Work with thought leaders and academic experts from University of Southern California

I am a social-organizational psychologist by training, and have over 20 years of professional experience in higher education, organizational change and development, marketing, as well as diversity and inclusion in private and nonprofit sectors. As a researcher, I'm most curious about topics that intersect conflict management, diversity, equity, and inclusion at group and organizational levels. As a tertiary educator, I teach social science research designs and methods to help my students explore and address important conflict issues they care about. I also teach organizational conflict management systems to cultivate students' understanding and design of complex conflict management dynamics and processes in teams and organizations. Last but not least, I am actively involved in providing research-based advice and expertise to support organizations in advancing diversity, inclusion, and other pursuits of organizational excellence. My Top 5 StrengthsFinder Signature Themes: Analytical \| Restorative \| Responsibility \| Focus \| Discipline

I’m **Chrysta Wilson**, Founder & CEO of **Wilson and Associates Coaching and Consulting**, and a **Culture Transformation & Leadership Development Expert** with over 17 years of experience. I help leaders and organizations create **inclusive, people-first workplaces** where care, belonging, and accountability thrive. Over the years, I’ve partnered with Fortune 500 companies, government agencies, and nonprofits—including the City and County of Los Angeles—to design leadership development programs, facilitate culture change, and provide equity-centered strategic advisory. I’m the creator of the **Recipe for Transformation**™ culture change method and the **S.C.A.L.E.™ Conflict Resiliency Formula**, two frameworks that blend strategy and emotionally-intelligent coaching approaches to help leaders navigate complexity, repair relationships, and build thriving teams. At the heart of my work is a belief that workplaces can either harm or heal, and that leaders have the power to choose. I bring the energy of a trusted coach and a strategic guide to help leaders not only succeed, but lead with care, integrity, and vision. When I’m not working with clients, you’ll often find me writing, teaching, and speaking about leadership, equity, and culture. I’m also a passionate scuba diver with over two decades of underwater exploration. The freedom I find beneath the surface inspires me to help leaders build organizations where people can breathe deeply, collaborate fully, and grow with confidence. <br>

[Vanessa Patrick, PhD.](https://www.vanessapatrick.net/ "https://www.vanessapatrick.net/") is the Associate Dean for Research, Executive Director of Doctoral Programs (PhD and DBA), a Bauer Professor of Marketing and lead faculty of the Executive Women in Leadership Program at the Bauer School of Business at the University of Houston.   She has been recognized with a number of awards for both scholarship and teaching, including the LeRoy and Lucille Melcher Faculty Excellence award from the Bauer College of Business for Research Excellence (2011), Service Excellence (2016) and Teaching Excellence (2018). In 2012, she was named one of the top 50 most productive marketing scholars worldwide by the DocSig of the American Marketing Association. She was appointed as a Fulbright Specialist (2019-24) by the U.S. Department of State Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs. She served in this role by visiting the Institut Teknologi Bandung in Indonesia in November 2022.   She is a regular speaker at both academic and practitioner conferences, including the Association of Consumer Research Conference, the Society of Consumer Psychology conference, the Greater Houston Women’s Chamber of Commerce annual conference, the NAWMBA Annual Gender Diversity Conference and the UH Women of Color Coalition.   She is a prominent scholar in her field and serves on editorial and policy boards of leading academic journals. She is currently an Associate Editor for the Journal of Marketing Research and the Journal of Marketing. She is the author of a new book The Power of Saying No: The New Science of How to Say No that Puts you in charge of your Life. Visit her at [vanessapatrick.net.](https://www.vanessapatrick.net/ "https://www.vanessapatrick.net/")

Roshonda Jones is an experienced bioinformatics and computational biologist with a passion for exploring the complexities of life. She earned her Ph.D. in Bioinformatics and Computational Biology from University of North Carolina at Charlotte in 2016, and went on to complete a postdoctoral fellowship at USC, as well as a postdoctoral research fellowship at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. Her research interests include machine learning and bioinformatics. She is committed to using her expertise to further scientific knowledge and advance the field.

