About

A bridge builder by nature and community organizer by training, Andrew brings nearly a decade of experience in social justice education and organizational change to helping leaders better understand systems of power and oppression, respond effectively to the impact of these systems on our selves and others, and cultivate more just conditions. Andrew currently coaches leaders and consults with organizations focusing on diversity, equity, and inclusion at Promise54, facilitates in the Interpersonal Dynamics Facilitator Training Program at the Stanford Graduate School of Business, and cuts hair at Dax Lee’s Barber & Apothecary in Oakland, CA.

Andrew holds a B.A. in Sociology from Loyola University Chicago and an Ed.M. in Human Development and Psychology from the Harvard Graduate School of Education where he was an Equity & Inclusion Fellow. Andrew earned an Associated Certified Coach (ACC) credential from the International Coaching Federation in 2022, was selected as a Fellow in the Oakland Chapter of New Leaders Council in 2020, and was awarded the Tina Tchen Ally Award from the Harvard Black Graduation Committee in 2018. Andrew lives in the Bay Area with his partner.

Before starting TakeRoot, she served as the director of Leadership Rice at Rice University. She is currently an instructor for the Glasscock School at Rice University where she teaches all the courses of the leadership certificate, including the Art and Practice of Influencing Without Authority.

Judy came to America as a Vietnamese refugee and saw firsthand how leadership is needed at all levels of communities and organizations. Her experiences have shaped her approach to helping others develop their own authenticity in how they lead - to embrace uncertainty, get clarity around what matters most, and build trusting relationships. Having experienced massive changes in half a lifetime, Judy sees leadership as an activity that ignites moral courage and imagination in service of creating positive change.

Judy started her career at Deloitte Consulting as a change management practitioner and then as program director for Leadership Houston. She serves on the board of Girls, Inc. of Greater Houston, EMERGE Fellowship, and on the advisory boards of the Young Center and Asia Society. Judy is trained in leadership development through Harvard Kennedy School of Government's master class program, completed the Social Justice Institute's training program, and is a Board Certified and Team Certified coach. She earned her master's degree at the University of Texas and her bachelor's degree at Rice University. Judy calls Houston, Texas home. She enjoys gathering people in her kitchen to cook, embarrassing her three kids with really bad puns, and cuddling with her very charismatic dog.

Sara Furr is the newly appointed Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer at The Field Museum. In this position at the Museum, Sara develops, directs, and evaluates the impact of the Field’s diversity, equity, accessibility, and inclusion strategies and practices. Sara is also the Founder and CEO of Mayari Coaching and Consulting, a full service consulting and coaching company that embodies an identity conscious approach to our work and situates growth and development within the context of larger systems of privilege and oppression.

Sara most recently served as the Dean of Students, Inclusion and Equity at The Crown Family School of Social Work, Policy, and Practice at The University of Chicago where she oversaw the outside of the classroom experience for graduate students studying social work including recruitment, admissions, and student affairs. Previously she served as the director of the Center for Identity, Inclusion and Social Change at DePaul University. In this role, she was responsible for creating and facilitating diversity and social justice education initiatives for students, faculty, staff, and community partners. Prior to this, Sara served as the assistant director of Multicultural Student Success at DePaul. Over the past 20 years as a professional in Student Affairs, Sara has been actively engaged in all aspects of college life and has specifically led and served in the functional areas of residential life and housing operations; multicultural affairs and intercultural development; and student conduct She has always remained passionate about social justice education and helping students become agents of change. Sara holds her PhD in Higher Education from Loyola University Chicago.

In his clinical practice he supports individuals, couples, and groups to heal through trauma, addiction, and attachment wounds. He's currently the owner and clinical director of Beacon Psychotherapy, PLLC in Cary, North Carolina.

Being raised in a family of social workers and educators instilled in Matt the core values of justice and equity, teaching him to use his privilege to support marginalized people. His social work training that gave him the necessary perspectives and skills to deepen his understanding of cultural humility and more effectively play a part in dismantling the systemic advantage of dominant culture. Matt’s drive to address these cultural needs in relationally intimate ways has lead him to pursue professional experiences in non-profit organizations focused on affordable housing and access to education, as well as medical settings focused on addiction recovery and psychiatric treatment.

Matt earned his B.S. in business administration from the Fisher College of Business at The Ohio State University and his M.S.W. from North Carolina State University. When not pursuing professional interests Matt can be found spending time with his wife and three children, indoor rock-climbing, or rewatching The Office.

The former Deputy Chief Diversity Officer at the University of Maryland (UMD), Beth currently is the Executive Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, the chief diversity officer's role, at Frederick Community College (MD). Beth’s work focuses on building institutional capacity to interrupt and effectively address current and historical legacies of all forms of oppression, centering racial justice, from board rooms to hallways to zoom rooms to classrooms.

Educated at Barnard College, Harvard University, and UMD, Beth’s research looks at how we can strengthen the capacity of majoritized peoples to engage—ethically, effectively, and with accountability—across differences in identity, power, and privilege. Her graduate level teaching focuses on how to change the culture of organizations and schools, critical race theory, critical disability theory, and research for social and political change.