Selena Cozart, PhD.
EM: Selena@consultingcozart.com
PH: (434) 825-9096
DISCIPLINE/SPECIALTY
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Collaborative Stakeholder Processes
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Facilitation of Equity Initiatives
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Public Engagement and Outreach Evaluation
EDUCATION
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Ph.D Education Evaluation with a concentration on Multicultural Education, University of Virginia (2002)
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M.T. Secondary English Education, University of Virginia (1993)
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B.A. English Language and Literature, University of Virginia (1991)
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
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Birth Sisters of Charlottesville
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Strategic Doing™ Practitioner
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Rx Racial Healing TM Certified, Co-Facilitator
SELECTED EXPERIENCE
Selena Cozart, PhD has extensive expertise in facilitating dialogue and community engagement in the service of equity and justice. Selena, a highly skilled race, equity diversity, and inclusion (REDI) Consultant, is well-versed in the full range of skills and expertise required to affect community change through dialogue and action. Selena has been an active participant in the UCARE program at the University of Virginia which has been instrumental in the UVA's recognition and accountability in relation to its unpaid, underpaid, and enslaved laborers throughout the history of the University.
2018-Present: Cozart Consulting, Inc.
President – Works with individuals, nonprofit organizations, educational
organizations, and governmental entities by providing racial equity assessments,
training, facilitation, executive coaching, and strategic planning.
2008-Present: Institute for Engagement & Negotiation
Lead Diversity Consultant – Responsibilities include serving on the steering committee, planning, organizing, and facilitating Pall meetings of constituents interested in creating meaningful action and sustainable change in the impact of the legacy of harm brought by structural racism in the form of slavery, segregation, and discrimination in the University and the surrounding community. Outcomes of this work include the Memorial to Enslaved Laborers which will be installed on University Grounds within the next 2 years.
Community Facilitator – Responsibilities include facilitating conversations with community stakeholders on a variety of equity initiatives to ensure greater representation and history-telling within the University of Virginia and Charlottesville communities.
May 2018-Sept 2018: Democracy Summer Fellows Program
Regional Co-Director – Responsibilities include facilitation, project management, and partnering with community stakeholders and high school and college students in order to provide training and organizing infrastructure to democratic campaigning.
2011-2015: Piedmont Housing Alliance
Program and Service Coordinator at Friendship Court – Responsibilities included service delivery, identification of needs, representations, and program design. Successfully designed and coordinated Community Days and Father’s Day festivals that involved residents from nearby low-income communities, several nonprofits, community organizations, City departments, UVA departments, and local businesses. Created and coordinated the first community-based Girls On The Run program in Central Virginia for elementary school aged girls in the Friendship Court Community.
2003-2007: University of Virginia
Assistant Professor – Responsibilities include teaching, collaborative program development, facilitation of University, student and school communication. Participation and retention of under-represented teachers increased during service in this role.
HIGHLIGHTED EXPERIENCE IN: FACILITATION, MEDIATION, & TRAINING
Facilitating Collaborative Change
And Consensus Building
Training and Educational Content Delivery
Selected Presentations and Talks
The Women’s Initiative, Charlottesville, VA 2023 – Strategic Planning Retreat Facilitator and consultant.
Charlottesville Human Development Services, Charlottesville, VA 2023 – Strategic Planning consultant and facilitator.
Southern Environmental Law Center Communications Team, Charlottesville, VA 2023 – Team Retreat Session Facilitation with emphasis on DEI and equitable collaboration.
Center for Nonprofit Excellence, Charlottesville, VA 2019-Present – Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion consultant, program developer and facilitator.
Legal Aid Justice Center, Charlottesville, VA 2022 – survey development, data collection, and analysis.
Piedmont Housing Alliance, Charlottesville, VA 2018 – 2023 – anti-racism framework development and staff and board training and facilitation.
Cultivate Charlottesville, Charlottesville, VA 2020-2021 – strategic planning, meeting facilitation, racial equity, diversity and inclusion consultation, staff development.
Virginia Humanities, Charlottesville, VA 2020-2021 –individual interviews with all staff members,
developed a series of full staff racial equity, diversity, and inclusion conversations, implemented an iterative strategic racial equity planning process.
Piedmont Mobility Alliance, Mobility Summits 2021, 2022 – planned and facilitated community
engagement sessions regarding mobility project collaborations.
Public Works, City of Charlottesville: Charlottesville Climate Action Equity Conversation, 2020-21 –consulted on community engagement strategies, facilitated virtual public meeting.
Descendants of Enslaved Communities at the University of Virginia, Strategic Planning 2021.
Move2Health Coalition, Charlottesville, VA Strategic Planning 2019-2020.