Amulya Yadav is an Assistant Professor in the College of Information Sciences and Technology at Penn State University. He also has an affiliate faculty appointment with the USC Center for Artificial Intelligence in Society. His research interests include Artificial Intelligence, Multi-Agent Systems, Computational Game-Theory and Applied Machine Learning. His work in the field of Artificial Intelligence for Social Good focuses on developing theoretically grounded approaches to real-world problems that can have an impact in the field. His algorithms have been deployed in the real-world, particularly in the field of public health and wildlife protection. Amulya is a recipient of the AAMAS 2016 Best Student Paper Award, the AAAI 2017 Best Video and Best Student Video Award, the IDEAS 2016 Most Visionary Paper Award, and the AAMAS 2017 Best Paper Award nomination. His work has also been highlighted by Mashable.com as one of 26 incredible innovations that improved the world in 2015. Amulya holds a Ph.D. in Computer Science from the University of Southern California, and a B. Tech. in Computer Science & Engineering from Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Patna.

Dennis Kramer is an expert in the field of education policy and economics. He obtained his Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology and Economics from San Diego State University in 2006. He then went on to earn a Masters in Public Policy and Post Secondary Administration from the University of Southern California in 2008. His passion for education and policy led him to pursue a PhD in Economics and Education Policy from the University of Georgia, which he completed in 2014. Throughout his education, Dennis has been heavily involved in research and policy work. He has held various positions in the U.S. Department of Education, including Director of Policy Research. He has also served as an Associate Professor of Educational Policy at Johns Hopkins University and as a Behavioral Science Fellow at the White House Social and Behavioral Science Team/Office of Evaluation Sciences. Dennis has also held academic positions at the University of Florida, including Assistant Professor of Education and Public Policy, and Director of the Education Policy Research Center. Through these roles, he has conducted extensive research on topics such as school choice, teacher quality, and education financing. In addition to his academic and policy work, Dennis is a passionate advocate for improving education policies and systems. He has been invited to present his research and expertise at numerous conferences and events, and has also provided testimony to state and federal legislative committees. Dennis is dedicated to using his knowledge and experience to improve education policies and practices, and ultimately, to help create a more equitable and effective education system for all students.

*Enthusiastic economist/data scientist with work and research experience in health economics, strong statistical and economic modelling skills, and strong written, verbal, and interpersonal skills.*

Dr. Gail M. Gottfried is a highly accomplished developmental psychologist with over 20 years of experience in the field. She holds a BA in English and Psychology from Vassar College and a PhD in Developmental Psychology from the University of Michigan–Ann Arbor. Throughout her career, she has held various teaching positions at prestigious colleges including Claremont McKenna College, Scripps College, Pitzer College, Pomona College, the University of Southern California, and the University of California at Los Angeles. In addition to her teaching experience, Dr. Gottfried has worked as a Psychology Subject Matter Expert at Cengage Learning and a Senior Development Editor at Pearson Education; she is currently a freelance editor for clients such as the American Psychological Association. Dr. Gottfried's expertise lies in the areas of cognitive and language development as well as in educational psychology; she has published numerous articles in reputable academic journals and has received several grants including two from the National Science Foundation. She is dedicated to using her knowledge and experience to positively affect the lives of children and families.

Hello, nice to meet you! I'm a microbiologist with a diverse professional background that spans marine ecology and drug discovery, preclinical research, and fermentation biotechnology. With 12 years of scientific research experience, I've cultivated a versatile skill set that includes medical writing, project management, data analysis, competitive landscape assessments, and relationship building. <br> **Career Highlights:** • **Ph.D. in Medical Biology:** Specializing in infectious diseases and the gut microbiome, my academic efforts yielded 3 peer-reviewed publications and a national conference press release. • **Scientific Leadership at a Biotech Startup:** As hire #2 at Hyfé, I worked with internal team members, consultants, and external organizations to advance fermentation research and bioprocess development aligned with the company business strategy, contributing to securing a $9M seed capital. • **International Collaboration:** I led a multidisciplinary collaboration, working closely with preclinical investigators, a clinician, a bioinformatician, and an agricultural microbiologist in the U.S. and E.U. This collaboration was facilitated by the regular presentation of scientific findings. • **Cross-Cultural Communication:** Raised as a Third Culture Kid among 5 languages, I excel in cross-cultural communication, engaging effectively with international teams. As I look for my next opportunity, I've expanded my professional network and gained insights from 28 informational conversations, including 17 roles across pharma, biotech (from early startup to companies with 10K+ employees), medical devices, manufacturing, and medical advertising. This experience has equipped me with valuable strategic insights that I share as an international student mentor for the University of Southern California. Additionally, I've been self-teaching and building a stronger foundation in microbiome bioinformatics (R, Mothur, QIIME, etc.).

