Interpersonal Leadership, Teamwork, and Communication

Parish D. Jefferson, Ph.D. brings over two decades of dynamic leadership experience across Fortune 500 companies and educational institutions. With a proven record as a global account manager, program director, and DEI strategist, Dr. Jefferson has successfully led initiatives in educational technology, diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), leadership development, product adoption, partner management, and team optimization.    Throughout his career, he has launched and scaled transformative programs, built high-performing teams, and cultivated strategic partnerships that drive impact and create inclusive environments where individuals and organizations thrive. Recognized as a thought leader, Dr. Jefferson is a sought-after speaker, regularly presenting at national conferences, universities, and corporate leadership forums on topics including inclusive leadership, organizational development, and fostering belonging in the workplace.   Dr. Jefferson earned his Ph.D. in Organizational Development and Leadership with a concentration in Diversity and Inclusion from the University of Arizona Global Campus. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Managerial Economics from UC Davis, a Master of Arts in Education from the University of Michigan, and a Master of Science in Social Work from the University of Texas.   Deeply committed to advancing equity and inclusive leadership, Dr. Jefferson leverages both his academic research and professional expertise to empower leaders, transform organizational culture, and create pathways for meaningful and sustainable change across industries.

Andrew is from Webster, NY - a suburb of Rochester, NY. He has a Bachelors of Music Education and Psychology,  a Master's in Organizational Leadership and Development with a specialization in Organizational Diversity and is currently in the final stages of his PhD in Industrial Organizational Psychology. Andrew's dissertation topic centers around the wellbeing experiences of transgender employees when they are onboarding for a new job in the tech industry. Throughout his multifaceted career two things have remained constant: a desire to help people get from where they are currently to where they want to be, and a passion for creating spaces for students, peers, and colleagues to feel included and heard. Andrew is currently the CEO/Founder of Person First Consulting which offers career coaching support to professionals transitioning from college to career or between industries/careers, leadership training/development, and DEI consulting. One of his specialities within DEI consulting is unconscious bias, something he has presented to students and professionals in various industries. He has also led presentations on student/employee motivation, giving and receiving feedback, social awareness, emotional intelligence and leadership theory. 

Lisa Gordon, M.S. has more than 15 years of experience in facilitating and training on behalf of colleges and universities, and corporate, government, and non-profit entities. She is a dynamic Trainer, Facilitator & Consultant, and Founder/CEO of Lisa Inspires with more than 20 years of experience in business, community, government, international, and public relations. As an awardwinning communications executive, Lisa Gordon has successfully served on behalf of a mayor, city, regional public agency, non-profit organization, school district, and thousands of small businesses by launching new initiatives and designing business, community, and government outreach programs to reach target audiences and advance corporate goals and objectives. Additionally, she has proven expertise in building consensus among multiple stakeholders, designing outreach campaigns to engage new audiences through emerging platforms, and effectively bringing people together to advance organizational mission, vision, and brand identity. Lisa engages corporate, government, and non-profit clients in thought-provoking and innovative presentations, strategic planning sessions, symposiums, retreats, and training to facilitate new discoveries, navigate organizational change, re-define leadership, re-think mission and vision, and expand outreach to diverse communities. Her strong ability to engage target audiences, cultivate relationships, and effectively facilitate dialogue with a broad range of diverse groups including public officials, colleges and universities, non-profit organizations, corporate entities, public agencies, executive staffs and teams, small businesses, international audiences, and the community at-large is exceptional. Lisa delivers a dynamic, thoughtful, and interactive engagement style (in-person and virtually) that opens dialogue, bridges gaps, builds consensus, honors participants’ views, voices, ideas, and thought processes; and creates a “safe” environment where perspectives are valued and free of judgement or criticism. With this approach, outcomes include a more inclusive, open, and trusting engagement and learning process, a spirit of collaboration, and achievement of goals and objectives. Clients benefitting from Lisa Gordon’s facilitation and training services include: City of Buena Park, City of San Diego, City of San Marcos, County of San Bernardino, County of San Diego, Illumina, Municipal Management Association of Southern California, National Seminars Training, Orange County Power Authority, Port of San Diego, San Diego Association of Governments (SANDAG), San Diego Community Power, The Nature Conservancy, UCSD Extended Studies, and the University of California Office of the President. Lisa holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communication from the University of California, San Diego, and a Master of Science degree in Organizational Leadership from National University. She is also certified in conflict management and the administration of the Thomas-Kilmann Conflict Mode Instrument. Lisa was also named a 2023 “Top 50 Woman of Influence” by the San Diego Business Journal, and is a member of the International Association of Facilitators. CEO of Lisa Inspires Speaker, Trainer, Facilitator, & Consultant  

