This in-person inclusive leadership session provides attendees leadership development, strengths-based assessment activities, and experiential learning opportunities to enhance inclusion efforts within sleep research and application. Attendees will participate in individual reflection activities and case study exercises and be introduced to inclusive leadership as a best practice.
Required Prerequisite:
All attendees must take the Clifton Strengths Top 5 assessment before the workshop. While the workshop is free of cost, attendees must purchase the assessment on their own here: https://store.gallup.com/p/en-us/10108/cliftonstrengths-top-5?c=1
Who should attend? Early career, mid-career and senior sleep and circadian researchers attending the SLEEP 2024.
Our Facilitators
Dr. Christopher A. Clarke
Dr. Christopher Allen Clarke serves as the inaugural Assistant Dean for Belonging and Inclusion at the University of Miami School of Law where he is responsible for the development, implementation, and evaluation of a comprehensive plan that advances belonging and inclusion. Dr. Clarke brings over 16 years of higher education experience, most recently serving as the Director of the Office of Multicultural Student Affairs at the University of Miami from 2020-2023. Prior to joining the University of Miami, Dr. Clarke served as the inaugural Director of Diversity and Inclusion at the University of Chicago – Law School and has worked at the University of Michigan and the University of Illinois at Chicago in similar capacities. Dr. Clarke has been recognized twice as a 40 Under 40 Higher Administrator by the Congressional Black Caucus Health Braintrust and by Legacy Magazine Miami. He was also named the 2022 Administrator of the Year by the University of Miami Toppel Career Center and named the 2023 Patricia A. Whitely Unsung Hero by the University of Miami Undergraduate Student Government.
Kennedy Robinson-Birt
Kennedy is the Director of Multicultural Student Affairs at the University of Miami where she is responsible for coordinating diversity, equity, and inclusion programs and services for the University of Miami and the broader South Florida community. She has specific oversight of initiatives that support BIPOC students at the University of Miami. Kennedy has demonstrated her passion for supporting and empowering others through the creation of programs where she creates a safe space aimed to increase our student’s emotional intelligence, self-confidence, and overall sense of belonging. Through her investment in various identity-based programs, she has been nationally recognized by organizations like the MDRC (Manpower Demonstration Research Corporation) and the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators. She has been named Outstanding New Staff Member of the Year during her first year at the university, 2023 Advisor of the Year, the 2023 NAACP Chairman of the Year Award, the 2023 Student Affairs Exceptional Work with Students Award, and was recently recognized by the Legacy Magazine South Florida Black Leaders of Today and Tomorrow 40 Under 40 Award. Her passion for social justice extends far beyond higher education in that she plays an active role in supporting young women of color through several community organizations. She has also been a strategic partner on several grants, on interfaith, racial justice, and vaccine education for underrepresented communities.
Dr. Azizi Sexias
Dr. Azizi Seixas is an Associate Professor of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences; Director, The Media and Innovation Lab; Associate Director, Center for Translational Sleep and Circadian Sciences; Interim Chair, Department of Informatics and Health Data Science at the University of Miami. He is an innovator, scientist, thought leader, technologist and sleep and circadian sciences expert. Creator of Precision and Personalized Population Health. Voted top 100 most inspiring Black Scientists in America by Cell Press. “I believe in health and wellness for all through disruptive and scalable innovation.” Dr. Seixas received his PhD in Clinical Psychology from Fordham University, his MS from The University of Dallas and his BA from the College of the Holy Cross.