Committee Leaders

Debra Monk
Diversity and Inclusion Chair
To provide programs and resources that promote diversity as a strategic component of MVHRA overall mission which is critical to our individual and organizational success as Human Resources professionals.
Promote an environment that recognizes and reflects the Miami Valley community's multi-culturalism in membership demographics, program topics and community involvement activities.
Education – Provide our members with tangible skills and competencies that can be used in developing initiatives and managing diversity in their workplaces.
Information – Provide communication on diversity-related topics through newsletters, programs and workshops. Develop a presence on the MVHRA.org website for diversity information.
Awareness – Understand that diversity is an integral part of Human Resources management. Diversity must be reflected in the philosophy, policies and practices of MVHRA.
Human Resource Consultant
937-602-1659
jwhitaker@pcbrandssolutions.com
www.integritydev.com
ericellis@integritydev.com
513-874-6836
Eric Ellis is President and CEO of Integrity Development Corp., a full-service management consultancy providing strategic Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) solutions. An innovator and thought leader, Eric has over thirty years of experience in DEI strategy and facilitation. His collaborations with senior leadership, HR professionals, and internal DEI practitioners produce sustainable results, transforming organizational cultures into people-centered workplaces that inspire employee engagement and a sense of belonging. Eric has assisted some of the world's most admired companies in developing and implementing innovative DEI solutions, building cultures of respect that lead to higher employee performance and better business results. Eric was named one of the Top 100 DEI Experts in the World by the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) and serves on SHRM's Inclusion & Diversity Expert Panel. He is also SHRM's Subject Matter Expert for their newly designed Inclusive Workplace credential. Eric is known as a master communicator and was named "Cincinnati's Diversity Fixer" by The Cincinnati Enquirer. An award-winning entrepreneur, Eric received Ohio's Minority Business of the Year recognition and the NAACP President's Award, in addition to many other accolades. Eric is also an author and national keynote speaker. His regional bestselling book, Diversity Conversations, explores the practical application of managing inclusion. Eric can be heard on his weekly broadcast, Diversity Conversations, every Saturday at 9:30 a.m. ET on Facebook Live @elliseric.
HR Business Partner, Morris Furniture Company
debramonkshack@gmail.com
Debra has started her second career in Human Resources after retiring from Higher Education in 2020. She has 30 Years of experience facilitating DEI sessions. She focuses on her own journey as a white female while illustrating the lessons learned and the key concepts important to the journey.
Dr. Wagner is an assistant professor in Higher Education and Student Affairs at Clemson University. She completed her doctorate in Social Justice Education at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. Prior to her faculty appointment at Clemson she served for 16 years in progressively responsible positions in housing and residence life. Her research and practice has focused on social justice approaches to Student Affairs. (Home base: Clemson, SC) She can be contacted at rwagne3@clemson.edu
Dr. Croom serves as the Associate Dean of the Graduate School at Clemson University. Before coming to Clemson in 2016, Croom served as assistant professor of higher education and student affairs at Iowa State University. She holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Texas A&M University-Kingsville, a master’s degree in higher education administration from Texas A&M University-College Station, and a Ph.D. in educational leadership—higher education from Iowa State University. She currently serves on the editorial boards of Journal of Diversity in Higher Education and Journal of College Student Development. Her research interests include intersectional identity development in college; access, equity, and success for womyn of color and other minoritized communities in post-secondary environments; and critical race theory, critical race feminism, and critical qualitative inquiry in higher education research and practice. Dr. Croom can be reached by email at nncroom@clemson.edu
Vice President for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at Macalester College. Awong3@macalester.edu