Innovator, Entrepreneur: Generating and taking ideas to market; and assisting those who aim to.

Ray Gutierrez is an emerging leader in the field of artificial intelligence (AI) ethics, with specialized expertise in developing ethical frameworks to guide responsible AI progress. Ray is currently working on  a Master's degree in Communications Management from the University of Southern California's Annenberg School, where he focused his studies on AI technology and its societal impacts.   Ray's passion for exploring how new technologies can facilitate cross-cultural communication took root during college. Experiences abroad in Thailand and India exposed him to the potential for digital media to empower marginalized communities. For his work on social impact campaigns, Ray was honored as a "Citizen of the World" by the UC system.   Currently, Ray's academic research examines strategies for implementing ethical AI practices in media and corporate settings. He has contributed chapters on AI's societal implications to edited volumes such as "Redefining Journalism in an Age of Technological Advancements" and "Artificial Intelligence in the Age of Nanotechnology."   Ray is also a writer and producer for the Annenberg journalism media site, where he covers articles on AI technology and ethics. His popular animation series "Virtually Nutz" playfully explores pressing debates surrounding artificial intelligence through the antics of two squirrels.   As a Fulbright fellowship candidate, Ray aims to conduct field research assessing the integration of AI in Southeast Asian media. Through partnerships with organizations like Internews, he hopes to advance inclusive, rights-based approaches to emerging technologies.   Ray is also the founder of Luminance Innovative Technologies, spearheading the development of ethically-driven multimedia content exploring technology's impacts. He excels at advising cross-functional teams on responsible AI practices.   With his robust background spanning technology innovation, academic research, and ethical framework development, Ray is well-positioned to consult on cutting-edge applications of AI. His passion, strategic skills and interdisciplinary perspective make him a leader in shaping socially conscious AI progress.   Ray's ORCID iD is https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1825-0097, allowing him to definitively connect his work and contributions across fields and borders.

Marketing Strategy, market research, tactical execution, brand planning, launch strategy/ planning, segmentation, digital marketing, commercial development

My name is Xanath Ispizua, I have a degree in pharmaceutical and biological chemistry (BS) and a Ph.D. in organic chemistry. I have experience with organofluorine chemistry, catalysis, and physical organic chemistry. Expertise in small molecule synthesis, isolation, and total characterization via a variety of analytical methods. I have strong writing and communication skills, and I can learn and adapt with ease.

I am passionate about the earth sciences, natural hazards, and science communication. I work at the boundary of natural catastrophes and society and am passionate about science education and awareness to help mitigate the impact natural disasters have. I’m also passionate about making science and math accessible to everyone, not just the ivory tower.

Fundraising, board governance, nonprofit management

Healthcare administrator with extensive experience in acute inpatient psychiatric hospitals, residential treatment centers, partial hospitalization and intensive outpatient programs, and traditional outpatient behavioral health services, along with targeted case management programs. Results-oriented and proactive in addressing and resolving issues. Experienced in State and Joint Commission regulatory and accreditation surveys

Hi there! I'm a UX Researcher with 5 years of experience mastering my research expertise. For almost 2 years, I've been working in the industry and I'm passionate about being the voice of the consumer. I always advocate for the user and ensure their voice is heard while optimizing products for businesses to achieve financial success. Growing up, my father instilled in me high values and a strong work ethic, which has shaped who I am today. I'm a family person who values hard work and dedication, and I'm constantly seeking new ways to learn and refine my skills as a researcher.   Throughout my career, I've worked in an agency capacity, allowing me to work with a diverse range of clients and industries. In my latest role, I had the opportunity to implement a methodology that I adapted from its use in Market Research. The project was a great success, and I was thrilled when our study and its findings were published in a Yahoo Finance editorial. It was an incredible experience to see our work recognized and shared with such a wide audience. This accomplishment has given me the confidence to continue to explore new research methodologies and to seek out opportunities to push the boundaries of what is possible in the field of UX research.

Dedicated and empathetic DEI and HR professional with a passion for building inclusive workplaces. Holds a Master's in Applied Psychology with a specialization in Organizational Psychology. A bridge-builder and lifelong learner with eight years of program and project management experience, leading full-cycle recruiting at international organizations. Experienced in talent development, leadership development, entrepreneurship, data analysis, research, and curriculum design.