as a consultant and as a Diversity Fellow the Mount. She has trained teachers, police officers, university faculty and staff, and health care providers across the Los Angeles area on issues related to anti-racism, gender, sexuality, and toxic masculinity with the goal of reforming and breaking down structures that oppress marginalized groups. 

Maria Shelton

Ardian Group, Inc. founder Maria Shelton is an expert in identity verification, security protocols, logistics, and on-site operations; she is also sought after for her project-and crisis-management skills. Maria first experienced the credentialing world in college, when she helped verify security clearances of attendees to the 1992 presidential inauguration. The post-event adrenalin rush inspired her to pursue a career in security operations focused on safeguarding organizations and people both in the U.S. and abroad.

Lily Zheng

Lily Zheng (they/them) is a diversity, equity & inclusion strategist and consultant who works with organizations around the world to create high-impact and sustainable change. With their clients, they leverage organizational design, strategy, and culture to create the equitable, inclusive, and just organizations of the future. A dedicated change-maker and advocate named a Forbes D&I Trailblazer and recently interviewed by the New York Times, Lily writes for publications including the Harvard Business Review, Berrett-Koehler, and HR Executive. In 2019, they published their second book, The Ethical Sellout, and are hard at work on their third: Deconstructing DEI: Doing the Work and Doing it Right.