The ACR Health Q Center
The Q Center at ACR Health is a safe spaces for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning youth, their families, and allies to gather, share, and receive support. Q Center programming promotes equality, celebrates diversity, provides resources that cultivate pride and leadership skills, and strives to create a safe and inclusive community for all.
Through our programs and services, we provide the guidance and support LGBTQ+ youth, young adults and their families need to thrive, and the foundation from which LGBTQ+ youth can succeed throughout their lives.
The Q Center program provides services in Central New York, Northern New York, and The Mohawk Valley.
Josh Brown, College Counseling Center
I have been a Licensed Mental Health Counselor since 2010 and have had professional experiences in adventure therapy, residential psychiatric, as well as private practice. As a member of SUNY Potsdam's Counseling Center since 2007, I enjoy combining various therapeutic modalities to assist my clients, including Cognitive-Behavioral and Narrative therapy. One of the privileges of working with a diverse student body is how it encourages and inspires me to learn and strive to develop a phenomenological perspective to support them along their journey.
Rick Bryck, Ph.D., Senior Director of the Landmark College Institute for Research and Training
Dr. Bryck serves as the Senior Director of the Landmark College Institute for Research and Training; Landmark College exclusively serve neurodivergent students, such as those with learning disabilities, like dyslexia, or ADHD, or autism. His work centers on the study of executive function (EF), including understanding disparities in EF, and testing the efficacy of interventions, programs, and strategies aimed at enhancing EF. He has served as an investigator on grants exploring: a cognitive training program for low income children, the well-being and academic effects of resilience training for neurodivergent college students, the effects of metacognitive and EF scaffolds in math problem solving, and as a program evaluator on an NSF funded project providing STEM mentoring for neurodivergent students. Rick regularly presents professional learning workshops on EF and educational techniques for enhancing learning, and regularly teaches an online course for educators, Student Engagement, Self-Regulation, and Motivation.
Allen Groves, Syracuse University
Allen Groves serves Syracuse University as Senior Vice President and Chief Student Experience Officer. In this role, Groves oversees Police and Emergency Services, Student Title IX Case Management, STOP Bias, Community Standards (conduct), New Student Programs, Student Living, Living Learning Communities, Student Engagement, Career Services, Fraternity and Sorority Affairs, Health and Wellness, Recreation Services, Competitive Club Sports, Esports, Student Employment, the Schine Student Center, International Student Services, LGBTQ Resource Center, Disability Cultural Center, Multicultural Affairs, Student Outreach and Support, and Parent and Family Services, and is a member of the Chancellor’s Executive Team. Groves previously served for 14 years as Associate Vice President and University Dean of Students at the University of Virginia.
Prior to his leadership roles in higher education, Groves was an equity partner in the global law firm Seyfarth Shaw LLP, serving as litigation practice group chair in Atlanta while representing clients in a wide range of matters over a 16-year career. He earned a law degree from the University of Virginia School of Law and a Bachelor of Arts degree in history from Stetson University, where he received the Rhett Award for the best research manuscript. Groves is a frequent speaker on legal issues affecting higher education, including the intersection of free expression and a welcoming and inclusive university.
Tamara Jolly, Adirondack Diversity Initiative
Tamara Jolly is the Community Initiatives Manager at the Adirondack Diversity Initiative. She is a passionate advocate for making nature accessible and inclusive for everyone. After earning a Bachelor's Degree in Biology from Ohio State University and a Master’s in Teaching from Johns Hopkins University, she discovered her deep love for the environment and dedicated 15 years to teaching high school science in inner-city Baltimore. As a woman of color, Tamara has confronted the challenges of exclusion in outdoor spaces, fueling her mission to broaden access and foster inclusivity in nature for marginalized communities. Driven by this vision, she took a transformative year-long sabbatical at the SUNY School of Environmental Science and Forestry’s Ranger School in the Adirondacks. There, she honed her skills in field techniques, experienced the profound benefits of outdoor learning, and was honored to graduate as class valedictorian.
Tamara is an avid birder, hiker, and camper, and loves going on adventures with her family in their camping van. She resides in Baltimore City, MD, and also enjoys spending time in nature at her property near Star Lake, NY.
