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Title graphic for the 2023 Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging Advancement Summit with a background of the Purdue University campus

Speakers

Opening Session

Matt Folk

(ECE’91)

President and CEO // Purdue for Life Foundation
Vice President for University Advancement and Alumni Engagement // Purdue University

Folk oversees all aspects of alumni-facing organizations and fundraising for Purdue University, including communications, learning, engagement, and stewardship. He was previously the president and CEO of Technology Marketing Corporation and also served as president of the Boiler Business Exchange in Indianapolis. Folk, who has been heavily involved with his alma mater ever since graduating, is a member of President’s Council, the Purdue Alumni Association, and the John Purdue Club.
Folk oversees all aspects of alumni-facing organizations and fundraising for Purdue University, including communications, learning, engagement, and stewardship. He was previously the president and CEO of Technology Marketing Corporation and also served as president of the Boiler Business Exchange in Indianapolis. Folk, who has been heavily involved with his alma mater ever since graduating, is a member of President’s Council, the Purdue Alumni Association, and the John Purdue Club.

Patrick Wolfe

Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs and Diversity // Purdue University

Prior to his current role, Wolfe served Purdue as the Frederick L. Hovde Dean of the College of Science and the Miller Family Professor of Statistics and Computer Science with faculty appointments in electrical and computer engineering. A former instructor at both Cambridge and Harvard, Wolfe specializes in the mathematical foundations of data science, provides expert advice on applications of data science to a range of national and international organizations, and has been recognized by the White House for his work.
Prior to his current role, Wolfe served Purdue as the Frederick L. Hovde Dean of the College of Science and the Miller Family Professor of Statistics and Computer Science with faculty appointments in electrical and computer engineering. A former instructor at both Cambridge and Harvard, Wolfe specializes in the mathematical foundations of data science, provides expert advice on applications of data science to a range of national and international organizations, and has been recognized by the White House for his work.

Jacqueline M. Gatson

Assistant Vice President of Advancement for Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging // Purdue for Life Foundation

Gatson oversees and supports fundraising activities, foundation relations, industry partnerships, and community partnerships aimed at increasing representation and access for diverse students, faculty, and staff. She has nearly two decades of experience in higher education, conceptualizing and managing nationwide programming, engagement initiatives, and strategic partnerships. She was previously the associate director for Purdue University’s Minority Engineering Program.
Gatson oversees and supports fundraising activities, foundation relations, industry partnerships, and community partnerships aimed at increasing representation and access for diverse students, faculty, and staff. She has nearly two decades of experience in higher education, conceptualizing and managing nationwide programming, engagement initiatives, and strategic partnerships. She was previously the associate director for Purdue University’s Minority Engineering Program.

Additional Speakers

Yiesha Beamon

Founder and Owner // The Y Effect

Beamon is known for her dedication to creating inclusive environments and expanding opportunities for women and minorities. After an incredible career at notable organizations including Republic Airways, Mercedes-Benz Group, Carrier, and Amazon, where she focused on strategic planning, project management, and fostering meaningful connections, she recently embarked on a new chapter by launching her own consulting firm, The Y Effect.
Beamon is known for her dedication to creating inclusive environments and expanding opportunities for women and minorities. After an incredible career at notable organizations including Republic Airways, Mercedes-Benz Group, Carrier, and Amazon, where she focused on strategic planning, project management, and fostering meaningful connections, she recently embarked on a new chapter by launching her own consulting firm, The Y Effect.

Travis Brown

Founder and CEO // Mojo UP Marketing and Media

Brown is a brand-marketing strategist who has spent more than 20 years teaching others how to produce results for their companies. At the Black-owned and minority-operated Mojo Up Marketing and Media, he leads a diverse and talented team who are ready to help others build and market their brands. Brown has also been featured as a keynote speaker on more than 2,500 occasions, including for Fortune 500 companies and NFL teams.
Brown is a brand-marketing strategist who has spent more than 20 years teaching others how to produce results for their companies. At the Black-owned and minority-operated Mojo Up Marketing and Media, he leads a diverse and talented team who are ready to help others build and market their brands. Brown has also been featured as a keynote speaker on more than 2,500 occasions, including for Fortune 500 companies and NFL teams.

Brandon Gatson

(MBA’22)

Supplier Diversity Manager // Purdue University

Gatson works in the diverse business community on behalf of Purdue by organizing networking opportunities and introductions for vendors and campus departments. He is responsible for meeting business diversity spending goals, fulfilling compliance-reporting requirements, leading community service and outreach activities, serving on committees that support supplier diversity, and representing the university at tradeshows.
Gatson works in the diverse business community on behalf of Purdue by organizing networking opportunities and introductions for vendors and campus departments. He is responsible for meeting business diversity spending goals, fulfilling compliance-reporting requirements, leading community service and outreach activities, serving on committees that support supplier diversity, and representing the university at tradeshows.

Jenny Hansen

Director of Foundation Relations // Purdue for Life Foundation

Hansen supports Purdue units seeking grants from private foundations to support projects related to diversity, inclusion, and belonging. Once she shares grant opportunities with a researcher, she then offers her assistance during the application process—strategizing the appropriate approach, coordinating with multiple contributors, as well as writing and proofing the drafted document. Prior to her current role, Hansen worked on elevating United Way’s equity practices within their grant process while funding human-service programs.
Hansen supports Purdue units seeking grants from private foundations to support projects related to diversity, inclusion, and belonging. Once she shares grant opportunities with a researcher, she then offers her assistance during the application process—strategizing the appropriate approach, coordinating with multiple contributors, as well as writing and proofing the drafted document. Prior to her current role, Hansen worked on elevating United Way’s equity practices within their grant process while funding human-service programs.

Cicely Hart

(ECE’98)

Vice President of Region Support // Duke Energy – Midwest

Hart is accountable for reliability improvement metrics and project management, workforce development, health and safety, emergency preparedness, field-contractor relationships, process and productivity, as well as centralized subdivision design and geospatial information systems. A licensed professional engineer in Indiana and Ohio, she has held many positions since joining Duke Energy in 2001. Hart currently sits on the board of the Indiana Special Olympics and is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
Hart is accountable for reliability improvement metrics and project management, workforce development, health and safety, emergency preparedness, field-contractor relationships, process and productivity, as well as centralized subdivision design and geospatial information systems. A licensed professional engineer in Indiana and Ohio, she has held many positions since joining Duke Energy in 2001. Hart currently sits on the board of the Indiana Special Olympics and is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.