NOW Conference

Next Opportunity at Work (NOW) Conference Speakers

Kim Sapp Dinwiddie

Training Manager
University Development & Alumni Relations, UC Berkeley

Kim Sapp Dinwiddie has been at Berkeley for 19 years. Currently, she is the Training Manager in Talent Management and Workforce Planning at University Development and Alumni Relations. She manages the first comprehensive training program for Berkeley's advancement community and provides an array of other learning and organizational development services to UDAR including education and consultation on Berkeley's new Achieve Together Performance Management program. Formerly, she was a Senior Talent Acquisition Consultant and Staff...

Dave Schonenberg

Business Systems Analyst
Engineering Research Centers, UC Berkeley

Dave Schonenberg is an Administrator at RISELab, where he supports the research and development of cutting edge applications that make decisions in real-time at the interface of technology and the physical world. Prior to joining UC Berkeley, he spent a decade as the General Manager of Rivendell Bicycle Works. Dave is also an accomplished writer, cruciverbalist, and musician.

Session

Snowball: Harnessing the Power of...

Deepak Sharma

Organizational Leadership Development & Advising Coordinator
Leadership, Engagement, Advising, & Development Center, UC Berkeley

Deepak (LEAD Center) brings a variety of experiences in supporting the learning and training of student organizations; consisting of communities in the academic, professional, technology, and departmental arena. He has also been the NASPA Northern California co-chair, and a part of the Association for Talent Development from which he brings a passion to supporting students and employees in learning and talent development. Some of his passions include seeing participants be successful utilizing their strengths to help organizations move forward with new and present endeavors....

Breanne Tcheng

Global Internship Programs Coordinator
Summer Sessions & Study Abroad, UC Berkeley

A proud daughter of immigrant parents, Dr. Breanne Tcheng is deeply committed to creating accessible and equitable global education opportunities for all students. With over a decade of experience in student services, international admissions & recruitment, advising, and K-12 programming, she is currently the Global Internships Program Coordinator at UC Berkeley, where she connects students with career opportunities around the globe. Breanne also serves as the Associate Diversity Officer for various DEIB (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging) initiatives at UCB’s...

Dionne Teasley

Assistant Director of Undergraduate Admissions
Office of Undergraduate Admissions/Student Affairs, UC Berkeley
I am a Director in the Office of Undergraduate Admissions at UC Berkeley. I have a passion for assisting students with finding their pathway to higher education. When I am not reading applications, assisting students, or tabling at a college fair, I am a practicing Communication Skills Coach. I have a long list of certifications in many areas including People Management, Practical Mysticism and Life coaching. Out of all of the highs and lows I have experienced in my life, the one thing that stands out for me personally has been my evolution as a communicator. I’ve discovered my passion for assisting people with finding their assertive voice. I am the biggest cheerleader for anyone who wants to learn more about mindful communication. One of my main goals when working with clients is to remind them that “Our Words have Power.” Developing your assertive communication style helps you with identifying your needs which in turn creates a clearer path for getting those needs met.

Audrey Thomas

Institutional Research Analyst
Division of Undergraduate Admissions, UC Berkeley

Audrey Alforque Thomas is an institutional research analyst in the Division of Undergraduate Education and is a member of the division’s Equity, Inclusion, and Diversity Committee. She is a proud alumna of UC Berkeley (BA ‘92) and has a PhD in Sociology from Harvard University. Her graduate studies focused on issues of race and immigration in higher education. She joined the staff at UC Berkeley in 2016.

Session:...

Ari Wolfe

Administrative Officer
College of Engineering Dean's Office, UC Berkeley

Ari Wolfe, M.T.S., is an executive assistant in the College of Engineering Dean’s Office at UC Berkeley, and has been a lifelong social justice activist and advocate for LGBTQ+ rights. In her work outside of UC Berkeley, Ari is the director of racial equity programming for Saint Columba’s Church and Retreat House in Inverness, California, and an ordained Episcopal deacon. She has a background in improvisational theatre and has organized and run large and small educational and professional events and workshops. Ari earned her M.T.S. degree at Church Divinity School of the...

Iberia Zafira

Senior Analyst, Prospect Development
University Development & Alumni Relations, UC Berkeley

Iberia Zafira is in her fifth year a senior prospect analyst at UC Berkeley where she works with the Haas School of Business and Campaign Director. She has volunteered across campus as a mentor for the Berkeley Hope Scholars, BIG Ideas proposal judge, and former co-chair of the Cal Women's Network. Prior to this role, Iberia worked at Stanford University, her alma mater where she studied sustainable management. In her spare time, she enjoys staying active (lifting weights and doing triathlons), being in nature, drawing and reading about space, sci-fi an...