Daniel Lake, Assoc. Prof. of Political Science and Director of the Institute for Ethics in Public Life, SUNY Plattsburgh
Dr. Daniel Lake is an Associate Professor of Political Science and the Director of the Institute for Ethics in Public Life at SUNY Plattsburgh. He earned his Ph.D. in 2004 from the University of California San Diego, where he studied international relations and comparative politics with a specialization in international conflict and security. He teaches courses on international relations, comparative politics, and American democracy. He is the author of The Pursuit of Technological Superiority and the Shrinking American Military (Palgrave-MacMillan, 2019), and continues to research the impact of technological change on military organizations.
Sophia Salguero McGee, Senior Facilitator and Coach, Project Shema
The theme that ties all of Sophia’s work together is “bringing people together across differences in order to transform difficult challenges,” a subject she explores in her TEDx entitled “Learning to Take the Leap of Faith.”
Sophia is a Senior Facilitator and Coach at Project Shema. Prior to that, McGee worked in the Central Office of Student Affairs at the City University of New York, where she was the Director of Student Engagement and Dialogue for the 25 CUNY Campuses. Sophia is a founding member of the Center for Ethnic, Racial and Religious Understanding (CERRU) at Queens College, CUNY. Ms. McGee became Director of CERRU in 2016 and was honored to be able to lead the organization into its second decade before departing to CUNY Central.
McGee is also an adjunct lecturer in the History Department at Queens College. She teaches several courses about the Israeli/Palestinian Conflict that are part of the “America and the Middle East: Clash of Civilizations or Meeting of Minds” series that was originally funded by the Ford Foundation.
Sophia holds a BFA in Acting from Carnegie Mellon University, and an MFA in International Affairs from the Graduate Program in International Affairs at the New School University. Her concentration was Conflict and Security, and her regional area of specialization was the Middle East with a focus on the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict.
Michael Leroy Oberg, Distinguished Professor, SUNY Geneseo
Michael Leroy Oberg is Distinguished Professor of History at SUNY-Geneseo and founder of the Geneseo Center for Local and Municipal History, and the college’s new American Cornerstones Project, an initiative funded by the Teagle Foundation to promote civic education across the campus.He has written NATIVE AMERICA: A HISTORY, a college textbook now in its third edition, as well as the following: Dominion and Civility: English Imperialism and Native America, 1585-1685 (Ithaca: Cornell University Press, 1999); Uncas: First of the Mohegans, (Ithaca: Cornell University Press, 2003); Samuel Wiseman’s Book of Record: The Official Account of Bacon’s Rebellion in Virginia, (Lanham: Lexington Books, 2005); The Head in Edward Nugent’s Hand: Roanoke’s Forgotten Indians, (Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press, 2007); the first edition of Native America; Professional Indian: Eleazer Williams’s American Odyssey, (Philadelphia: University of Pennsylvania Press, 2015); and Peacemakers: The Iroquois, the United States, and the Treaty of Canandaigua, 1794, (New York: Oxford University Press, 2015). He has published, as well, articles and reviews, and has worked as a historical consultant for native communities in New York and North Carolina, as well as for the Indian Resources Section of the United States Department of Justice. He has won awards for his teaching and research in Montana and in New York, including the SUNY Chancellor’s Awards for Excellence in Teaching and for Scholarship and Creative Endeavor.
A native of Ventura, California, Professor Oberg earned his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees from the California State University at Long Beach. He took his Ph.D in 1994 from Syracuse University. From 1994 until 1998, Professor Oberg taught at Montana State University at Billings, before moving back to upstate New York in 1998. With the exception of one year spent teaching at the University of Houston, he has been at SUNY-Geneseo ever since. He lives in Rochester, New York.
Yetunde Odugbesan-Omede
Dr. Yetunde Odugbesan-Omede brings an extensive background in global affairs, higher education, and leadership. As a “Pracademic,” she adeptly bridges the gap between theory, research, and practical application, transforming data into impactful programs and initiatives. With a Ph.D. in Global Affairs and a diverse teaching portfolio in international studies and political science, she possesses a nuanced understanding of global dynamics and policy landscapes.
