Speakers

Panel Moderator: Anita Battle ’82 - Global Diversity, Inclusion, & Belonging - Senior Manager of Equity, Equinix

Anita Battle, LMU alum, Global Diversity, Inclusion, & Belonging - Equity Thought Leader

Anita Battle brings thought leadership and passion for inclusion, equity and social justice to her life. As the Sr. Manager of Equity at Equinix, her broad role includes driving corporate equity strategies, facilitating D&I workshops, moderating conversations, and leading mentorship programs. She is also one of the founding members of the Equinix BlackConnect ERG.

She holds a Bachelor of Arts from Loyola Marymount University, Los Angeles, CA and several certifications including programs from St. Mary’s College, Cal Berkeley Extension, and Stanford GSB.

Anita’s vision includes creating pathways to ensure that our often-overlooked communities are valued, seen, and heard. With initiatives that bring business value, Anita has influenced or curated several initiatives – for representation, inclusive language, mentorship programs, mental health campaigns, and career development programs. Her cross-functional collaborations include alliances with executives with efforts to transform cultures, business, and practices.

Achievement is does not replace purpose and Anita is keenly aware that her work is purposeful and relevant. Her work has significant scale and impact on the business and individuals. Her focus is on shifting others to develop a wider view of humanity; this ultimately results in greater inclusion. Her commitment to elevate the excluded and overlooked, creates environments that drive inclusion & equity, and shift others to default to humanity.

Anita is a member of the WITI, Global Alliance for Inclusion,  a delegate in CEO Action for Racial Equality, and she is a volunteer speaker & mentor for Dress for Success San Francisco . Recognitions include  Linkedin Inclusive Lab Top Inclusive Leader, a panelist at the 2022 WITI Emergence Summit, 2022 Social Equity Leadership Conference,  and the 2022 National Diversity & Leadership Conference.

Anita lives in the San Francisco Bay Area. She loves music, dancing, reading, and cooking; is an avid traveler and sports and theatre enthusiast.

Emelyn dela Peña, Ed.D. - Vice President for Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion, LMU

vice president for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Emelyn dela Pena

Emelyn A. dela Peña, a standard-bearer in higher education social justice leadership, was named Loyola Marymount University’s vice president for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion on Dec. 1, 2021. 

She brings to LMU 26 years of experience in higher education and a focus in justice, equity, diversity and inclusion scholarship and practice. Most recently, she served as associate vice provost for Inclusion, Community and Integrative Learning at Stanford University, a post she has held since 2019.

At Stanford, dela Peña embedded ethical leadership and equity principles in student engagement and transformed key policies and practices in student affairs. She also led campus-wide efforts to support DEI programs and initiatives that build awareness, capacity building, response, and healing, and drove committee work that addressed campus climate, promotion, and recruitment of diverse staff.

Before joining Stanford, dela Peña was the inaugural associate vice chancellor for Student Affairs and dean of the Center for Diversity and Inclusion at Washington University in St. Louis, where she partnered with staff and faculty colleagues to embed DEI practices throughout the university and develop coursework that supports the university’s mission around diversity and inclusion.

Prior to that, dela Peña served as the inaugural assistant dean for Equity, Diversity and Inclusion and assistant dean of Student Life at Harvard College, where she advised the dean of the college and dean of students on issues concerning equity and inclusion. 

She earned her doctor of education from a joint program through the University of California, San Diego; San Diego State University; and California State University, San Marcos. She earned a master’s degree in postsecondary educational leadership from San Diego State University and a bachelor’s degree in ethnic studies from UC San Diego.

She was honored with the Harvard University Faculty of Arts and Sciences Dean’s Distinction Award, and she was thrice recognized by UC San Diego—in 2001, 2006 and 2010—with its Diversity Champion Award.

