Jennifer Velez

Jennifer Velez has a diverse work experience in various industries, including retail, consulting, education, and advocacy. Jennifer currently serves as the Head of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI), Corporate Communications and Culture at Forever 21, where they develop strategies to promote inclusivity and equity within the company. Jennifer has also worked as an ERG Advisory + Diversity Equity and Inclusion Communications Strategist at SPARC Group LLC, where they created and presented newsletters for multiple brands and guided enterprise-wide ERGs. In addition, they have been a DEI Professional at NASA, focusing on the development of a database of IDEA professionals. Jennifer's experience also includes managerial roles, such as Manager of Diversity, Equity + Inclusion and Business Operations at Collective Flow Consulting, and Program Manager, Community Culture at the American International School of Egypt. Jennifer has demonstrated skills in policy development, strategic communications, and educational programming. Jennifer's earlier roles include working as an Accessible Education Specialist at the NYC Department of Education, Coach- Accessible Education at New York City Teaching Fellow, and an Account Manager at Local Union 1010 LiUna. Jennifer also has experience in public policy and advocacy at the National Latina Institute for Reproductive Health, where they conducted research, lobbied for increased healthcare access, and assisted in event planning. Jennifer started their career as an Account Manager at the Family Service League of Long Island. Overall, Jennifer Velez's work experience highlights their expertise in DEI, communication, policy development, and program management.

Jennifer Velez's education history is as follows:

Jennifer Velez obtained an Executive MBA degree in Business Administration and Strategic Thinking from Quantic School of Business and Technology in the years 2021 to 2022. Prior to that, they attended Harvard Business School from 2019 to 2021, where they pursued a degree in Management and Leadership. Additionally, they earned a PhD in Organizational Leadership from Grand Canyon University from 2016 to 2018.

Their Master of Science (M.S.) degree was completed at Pace University from 2013 to 2015, with a dual program focused on Disabled Populations and Education. For their Bachelor of Arts (B.A.), they attended The City College of New York from 2008 to 2010, majoring in Sociology with a concentration in Colonization- Lat. Am. Studies. In 2009, Jennifer also briefly studied Sociology at Universidad Autonoma de Santo Domingo.

Jennifer Velez began their higher education journey with an Associate of Arts (A.A.) degree in Liberal Arts and Sciences/Liberal Studies from Suffolk County Community College, which they obtained from 2005 to 2007. Jennifer then attended Farmingdale State College from 2003 to 2005, where they earned an Associate's degree in Accounting and Business Administration.

In terms of certifications, Jennifer received the "Leading Learning" certification from Harvard Business School in August 2021. Additionally, they have obtained various other certifications, including "Analyzing and Visualizing Data with Microsoft Excel," "Autism Spectrum Disorders- Applied Behavioral Analysis," "Dignity for All Students Act Certification," "Get Ready to Learn- Kids Yoga," "Leading Change," "Leading People," "Leading Strategy and Innovation," "Literacy-Learning to Read- Foundational Fridays," "NYS Childhood Education (general education) Grades 1-6," "NYS Notary Public," "NYS Students with Disabilities- Grades 1-6," and "Positive Discipline for Early Childhood Educators." The institutions or organizations granting these certifications are not specified.