Meet the Board
Menu
Diversity, equity, and inclusion work can be lonely. So many professionals working in DEI and HR roles are without a team to turn to for advice, support, resources, and a safe space to share. DAIP aims to create that community, whether you work at a small nonprofit or a large corporation.
We welcome you to attend our events, gain new skills, and connect with like-minded individuals, whether you’re an experienced DEI leader or just beginning to learn about this important work.
Diversity and Inclusion Professionals (DAIP) is a 501c3 that offers timely educational programming, resources, and networking opportunities for professionals across sectors and industries. We operate based on the principle that diversity, equity, and inclusion are crucial elements of business and community success.
We invite you to bring your unique perspective to your learning journey with DAIP.
Meet the Board
Communications Committee
Programming Committee
Communications Committee
Diversity and Inclusion Professionals (DAIP) is a 501c3 that offers timely educational programming, resources and networking opportunities across sectors and industries to explore diversity, equity, and inclusion as crucial elements of business and community success.
Kevin Matta (he, him, his) is a strategic differentiator, comfortable challenging the status quo, and brings both passion and experience to ensure client success and human engagement with his brilliant ability to make connections.
Kevin’s interest in justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion work developed as he witnessed his parents encounter inequities and injustices while navigating the American healthcare and workplace landscape. His passion for this work continues to be strengthened by the systemic injustices people around the world continue to experience.
Kevin serves as president of DAIP’s board of directors.
Malida Khim (she, her, hers) has a passion for making the world a better place and is dedicated to supporting her local community.
Through her work in DEI, Malida sees the impact of her efforts on individuals and organizations. Her devotion to leading change and allowing folks who are typically unseen to be more comfortable, accepted, and celebrated fuels her to pave paths that have been historically blocked.
Malida serves as current treasurer of the board of directors of Diversity and Inclusion Professionals (DAIP).
Jenny Bautista-Ravreby (she, her, ella) has a passion for building and stewarding meaningful relationships across differences.
Jenny’s immigrant background, family, and culture brought her to diversity and inclusion work. She finds continuous inspiration to continue doing this important work for other marginalized communities. In doing so, she continues spreading education, awareness, empathy, and intentional action to continuously improve our world and how we treat each other.
Jenny chairs DAIP’s communications committee.
Dr. Kevin Keith Martins (he, him, his) is a first-generation Cape Verdean-American and lifelong Pawtucket resident.
Kevin recognizes that as a person with both privilege and marginalized identity, diversity and inclusion work is a calling to use his experiences, talents, and knowledge to improve the lives and experiences of others. To serve others is hard-wired in Kevin, which is why he has chosen to make it his profession.
Kevin serves on DAIP’s programs committee.
Sarah D. Courtemanche, M.Ed. (she, her, hers) believes education is the spark that ignites the passion and enthusiasm in all that we aspire to do.
Sarah believes that children are the future and that a strong diversity, equity, and inclusion foundation across disciplines ensures that the future will be built well. There’s much work to be done, but Sarah is working diligently to ensure that the future is bright.
Sarah serves as a member of the board of directors of Diversity and Inclusion Professionals (DAIP).
Shameem Awan (she, her, hers) works to ensure that all are welcome, all are valued, and all can be their authentic selves.
Shameem’s work in diversity, equity, and inclusion started when she was very young, giving a voice to those who did not have one. She works to realize that vision of kindness, respect, and inclusivity wherever she goes.
Shameem serves as a member of the board of directors of Diversity and Inclusion Professionals (DAIP).
Katje Afonseca (she, her, hers) is a strategic thinker focusing on quality, innovation, growth, and sustainability.
As the leader of a non-profit organization focusing on youth development, Katje ensures that she creates diverse and inclusive opportunities for young people in our community and the adults who work at her organization. Additionally, as the mother of two multiracial little girls, it is her mission to ensure that they grow up in a world where they are safe, included, and have equal and ample opportunities while being proud of their heritage.
Katje serves on DAIP’s advisory board.
Amanda Román (she, her, hers) understands that diversity, equity, and inclusion work isn’t easy and can be emotional, but she also knows it works when done with intention.
Being a young Latina woman in an un-diverse community, Amanda didn’t always understand why her family was different – but she felt it in the way other people treated her. These feelings of “otherness” influenced her passions from a young age. She knew she wanted to open people’s eyes to inequity and, even better – create positive change.
Amanda serves as secretary of DAIP’s board of directors.
Elaine Dickson (she, her, hers) is an accomplished and solutions-driven executive with broad-based corporate, nonprofit and entrepreneurial leadership experience.
