A trained facilitator, speaker, and thought leader, Laurel A. Berryman is setting a new standard for institutions throught the Northeastern U.S in abolishing systemic racism, ableism, and gender discrimination. Her commitment to using education as a tool for reform, empowerment, and identity drives her professional and personal life. In 2020, Laurel graduated magna cum laude from the University of Massachusetts Dartmouth with a BA in Women's and Gender Studies including a focus in Pre- Law. Laurel specializes in workforce development, program coordination and facilitation, information technology, and sustaining the principles of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI). In her current role as Human Resources Assistant in Institutional Equity and Human Resources at Community College of Rhode Island (CCRI), Laurel brings her DEI background into recruiting and talent acquisition to establish and maintain an equitable and diverse work force and working environment. She has been featured in several media outlets including MTV, Medium and Apple Podcasts. Most recently, she has been featured as a panelist on the renowned YouTube channel, 'The Grapevine'.