Workshop: Inclusive Recruitment and Retention

This session will highlight the important role of the Inclusion Advocate through the lifecycle of the search process.  A variety of tools will be shared for each stage of the process, beginning with how to clarify roles and responsibilities, developing inclusive recruitment strategies, engaging in interview best practices and sharing considerations for onboarding and belonging.  Participants will leave with a list of resources and research and have a chance to connect in small groups to apply what is learned.

Brianna Johnson (she/her)

Brianna Johnson is a National Organizer and Facilitator with Crossroads Antiracism Organizing & Training. She comes from a consultancy background and has served clients through human resources, social research and evaluation, operational process improvement, and DEI training.

Brianna brings over 7 years of experience in workshop development + facilitation and project management. She is a devoted catalyst partner for organizations seeking to transform their cultures towards inclusion and antiracism. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Geology from Calvin University.

Brianna is an enneagram geek, proud member of the Grand Rapids Women’s Chorus, and is a founding member of West Michigan Choral Lab – a small ensemble that uplifts the music of marginalized composers. She is a native of Northern California, but currently resides in East Michigan with her spouse and two cats.

Marlene Kowalski-Braun, Ph.D. (she/her)

Marlene Kowalski-Braun, Ph.D., an Associate Vice President in the Division of Inclusion and Equity at Grand Valley State University, has been using education as a tool to develop equity leaders and more equitable organizations for the past 25 years.  

In her various leadership roles in the Division of Student Services, Enrollment Development and Inclusion and equity, she has always worked to create opportunities for personal and organizational development, shared visioning and collaboration in order to maximize collective impact.  Currently, she works with an amazing team that delivers social justice learning, both internally and externally, through the GVSU Inclusion and Equity Institute.

Marlene is invested in community and civic engagement work and currently serves on the Grandville Avenue Arts and Humanities board, The Inforum Women’s Leadership Advisory Council, the Michigan American Council on Education Women’s Leadership board, and the BLEND advisory board.  She loves to dance (especially the polka), travel and spend time with her family, including two young adult children who are already busy making the world a better place.