Critical Voices in Staff Engagement & Belonging

Critical Voices in Staff Engagement & Belonging engages innovative thought leaders in justice-advancing conversations. Critical Voices examines the implications of broader social phenomena operating in the workplace and the role of engaged staff in navigating the rigorous terrain on the road to a more just and equitable workplace.

Thursday, June 25, 2026

10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. via Zoom Webinar

This year's theme, Advancing our Common Humanity: A Conversation on Support for Immigrants in the Workplace, featured Amer F. Ahmed, Nana Gyamfi, & Kathleen Wong (Lau).

Critical Voices 2026: Advancing Our Common Humanity

Staff Moderator

Alberto Ledesma

Assistant Dean of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion for the Division of Arts and Humanities at the University of California Berkeley.

Alberto Ledesma grew up in East Oakland and received his undergraduate and graduate degrees from UC Berkeley. He earned a Ph.D. in ethnic studies in 1996 and is a former faculty member at California State University, Monterey Bay, and a lecturer in ethnic studies at UC Berkeley. He has held several staff positions at UC Berkeley, including director of admissions at the School of Optometry, and writing program coordinator at the Student Learning Center. He is the author of the award winning illustrated autobiography, Diary of A Reluctant Dreamer.

Featured Speakers

Amer F. Ahmed

Vice Provost for Intercultural Excellence and Chief Diversity Officer at the University of Vermont

Amer F. Ahmed serves as Vice Provost for Intercultural Excellence at the University of Vermont, where he leads university-wide strategic initiatives focused on fostering a culture of mattering, belonging, and inclusive excellence. In this role, he works collaboratively across the institution to build organizational capacity and support equitable, community-centered approaches to leadership, engagement, and institutional transformation. A nationally recognized educator, speaker, and organizational strategist, Dr. Ahmed has worked with colleges, universities, nonprofits, and organizations across the country on issues related to identity, equity, intercultural engagement, leadership development, and organizational culture. His approach integrates dialogue, storytelling, and practical strategies to help communities navigate complexity, strengthen relationships, and create more humane and inclusive environments. As the son of Indian Muslim immigrants, Dr. Ahmed’s work is grounded in both lived experience and a deep commitment to building communities where people feel seen, valued, and connected. His scholarship and practice explore how institutions can respond thoughtfully and compassionately during moments of social tension, polarization, and change.

Nana Gyamfi

Executive Director of the Black Alliance for Just Immigration

Nana Gyamfi is the Executive Director of the Black Alliance for Just Immigration (BAJI), the nation’s leading Black-led immigrant rights and racial justice organization representing Black immigrants, refugees, and families across the United States. A human rights attorney, movement strategist, educator, and longtime advocate for Black liberation, she brings more than three decades of experience advancing racial, social, and immigrant justice through organizing, legal advocacy, political education, and coalition building. Prior to serving as Executive Director, Nana served as BAJI’s Board Vice-Chair and Managing Director. She is also co-founder of Justice Warriors 4 Black Lives and Human Rights Advocacy, organizations dedicated to advancing human rights and Black liberation. Throughout her career, she has led and supported numerous local, national, and international social justice efforts focused on community empowerment, state violence, migration, and systems change. Nana is a former professor in the Pan African Studies Department at California State University, Los Angeles, and former president of the National Conference of Black Lawyers. Her work has been featured through national media, public scholarship, documentaries, and radio, where she is known for connecting movement history, political analysis, and community-centered approaches to justice and collective liberation. Grounded in a deep commitment to dignity, humanity, and self-determination, Nana’s work examines the intersections of race, migration, criminalization, and belonging, while advocating for institutional and societal responses rooted in care, accountability, and liberation.

Kathleen Wong (Lau)

University Diversity Officer at California State University, East Bay

Kathleen Wong (Lau) serves as the University Diversity Officer at California State University, East Bay, where she provides strategic leadership for university-wide efforts focused on equity, belonging, and creating welcoming and inclusive campus communities. Prior to joining Cal State East Bay, she served as the inaugural Chief Diversity Officer at San José State University and as Executive Director of the National Conference on Race and Ethnicity in Higher Education (NCORE). A nationally recognized higher education leader, scholar, and facilitator, Dr. Wong (Lau) has spent more than two decades advancing institutional change through research-based and community-informed approaches to equity, leadership, intercultural engagement, and organizational transformation. Her work has included faculty appointments, national research collaborations on intergroup dialogue, and consulting with colleges and universities across the country on diversity, inclusion, and systemic change initiatives. Dr. Wong (Lau) currently serves as co-principal investigator on a federally funded initiative supporting Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander behavioral health and community well-being. She is also a co-founder of the Journal of Critical Scholarship on Higher Education and Student Affairs at New York University and has been recognized nationally for transformative leadership in higher education. A bilingual second-generation Chinese American and first-generation college graduate, Dr. Wong (Lau)’s work is deeply informed by her experiences growing up in the East Bay in a working-class immigrant family and working in community-based organizations in San Francisco Chinatown prior to entering higher education.