JPHigherEd opened its doors a year ago with a simple mission: to amplify the voices of professionals who utilize identity-conscious approaches in their work. Since then, JPHigherEd has hosted 35+ JPWebinars, facilitated 20+ in-person speaking engagements at various colleges and universities, and released 12+ #JPSPEAKS: Social Justice & Inclusion Podcast episodes. Most importantly, JPHigherEd had the opportunity to raise over $800 for the Davis-Putter Scholarship Fund during the 2016-2017 academic year.

During the spring semester, JPHigherEd released a call-for-facilitators that yielded over thirty five interested professionals. From those thirty five individuals, Piperato (founder of JPHigherEd) narrowed the pool down to a handful of individuals who were invited to join the 2017-2018 facilitator team. It is with great excitement that JPHigherEd welcomes the 2017-2018 JPWebinar Facilitators onto the team! Please scroll down to meet the team!

Amberly R. Carter

Amberly R. Carter, M.Ed (pronouns: she/her) is a student leadership and social justice educator. She is also the cousin of Emmett Till. In her full-time job, Amberly works as an Assistant Director at The University at Albany. In her role, she coordinates diversity and inclusion programs and facilitates dialogues for faculty, staff and students within the Multicultural Resource Center and Interfaith Center. Prior to working at The University at Albany, Amberly held positions at Morehead State University (Morehead, KY) and Governors State University (University Park, IL). Amberly graduated with a B.A. in English: Writing from Millikin University in Decatur, IL and holds an M.Ed in Curriculum and Instruction: Higher Education – College Student Affairs from The University of South Florida in Tampa, FL. In 2016, she launched Mamie Till Mobley Enterprise, Inc. to conduct live programs and online workshops on social justice education and at that time also assisted in the passing of The Emmett Till Unsolved Civil Rights Crimes Reauthorization Act of 2016 (S.2854/HR.5067). The law calls for “the full accounting of all victims whose deaths or disappearances were the result of racially-motivated crimes” and for authorities to hold criminals accountable. The law summary also states that the DOJ and FBI will keep families regularly informed about the status of the investigations and make case information accessible to the public. Amberly is the author of Advance Your Legacy: Power Moves for Building Influence and Buried Alive: Remembering 7 Lessons Mamie Taught Me on Black Leadership.

Dar Mayweather

Dar Mayweather serves as the founder of www.doingthegoodwork.com. His pronouns are he, him, and his. Dar has over 10 years of professional leadership experience in Higher Education and Diversity & Inclusion training. He gets energy from speaking in front of crowds and training people on how to lead across difference. He believes questioning and challenging the status quo is the best way to positive change. He wants to help communities serve and develop leaders through speaking, training, and social media engagement.

A first generation college student, Dar earned a Bachelors in Criminal Justice, a Masters in Education and is currently pursuing a Doctorate in Educational Leadership.

Evolve Benton

Evolve Benton, M.A.,  is the Assistant Director at the University of California, San Francisco Multicultural and LGBT Resource Centers. Evolve identifies as a black, queer, and boi (born obviously incredible). Evolve is a writer and educator who uses poetry and storytelling with communities to build alternative stories and self empowerment. Evolve has over 7 year of experience as a racial & gender justice educator. Evolve earned a Bachelor of Arts in Communications from Dillard University and a Master of Arts in Clinical Psychology with a LGBT Specialization from Antioch University of Los Angeles.

Kiara Lee

Kiara Lee is a confidential advocate and social worker passionate about creating more opportunities and outlets for healing. For the past 10 years, Kiara has been working to support and advocate for survivors of sexual and intimate partner violence and believes that breaking down systemic oppression starts with cultural and societal change in our communities. Kiara acknowledges that self-care and healing is a radical act of resistance and wants to create space for folks to engage in it. Kiara currently works at the University of California, Berkeley.

Justin L. Brown

Justin L. Brown is a well known speaker and diversity instructor in the field of higher education. He currently works as a resident director at West Chester University in West Chester, Pennsylvania. Justin’s passion for working with students developed while pursuing a bachelors degree in public relations from Slippery Rock University. During his undergraduate tenure, Justin was actively involved on campus, working and collaborating with various offices and departments on campus. It was during this time that Justin created the Diversity Awareness Program (D.A.P), a program dedicated to raising awareness and educating college campuses about the importance of diversity, and the embracing of all cultures and backgrounds. Justin then continued nurturing D.A.P through his graduate studies at the Indiana University of Pennsylvania, while working towards earning his masters degree in student affairs in higher education. D.A.P. has successfully grown in popularity, having visited over 100 colleges and universities, and over 20 chapters established within those institutions.

Jamie Piperato

Jamie Piperato (she, her(s), herself) is a higher education consultant and speaker.  She received her bachelor of science at SUNY Cortland in kinesiology with a concentration in sports studies and a masters degree in student affairs in higher education at Indiana University of Pennsylvania. She is an educator, social justice advocate, and optimist. She is most comfortable center stage in a crowded room wearing a bow-tie and loves encouraging others to step outside their comfort zone. JP has extensive experience working in higher education as a student affairs professional in the areas of multicultural education, LGBTQ services, Title IX education, leadership, career development, and university housing. Her focus tends to revolve around helping others start their path towards multicultural competence.