Montpelier Descendants Community, Orange, VA 2019 – Summit facilitation.
Local Food, Local Places Workshop, 2019 Charlottesville, VA and St. Paul, MN – collaborative community engagement process facilitation.
The Perkins House of Charlottesville, 2019 – Strategic Planning and process consultation and facilitation.
Charlottesville Abundant Life Ministries (CALM), 2019 – Strategic Planning.
American Evolution and the Presidential Precinct: Global Pathfinders Summit, 2019 – invited presenter.
Charlottesville City Black Male Achievement Initiative, 2018 – Strategic Planning Consultant.
Charlottesville Clergy Collective, 2018 – Racial Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion meeting facilitator.
Darden Curry Partnership for Leadership in Education, University of Virginia 2018 – Racial Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion meeting facilitation.
Living Waters: An Interfaith Summit on Water Conservancy, 2013 – Meeting co-facilitation.
Virginia Beach Listening Sessions: Sea Level Rise in Hampton Roads, 2011 – Meeting co-facilitation.
University of Washington Evans School of Public Policy and Governance, Seattle, WA 2022-present – recurring guest lecturer in the Collaborative Governance course of the Executive MPA Program teaching about equitable collaboration.
Community Meditation & Restorative Services, Inc., Workshop for Facilitators and Trainers, 2018.
Alliance for Peace building EPP Annual Conference, Transforming Community Spaces: A Pilot Workshop for Community Facilitators, 2018.
Dialogue Across Grounds at UVA, Invited Facilitator Trainer, 2014.
The Covenant School, Diversity Workshop, 2004.
Albemarle County Department of Social Services, Diversity Training Module, 2003 & 2004.
The Divided Community Project at Ohio State University: Rethinking Systems Design for Racial Justice and Equity Symposium Presenter, 2022.
National Conference for Dialogue and Deliberation Conference Session, 2018.
The Center for Nonprofit Excellence, POP Talk, 2018
Charlottesville Abundant Life Ministries’ Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Celebration, Invited Keynote Speaker, 2014.
Center for Alternative Dispute Resolution Annual Conference, 2010.
John Hope Franklin Center for Reconciliation National Symposium, 2010.
Bridgewater College, Invited Presenter for Student Leadership Training, 2009.
Charlottesville/Albemarle Student Mediator Summit, 2008.
Virginia College Access Network Annual Conference, 2006.
Symposium on Race and Society at the University of Virginia, 2006.
Florida Association of Student Financial Aid Administrators Annual Conference, 2006.
Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA), 2006.
Black History Month Speaker Series at University of Wisconsin, Presented Keynote Address, 2006.
University of Virginia Student Financial Aid Summit, 2006.
Commonwealth College Access Network annual conference, 2005.
Virginia Sexual and Domestic Violence Action Alliance annual conference, 2005.
Albemarle County Foster Care Services Retreat, 2005.
National Association for Multicultural Education, 2001 & 2002.
Virginia Association for Multicultural Education, 2000.
AWARDS & DISTINCTIONS
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Omicron Delta Kappa National Leadership Honor Society (2005)
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Kappa Delta Pi International Honor Society in Education (April 1992)
SELECTED PROFESSIONAL AND COMMUNITY SERVICE
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Advisory Committee, Perkins House Charlottesville, 2018-2021.
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Center for Nonprofit Excellence, Board Fellow, DEI Committee Co-Chair 2019-2021.
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Ron Brown Scholar Program, Application Reviewer, 2019-2021.
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Certified Birth Doula, Birth Sisters of Charlottesville, 2016-2021.
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TEDx Charlottesville, Steering Committee, Host, & Speakers Coach, 2016-Present.
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University Community Action for Racial Equity (UCARE) Steering Committee, 2009-Present.
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Memorial for Enslaved Laborers Faculty Advisory Committee, 2010-Present.
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Human Rights Commissioner, City of Charlottesville, 2013-14.
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African American Teaching Fellows of Charlottesville/Albemarle, 2003-2008.
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Hereford Residential College, University of Virginia, 2003-2008.
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Students in Education Engaged in Diversity Scholarship for Change (SEEDS for Change), 2005-2007.
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Curry Faculty Diversity Counsel, 2005-2007.
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University Committee on Fraternities and Sororities, 2006-2007.
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UVA Women’s Center, HURS Mentor for undergraduate Women of Color, 2005-2007.
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UVA Office of African American Affairs Mentoring Program, 2005-2010.
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UVA Holland Scholar Selection Committee, 2007.
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Omicron Delta Kappa Edgar F. Shannon Selection Committee, 2006.
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UVA Office of New Student Programs Program Coordinator Search Committee, 2006.
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Curry School of Education Admissions and Student Financial Aid Subcommittee, 2004-2007.