Staff JEDI About Us
The Staff JEDI Team in the Human Resources Group is in service to staff across the School of Medicine to build a more inclusive and equitable culture based on principles of justice. Founded in 2020, learn more about the team below. For questions and more information, contact the Staff JEDI team at somhrgjedi@stanford.edu.
Shaila Kotadia, PhD
Director of Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion
Dr. Shaila Kotadia provides guidance on building justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion (JEDI) into institutional systems and structures. Her experience in higher education has focused on the integration of JEDI activities across all constituencies, from students/trainees to staff to faculty, whereas in her current position, she focuses primarily on staff. In Dr. Kotadia's role, she is charged with implementing institution-wide JEDI strategic plans for staff. She also conducts education and facilitation around JEDI topics, leads ongoing institutional assessments, reviews HR policies and processes, builds communication processes, and creates relationships across silos in an effort to increase organizational effectiveness. Before Dr. Kotadia arrived at Stanford, she led the STEM Equity and Inclusion Initiative at the University of California, Berkeley. In Dr. Kotadia's scientific career, she received a Ph.D. in Genetics and Development from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center and completed a postdoc at the University of California, Santa Cruz.
Selected work and presentations:
- An Institution in Crisis: Reacting and Responding to the National Reckoning on Racial Justice, NADOHE Annual Conference, 2021
- Collective Action for Cultural Transformation, CUPA-HR Northern and Central CA Chapter Conference, 2022
- Reimagining HR: Moving from compliance-based to human-centered, NCORE Annual Conference, 2023
- A Values-Based Approach to Exploring JEDI Principles, Employee Assistance Professionals Association, 2023
- Building an impactful partnership between ELR & JEDI, CUPA-HR Northern and Central CA, Pacific Northwest, and Mountain Region Chapter Series, 2024
Matthew Griffith, PhD
Assistant Director of Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion - Strategy & Programs
Matthew Griffith is the Assistant Director for Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI)––Strategy and Programs. In his role, Matthew works to advocate and develop JEDI practices, opportunities, and programs with and for Stanford School of Medicine staff. He comes to this work as a strategist and a facilitator, as he has significant training and experience in both project development/planning and intergroup dialogue. Prior to Stanford, he worked in various professional positions centered on advancing and implementing diversity and equity initiatives for faculty, students, and staff throughout the University of California system, including UC Berkeley, UCLA, and UC Office of the President. As a scholar-practitioner, he actively writes, presents, and teaches on various issues at the intersection of DEI, including navigating institutional power dynamics, equity in leadership structures and policy, and free speech. Recently, he was a 2022 fellow at the National Center for Free Speech and Civic Engagement. Born and raised in the city of Detroit, Michigan, he is a proud (and sometimes overzealous) alumnus of Detroit Public Schools and the University of Michigan. Matthew received his Ph.D. at UCLA in Higher Education and Organizational Change. In his off-time, Matthew enjoys terrible reality television, coffee, and laughter.
Selected work and presentations:
- Chess, Not Checkers: Using Power Mapping to Navigate the Political Terrains of the University Leader, NCORE 2022 Annual Conference, 2022
Miranda St. Fleur, PhD
Assistant Director of Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion - Community & Partnerships
Dr. Miranda St. Fleur is a cell biologist turned JEDI practitioner passionate about transforming cultures and creating communities where people can be their whole selves. She is motivated to advance and operationalize JEDI through critical practices & policy changes that center on minoritized individuals and their experiences. In her role, Miranda is a strategic and creative thought partner who looks for unique solutions to address complex, systemic issues by facilitating meaningful connections between internal and external partners. As a scholar, she has published peer-reviewed articles that guide STEM trainees and their mentors in navigating academic STEM spaces. A former first-generation, low-income (FLI) student and multiethnic woman of color, Miranda is an alumna of the University of San Diego and its McNair Scholars Program. In 2019, she earned her PhD in Biology from Stanford University. She enjoys knitting, practicing yoga, watching TV and movies, and catching up with family and friends in her free time.
Selected work and presentations:
- Reimagining HR and Other Policies: Moving from Compliance-Based to Human-Centered, NASPA Racial Equity & Social Change Conference, 2023
- STEM by Association: Navigating STEM Spaces as STEM Adjacent Professionals, SACNAS 2023 Annual Conference, 2023
- Strategies for Leading Change Across a Decentralized Institution, NCORE 2022 Annual Conference, 2022
- Reimagining HR: Moving from compliance-based to human-centered, NCORE 2022 Annual Conference, 2022
- Combatting the Ongoing Oppression and Anti-Blackness in Graduate Education at Stanford, NCORE 2021 Annual Conference, 2021
Chris White, M.Ed.
JEDI Coordinator
As a creator of authentic spaces, I believe community and belonging should be fostered with a wellness lens where anyone can show up as their true selves. I’m a student at heart who asks deep questions and leads with an open mind to gain a full perspective. Growth and development are passions of mine that remain in the forefront of all that I do. From K-12 to Higher Education, I bring nearly a decade of educational background from across the southwest. I’ve supported students and staff through mentorship, project management, policy change, teaching, media, and systematic organization. As an actions oriented problem solver, I love to collaborate and think outside the box over good music and even better food! I’m a proud Los Angeles native and first-generation college student holding a B.S. in Psychology from Grand Canyon University and a Master’s of Education with emphasis in Human Relations from Northern Arizona University. In my personal time, I enjoy cooking and baking, basketball and binge worthy tv, traveling and spending time with loved ones. I look forward to connecting!!
Selected work: