Dr. Yaro Fong-Olivares (she/her) is an influential leader with a rich cultural heritage, combining Afro-Caribbean and Chinese roots from Ayiti and Quisqueya (now the Dominican Republic and Haiti). She brings her diverse background and deep commitment to equity and inclusion to her role as Executive Director of the Gloria Cordes Larson Center for Women and Business at Bentley University. A visionary in DEI Organizational Development, Dr. Yaro specializes in systems change, equity, and inclusion. She delivers groundbreaking programs worldwide that tackle complex workplace dynamics through an intersectional equity-centered lens. Her expertise is backed by a doctorate in Organizational and Leadership Psychology with a concentration in the neuroscience of leadership from William James College, an M.S. in Organizational Change Management from the Milano School of Management at The New School, and a B.A. in Sociology from Barnard College, Columbia University.

 

Katie has been a long-time member of the Bentley community where she has developed diversity-related learning opportunities across the university. A member of the Class of 1996, Katie has held numerous staff roles on campus including assistant provost of diversity and inclusion, executive director of diversity and inclusion and associate director of admissions. As the leader of the Office of Diversity and Inclusion, Katie has provided vision, leadership and coordination for strategic institutional planning to ensure inclusive environments and equitable outcomes for all faculty, staff and students at Bentley. Her work has promoted an inclusive work and learning environment by supporting student- and employee-led initiatives, resource development and advocacy for affinity groups. Katie holds a Ph.D. in Leadership and Change from Antioch University, an MBA with a concentration in Marketing from the University of North Carolina – Chapel Hill and a B.S. in Economics and Finance from Bentley.