As Manager of Practice Development at UCSD Health, San Diego’s leading health care research organization, Pete Thurman has acquired professional and personal growth through a diverse range of marketing, project management, leadership, and product development experiences in the technology and health care industries. Other key leadership roles he has taken include serving as a Senior Product Development lead for Kaiser Permanente and a Marketing Alliance Manager for SAS Institute. Throughout his career, Pete has consistently contributed to his organizations by leading highly complex projects, improving efficiency, and managing strategic partnerships. He also demonstrates success in leading cross-functional teams and developing innovative solutions, which generate new sources of revenue. Pete consistently mentors and coaches colleagues in project management, Lean Six Sigma methodologies, and trains colleagues and peers in career development. Pete finds it extremely fulfilling to teach and engage students in practical and interactive discussions about shared experiences and real-world examples that help students apply curriculum quickly. He is very passionate about equipping, training, and supporting students in the discipline of project management and how tools can be applied effectively in one’s professional and personal lives.  Pete holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) with an emphasis in Marketing from the University of Southern California. He also holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Southern California. Pete has been a faculty member at Point Loma Nazarene University since 2015. In the Organizational Management Program at PLNU, he has taught undergraduate courses in principles of management, group and organizational behavior, and interpersonal behavior. In 2019, he earned his Lean Six Sigma Black Belt from UC San Diego Extended Studies. In his spare time, Pete is a father and enjoys helping other parents build theatrical sets for performing art productions at his daughter’s school. He is also an avid soccer player and sports fan.

Throughout his adult life, Rich has been deeply passionate about nature. After relocating to California as a young man, he set out to hike every entrance into both the western and eastern Sierra mountains—eventually transitioning from backpacking to exploring the trails on horseback. Mission accomplished. The majestic scenery and meditative solitude provided a profound source of personal growth, serving as a perfect counterbalance to a dynamic professional career in banking and later, leadership consulting. Rich's consulting work spans the technology, entertainment, pharmaceutical, and financial services industries, as well as the federal government. He has worked extensively across the United States and internationally. Rich holds a B.A. in Finance and a graduate-level certification in Principles and Practices of Organization Development (PPOD) from Columbia University. Rich is passionate about helping leaders discover their true north, whether through customized development programs or executive coaching. Known for facilitating bold insights and enabling large step-changes in leadership effectiveness, he is recognized for helping clients unlock greater satisfaction and performance in their roles. As a faculty member with UCSD Extended Studies for over 20 years, he brings depth, energy, and commitment to every engagement. Now based in San Diego, and having lived throughout California, he enjoys playing tennis and continues to pursue his love of music by learning to play a variety of musical instruments.

Wendy Hunter Barker is an accomplished executive leader with 25 years of experience in strategic planning, institutional administration, and programmatic management within higher education. She is known for driving organizational success through mission-focused leadership, innovative initiatives, and her deep commitment to enhancing university culture through diversity, equity and inclusion efforts. Adept at building cross-functional teams, forging strategic partnerships, and enhancing institutional reputation, Hunter Barker is currently the Assistant Dean of Strategic Operations and External Relations at the Rady School of Management at UC San Diego.  In this role, Wendy provides leadership, risk analysis, and experienced planning related to academic, operational, and strategic dimensions of operating the Rady School. Her portfolio includes oversight of strategic planning, marketing and communications, executive education, corporate relations, event management, the centers of excellence, accreditation and equity, diversity and inclusion initiatives.  She is a key leader on policy and process mapping, campus collaboration creation, and represented the school as one of four Change Leaders co-directing the UC San Diego Changemaker Institute from 2021-2024. Prior to joining Rady in 2020, Wendy served for nearly seven years as the assistant dean for Academic Programs at UC San Diego School of Global Policy and Strategy. She began her time at UC San Diego with a 14-year term at Scripps Institution of Oceanography (SIO) where she served in a number of roles including international relations coordinator, internal communications manager for the Vice Chancellor, deputy director for finance and operations, and finally director of Institutional Initiatives.   At SIO, her portfolio also included alumni relations, business development, external relations coordination, international relations, and institutional proposal development. Wendy received her BA with honors in political science and international relations from UCLA and a Masters in international peace and conflict resolution from American University in Washington, D.C.  She is currently finishing an MBA at the Rady School of Management.