Communicators are increasingly expected by a broad variety of stakeholders to communicate around diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) issues. For some, DEI communications is a new experience. This presentation will introduce you to U of M tools available to guide and support your DEI work and provide a demonstration of a DEI communications plan in action. Sarah Bjorkman, Lauren Jones from the School of Public Health, and Lisa Marshall from the Office for Equity and Diversity will present.
Presenter Bios
Sarah Bjorkman serves as the director of communications at the University of Minnesota School of Public Health (SPH), where she leads all communications and marketing functions, including brand strategy, public relations, executive and philanthropic communications, and social media. She guides a team of skilled professionals as they increase the school’s visibility and support the school’s mission by communicating the value and impact of public health. Sarah joined SPH in 2014 as the Marketing Director, leading the school’s brand transformation and linking the school more closely to its core values.
Prior to joining SPH, Sarah managed brand and internal communications at the University of Minnesota Extension. She also previously worked in the legal field, providing education, technology, and entrepreneurial solutions to estate planning attorneys. Sarah lives in St. Paul with her husband, two children, and Lulu the dog.
Lauren Jones is the director of diversity, equity, and inclusion at SPH, where she has worked since 2017. She believes in speaking truth to power and centering the marginalized. Lauren provides leadership and oversight for the DEI activities across the school, including strategic planning and implementation, training, and programming. She helps the school to operationalize its values by working with administrators, faculty, staff, students, and alumni. She has a bachelor’s degree from Western Illinois University, a master’s degree from Old Dominion University, and is working on a PhD at the University of Minnesota (CEHD). Lauren is a native Chicagoan and currently lives in North Minneapolis with her partner and their 2 dogs.
Lisa Marshall (she/her/hers) serves as the director of communications in the Office for Equity and Diversity (OED) at the University of Minnesota. In her role, she leads communications and marketing, public relations, events, brand strategy, and social media for OED. She also provides systemwide diversity, equity, and inclusion counsel to communicators and University leaders. Lisa previously held communications roles at the University of Minnesota School of Music and non-profits in New York City. She lives in Seward, Minneapolis, and is the only person on this panel without a dog.