The Association for Animal Welfare Advancement Learning Center
Leadership Accelerator: Effective Strategies to Make DEI Stick (Fall 2026)
Includes Multiple Live Events. The next is on 11/09/2026 at 12:15 PM (EST)
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Register
- Animal Welfare Professional Member - Free!
- Learning Member - Free!
A two-session accelerated course for leaders working towards an equitable and just profession.
Limited seats available. Please register by Oct 30
Animal welfare leaders increasingly recognize the importance of fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion in their organizations, yet often face challenges figuring out where to start the journey or how to maintain momentum and measure progress. This program features the new DEI Competencies for animal welfare, a practical guide for assessing and building the skills needed to create organizational cultures that welcome everyone.
This program will offer senior leaders the tools to guide their organizations through the complex challenges of embedding DEI principles and practices into their animal welfare organizations. Leaders will:
- Reflect on their individual identity-based lenses, perceptions, and biases
- Learn techniques for engaging in healthy dialogues and handling conflicts
- Understand how to make DEI a part of day-to-day organizational life.
Participants will have a unique opportunity to engage with a cohort of leaders from across animal welfare to share common challenges and promising practices, to collectively support their respective organizations and the overall animal welfare profession.
Workshop Objectives
- Define concepts of DEI and impact on animal welfare
- Examine our DEI Journey Maps and share with others
- Practice calling in conversations and how to foster open communication
- Strategize new ways to incorporate DEI practices throughout your organization
- Craft a 90-day action plan for the top three things you can do that would advance DEI in your organization
Advancing diversity, equity, and inclusion requires leadership at every level. This course is designed for individuals who hold decision-making authority — whether through formal role or functional responsibility — and who are positioned to implement meaningful organizational change.
This program takes place across 2 online workshops: 3pm - 5pm ET on Monday, Nov 9, and Monday, Nov 16
Nov 9: Session One will have two parts. Part one will discuss the individual role leaders play in creating an inclusive work environment. This session focuses on introspection and how leaders have developed their individual DEI journey. Part two focuses on the interpersonal skills needed to model a commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion through their communication and foster an inclusive environment for all. Leaders will practice calling in conversations to ensure accountability and mutual respect.
Nov 16: Session Two focuses on organizational strategy and implementation of DEI practices. Leaders will learn about common challenges and tactics to address resistance to change. During this session, leaders will begin to craft a 90-day action plan that is uniquely focused on the diversity, equity, and inclusion needs of their organization.
- These Zoom experiences will not be recorded.
- Virtual break rooms will be used for small group activities and reflection.
- This course requires pre-work and homework between sessions. Additional details will be provided after registration, however, we ask that leaders interested in this course commit to up to 3 hours of pre-work before each of our two sessions.
- Participants who complete the course will receive a printable certificate of completion and access to office hours from Maria Morukian or Dr. Jasmin Robinson.
Course Facilitators: Maria Morukian, Founder & President, MSM Global Consulting & Dr. Jasmin Robinson, AAWA Director of DEI Initiatives
This online workshop has been pre-approved for:
- 4 Certified Animal Welfare Administrator continuing education credits
- 4 NACA CEs
Dr. Jasmin Robinson
Director of DEI Initiatives
The Association for Animal Welfare Advancement
Jasmin M. Robinson, Ph.D., is The Association’s Director of DEI Initiatives. She is also a consultant with MSM Global Consulting and the CEO and Founder of I.D.E.A.L. Education, LLC. She has over 15 years of experience and has contributed her thought leadership across industries, including higher education, p-12 education, nonprofit organizations, government, and corporations. Jasmin is committed to empowering professionals who recognize societal inequities and strive to be better leaders in their communities and organizations.
Jasmin completed a Ph.D. in Educational Administration, Higher Education Leadership. Her research interests include Black women's experiences in historically white spaces, anti-Blackness, and cultural competence. In her spare time, Jasmin enjoys cooking, walking, thrifting, and reading.
Maria Morukian
President and Founder
MSM Global Consulting
Maria Morukian is a globally recognized organizational development practitioner specializing in culture change for diversity, equity, and inclusion. As CEO of MSM Global Consulting and a faculty member at American University's School of International Service, she has spent more than 24 years helping leaders and organizations around the world build competent and respectful workplaces where everyone thrives. Her new book, The Belonging Blueprint: How to Design a Workplace Culture That Fuels Performance, offers a practical framework and assessment tools for building a culture of belonging. She is also the author of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion for Trainers and co-author of ATD's Handbook for Training and Talent Development.