As Director of the Office of Community and Civic Engagement and Co-Chair of the Carnegie Community Engagement Committee at SUNY Farmingdale State College, Dr. Odugbesan-Omede excels in building partnerships, strategically creating a culture of service, and leading social impact initiatives. Her role as a U.S. Fulbright Specialist Scholar further demonstrates her ability to craft actionable recommendations and conduct thorough research on pressing global issues. She is also a member of the 2024-2025 Council on Foreign Relations Higher Education Ambassador.
She has work in government positions and for international organizations IGOs, such as United Nations Population Fund, New Jersey Ethics Commission, which enables her to navigate complex organizational challenges and engage effectively with diverse stakeholders. Dr. Odugbesan-Omede’s commitment to civic and global engagement, combined with her strategic vision and cross-sector experience, makes her an invaluable leader in advancing institutional goals, promoting inclusive growth, and enhancing global relevance.
She was integral in the creation of the first Public Service major in the nation at Rutgers School of Public Affairs and Administration. She was inducted into Rutgers University African American Hall of Fame, has held various academic and foreign policy fellowships, recipient of numerous award, and is a global speaker and four time author.
She dedicates her time and expertise to philanthropic initiatives centered around access to quality education, civic engagement and public service.
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Dr. Usama M. Shaikh, EdD (he/him/his), Assistant Chief Diversity Officer, Stony Brook University
Usama M. Shaikh (he/him) serves as the Assistant Chief Diversity Officer for Stony Brook University and Stony Brook Medicine in the Office of Diversity, Inclusion and Intercultural Initiatives. His career spans over 24 years in Student Affairs and in offices of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Prior to Stony Brook University, he served as the inaugural Vice President for Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Title IX Officer for SUNY Old Westbury, where he was responsible for developing the Office for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and for coordinating efforts to establish “Diversity” and “Inclusive Excellence” as core values. Previously, he was the Vice President for Student Affairs and Chief Diversity Officer at SUNY Old Westbury and served as the inaugural Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs at SUNY Old Westbury.
John Suarez, Director Barbara A. Galpin ’68, M ’74 Institute for Civil Engagement, SUNY Cortland
Mr. Suarez collaborates with SUNY colleagues to promote applied learning and civic discourse. He is a member of the SUNY+ Team community of practice. He is a SUNY Civic Education and Engagement and Civil Discourse Fellow, serving on the community of practice and Convening working group, and on the General Education Civic Discourse in Democracy Core Competency working group. In 2018, Mr. Suarez created the Cortland Applied Learning Practitioners Fellows program to help faculty incorporate democracy engagement content and activities into their teaching. He co-founded Heterodox Dragons, a campus chapter of Heterodox Academy – a nation-wide organization that advocates for open inquiry, viewpoint diversity, and constructive disagreement. Mr. Suarez helps students develop career-readiness and civic readiness skills. For example, He formed the Action Team internships in 2017. Interns design and conduct their own civic engagement projects, using active listening skills to help each other reach their goals. He serves as faculty advisor for two SGA clubs: BridgeCortland and Turning Point USA/Cortland.
Mishka Woodley, SUNY Legal
Mishka Woodley is an Associate Counsel for the State University of New York (SUNY) Office of General Counsel. In her role, she provides legal counsel for SUNY System Administration leadership and SUNY campuses systemwide with a special focus on SUNY system priorities, community colleges, student affairs, health and human services, and compliance. Since joining SUNY in December 2021, Mishka also served as the SUNY Student Conduct Institute’s legal counsel and a Title IX Compliance training presenter for their SUNY system and nationwide membership. Prior to SUNY, Mishka worked in private practice for several years as legal counsel solving diverse, complex matters for clients ranging from small businesses and nonprofits to Fortune 500 for-profit companies. Special project matters included cannabis legalization and COVID-19 pandemic response. Beyond her legal career, Mishka has decades of interdisciplinary experience in administrative, patient care, and instructional roles at nonprofit and for-profit entities focused on education, health care, and law.
Mishka holds a J.D. from Albany Law School, with a specialization in health law and bioethics through joint graduate studies with Clarkson University and the Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai. She also earned an LL.M from Loyola University Chicago School of Law specialized in health law and compliance. She is admitted to practice in New York State and the Northern District of New York and has held board and leadership positions in various professional associations and non-profit organizations over the past several years.