Elaine’s lived experiences have engaged her in work that drove systemic change from very early in her life and career. Her role became more structured and formalized as her discipline developed and evolved. She remains engaged because she believes – and wants to see – a world where everyone can show up as their true self, feel valued, included, and celebrated. This might mean dismantling and reimagining ecosystems in pursuit of equitable outcomes.
Elaine serves as a member of the board of directors of Diversity and Inclusion Professionals (DAIP).
Patricia Holliday (she, her, hers) is a skilled leader knowledgeable in all aspects of human resources. Patricia uses her talents to support and guide executives and program leaders with strategic and operational matters.
Patricia has observed that the entities she has been affiliated with have experienced more success and a feeling of belonging when the work culture can embrace strong diversity, equity, and inclusion principles.
Patricia serves as a member of the board of directors of Diversity and Inclusion Professionals (DAIP).
Linda H. Newton (she, her, hers) is a specialist in leadership development, culture change, and the strategic use of community relations and diversity.
Growing up during Jim Crow created Linda’s passion for work in diversity, equity, and inclusion. The hope of realizing equity and inclusion for people of color motivates her to continue the work.
Linda is the founder of Diversity and Inclusion Professionals (DAIP) and serves on DAIP’s advisory board.
Guillaume Bagal (he, him, his) has a strong track record for bringing about change, generating engagement, and creating programs that help diversity initiatives and organizations prosper.
Guillaume’s personal and societal induced hurt, shame, confusion, and loneliness made his venture from policy to DEI inevitable. What keeps Guillaume going, even on days when nothing feels real, is the hope that people are good deep inside and will eventually make the right call if they are given the space to learn and grow
Guillaume serves on DAIP’s advisory board.
Ramona Royal (she, her, hers) has been recognized for making meaningful advancements and identifying formal and informal barriers to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Ramona has always been deeply curious about other people’s experiences, which has brought her into and sustained her focus on helping everyone feel they have the space to contribute and belong.
Ramona is a founding member and past president of DAIP’s board of directors, and serves on DAIP’s advisory board.
Ralph Tavares Jr. (he, him, his) is a visionary problem solver who meets challenges with enthusiasm and an open heart.
Many memories and moments in Ralph’s life informed his decision to enter the DEI field. As a senior in college, he was racially profiled by a security guard while entering the front gate of his own school, and was refused entry until he showed his student ID. He remembers many other times that he was deeply hurt by explicit and implicit acts of racism (being pulled over by the police, being called racial epithets, and more), but the moment at the college gate stands out as the spark that fueled his passion for this work.
Ralph is a past president of DAIP’s board of directors, and serves on DAIP’s advisory board.
Osmary Rodriguez Barker (she, her, ella) passionately pursues solutions to any challenges that come her way and tirelessly works to empower others to do the same.
Osmary believes that it’s up to each of us to fight for the things we care about using our unique gifts to improve the world, especially for the following generations of young professionals who, if not for the work done before them, would not have the opportunities to create ongoing change for the future.
Osmary serves as project manager and solutions architect for Diversity and Inclusion Professionals (DAIP).
Katie Neves (she, her, hers) loves serving nonprofits and advocacy groups, and believes that the best way to approach the world’s most complex issues is through human connection and improved communication.
Katie came to DEI work by way of social justice work, and leading advocacy and awareness campaigns that capture stories, amplify marginalized voices, and empower folks to raise their voice to make a difference. She is passionate about creating space for those around her who might not otherwise have a platform to impact change.
Katie serves as a project manager and content strategist for Diversity and Inclusion Professionals (DAIP).
Deb Wallace (she, her, hers) is a seasoned HR professional, and under her leadership, her current employer has been recognized for their culture of inclusivity, community engagement initiatives, and wellness program.
Deb pursued an HR career because she wanted to have a positive impact on her workplace and her community. She understands the critical need for DEI initiatives to cultivate and support a more inclusive culture, and is inspired and motivated by other local DEI leaders and organizations.
Deb serves on DAIP’s communications committee.
Shanna Ferguson (she, her, hers) is a seasoned HR professional who leads efforts in recruitment and staffing, employee relations, performance management, and developing and implementing DEI initiatives.
Shanna is passionate about partnering with decision makers to create a workplace environment that inspires and motivates people of diverse backgrounds and lived experiences to realize and work to their fullest potential.
Shanna serves on DAIP’s programming committee.
Lorraine López Santiago (she, her, hers) was born and raised in Puerto Rico, and moved to Rhode Island to manage quality assurance for her employer of nearly two decades, Amgen. At Amgen, Lorraine founded and leads the Amgen Latin Employee Network (ALEN).
Recognizing the importance of feeling like you belong in your workplace and community, Lorraine knows that having diverse people on your teams and providing inclusive environments makes teams thrive and leads to organizational success.
Lorraine serves as a member of the communications committee for Diversity and Inclusion Professionals (DAIP).