Dianne Hackett, Ed.D. ’13, M.A. ’10 - SHRM-SCP, Head of Diversity Equity & Inclusion, Tech Portfolio, Google

Dianne Hackett, LMU alumn, and Head of Diversity Equity & Inclusion, Tech Portfolio, Google

Dr. Dianne Hackett is Head of Diversity Equity & Inclusion (DEI) for the Tech Portfolio at Google.

She provides strategic consultation to frontline HR partners, Google Leads and executive business leaders. Dianne’s remit includes managing business relationships, setting and executing Diversity Equity & Inclusion (DEI) strategy, and supporting progress on company-wide DEI goals. She leads a growing team of Diversity Business Partners (DBPs) and DEI Program Managers (DEI PgMs).

She began her career in public education, teaching K-12 students for 14 years, leading school-based diversity efforts, and coaching teachers towards equitable outcomes for students. She earned an Ed.D. in Educational Leadership for Social Justice from Loyola Marymount University where she later served as full-time Clinical Faculty in the Department of Specialized Programs in Urban Education. Dianne’s social justice lens led to a D&I consulting practice working with philanthropic foundations, education nonprofits, government entities, and later to a full-time career in the tech industry.

A resident of South Los Angeles, Dr. Dianne sits on the board of STEM to the Future, a non-profit organization dedicated to inspiring Black and Latinx students in South LA to use STEM to solve problems impacting the local community.

When she’s not on the job, Dr. Dianne enjoys sitting around a campfire, telling ghost stories and eating s’mores.

Rob Klausner ’93, Chief Operating Officer, Capital Group

Rob Klausner ’93, Chief Operating Officer, Capital Group

Rob Klausner is chief operating officer at Capital Group, one of the world’s oldest and largest investment managers. Rob serves on Capital Group’s Management Committee and oversees a broad set of global operations responsibilities focused on helping deliver superior long-term investment results, expand growth to new markets, and continually develop Capital’s associates, values and unique culture. Central to all of these goals is Capital’s commitment to DE&I, which Rob oversees and has been an area of significant focus and investment for the company. Rob has 29 years of industry experience and has been with Capital Group for 12 years. Prior to joining Capital, Rob worked as a senior partner at Accenture. He holds a bachelor's degree in mechanical engineering from Loyola Marymount University where he currently serves on the Board of Regents.

 

 

 

Nicole Rodriguez ’03, M.A. ’08, Ed.D. - Organizational Development Manager, SoCalGas

Nicole Rodriguez, LMU alum and Organizational Development Manager, SoCalGas

Dr. Nicole Rodriguez works at the Southern California Gas Company (SoCalGas) as the Organizational Development Manager managing organizational development for the company with a team of advisors that enhance talent and optimize performance. Before joining SoCalGas in February of 2022, Rodriguez held various leadership roles in higher education, including leading the overall strategic vision for career and workforce readiness at California State University, Dominguez Hills. She is a strategic leader with over 19 years of collective leadership expertise in higher education, inclusive of oversight in areas such as special project management for executive leadership, women's leadership, equity, and inclusion initiatives, workforce readiness, academic advising, retention, training and development for student and staff, and talent management. Rodriguez also held an additional role as a Title IX Investigator and Advisor while serving in the California State University system.

In addition, Rodriguez is a nationally published researcher and writer with expertise in women's leadership in higher education and industry, addressing barriers women face in leadership and dismantling perceptions, attitudes, and assumptions regarding women leaders, as well as highlighting women's experiences in Academia on the path to full professor.

Finally, Dr. Rodriguez is also one of the founders and an executive board member for the national Hispanic Serving-Institution (HSI) Career Collaborative founded in January 2021, which is an organization that serves to raise the profile of Hispanic-Serving Institutions and the recruitment of their students and alumni, along with educating employers nationally around topics related to DEI recruitment. Nicole holds a Doctorate in Educational Leadership from Fresno State, a Master's in Higher Education Administration, and a Bachelor of Arts in Screenwriting from Loyola Marymount University, and several certifications related to Human Resources Management, Change Management, Fiscal Management, and Organizational Development.