Dr. Siri Brown

Our Unique Services

Global Academics offers expertise in cultural immersion travel by providing the following unique services:

1. Academic Research Travel: Catering to college professors, researchers, and students who are looking to conduct research or fieldwork in the African Diaspora, Latin America, and the Caribbean. You can provide tailored travel experiences that align with their specific research objectives and connect them with local scholars and experts in their field.
2. Grant Fiscal Sponsor: As a grant fiscal sponsor, Global Academics acts as the official steward of grant funds for your project, providing financial oversight, compliance, and administrative support so the project can focus on its mission rather than on complex nonprofit management tasks.
3. Cultural Heritage Tours: Creating specialized tours that highlight the rich cultural heritage and contributions of the African diaspora in specific countries or regions. This niche could appeal to individuals and groups interested in exploring their roots, tracing ancestral connections, and deepening their understanding of their cultural heritage.
4. Study Abroad Programs: Collaborating with universities and educational institutions to offer study abroad programs focused on African diaspora studies, cultural immersion, and social justice. This niche would target college students who are seeking academic and experiential learning opportunities in diverse cultural settings.
5. Professional Development for Non-Profit Organizations: Working with non-profit African American social justice organizations and professional organizations to provide customized professional development experiences abroad. This could include workshops, conferences, and networking opportunities with local leaders and organizations, with a focus on sharing best practices and fostering collaboration.
6. Youth Empowerment and Education: Partnering with non-profit African American youth organizations to design educational and empowering travel experiences for young people. These programs could focus on identity exploration, cultural exchange, leadership development, and community engagement, providing transformative experiences for the participants.
7. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (D.E.I.) Initiatives: Collaborating with organizations and institutions that are committed to fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion. You can design customized immersion experiences that focus on global understanding of race, identity, and social justice, offering unique perspectives and cross-cultural dialogue.

Staff

Dr. Siri Brown, CEO

Dr. Siri Brown is a two-time Fulbright scholar for abroad projects in both Brazil (2012) and South Africa (2019). Dr. Brown has over 20 years of teaching experience as a tenured faculty member in African American Studies at Merritt College, and part time in Ethnic Studies at UC Berkeley. She recently served as the Vice Chancellor of Academic Affairs & Student Support Services at Peralta Community College District, and was the chair of the Ethnic Studies & Social Sciences department for over 10 years. Dr. Brown holds an M.A. in African American Studies and a Ph.D. in U.S. History with an emphasis in Early American, African American, and U.S. Women’s History from The Ohio State University.

Dr. Brown has led students and organizations on cultural immersion tours for over 15 years. Her love for Black/African culture, expertise in history, and immense cultural competence has allowed her to create partnerships with scholars, artists, and community leaders across the globe, which ensures the development of personalized, educational tour itineraries that are also fun and enjoyable. Dr. Brown specializes in uniquely customized tours that align with your organizations’ objectives.

Dr. Brown’s goal is to create “learning that lasts a lifetime,” as she sees immersion travel as one of the most powerful ways to learn and connect with the richness of the Black world. 

Kadar Ray, Administrative and Program Support

Kadar Ray is a Administrative Professional at Global Academics, where she supports the organization’s mission to “Travel the Black World” — helping participants explore, connect, learn, and celebrate the richness of the African Diaspora.

In her role, Kadar Ray ensures that operational workflows, communications, scheduling, and program logistics run smoothly—enabling the leadership and program teams to focus on creating impactful educational travel experiences. She brings attention to detail, strong organizational systems, and thoughtful coordination to every task.

With experience supporting educational and cultural organizations — ranging from youth financial literacy programs to cultural and academic projects — Kadar Ray is deeply aligned with Global Academics’ vision of cultural immersion, community building, and transformative learning. She brings a thoughtful balance of professionalism and warmth to every role, thriving in environments that require discretion, adaptability, and a genuine commitment to helping others succeed.

Samantha Ferello, Program Publications Specialist

Samantha Ferello is a designer and creative strategist with 7 years serving the U.S. and international outdoor recreation, travel, and wellness space. She helps organizations submit compelling proposals, build authority, and lift sales through visual information designs on the web and in person. Sam works alongside lean marketing teams to drive decision making and project delivery, simplifying the creative process to produce impactful work. She thrives in collaborative environments where real-world outcomes and human stories are at the forefront.

As a brand leader, Sam coordinates cross-departmental visual strategy, delivers effective creative projects, and manages third-party vendors and designers.

As a designer, Sam offers creative services such as digital and print marketing materials, event booth and wayfinding design, e-books and informationals, web design, illustration, and branding packages.

Board Members

Dr. Pamela Jenkins
Licensed Clinical Psychologist & METTÃ Healing Consultant
Founder, PLM METTÃ Healing Oasis

Dr. Pamela Jenkins is a Licensed Clinical Psychologist and the founder of PLM METTÃ Healing Oasis, a holistic healing and mental wellness practice dedicated to promoting emotional balance, personal empowerment, and compassionate self-discovery. The term METTÃ, derived from the Pali language, means Lovingkindness—a guiding principle that informs every aspect of Dr. Jenkins’s therapeutic philosophy and practice.

With over two decades of experience in private practice, Dr. Jenkins has devoted her career to helping individuals “Embrace Their Healing Power Within.” She offers an authentic, personalized, and strength-based approach to therapy, grounded in the belief that every person possesses the innate capacity for healing and growth.

Dr. Jenkins specializes in Trauma and Women’s Issues, providing a safe, confidential, and nurturing environment for individuals navigating challenges such as trauma, depression, anxiety, relationship difficulties, and life transitions. Her therapeutic style is compassionate and nonjudgmental, integrating evidence-based techniques with holistic healing principles to foster both mental wellness and spiritual alignment.

Through PLM METTÃ Healing Oasis, Dr. Jenkins provides clients with highly customized therapeutic experiences that inspire transformation, resilience, and inner peace. Her work reflects a lifelong passion for guiding others toward wholeness and emotional freedom.

Dr. Eileen Pippins, Psy.D.

Dr. Pippins is an Organizational Psychologist, Engagement Strategist, Leadership Coach, facilitator, educator, speaker, and author who advances equity, engagement, leadership development, and human-centered systems change. For more than two decades, she has guided organizations and leaders through transformation—helping them design and implement processes that empower effective communication, strengthen trust, manage conflict constructively, build inclusive structures, and lead with empathy and integrity.

As the Co-Founder of the International Facilitation Gold Academy, Dr. Pippins has been instrumental in developing global standards for facilitative leadership and advancing best practices in participatory process design. Her consulting and coaching practice focuses on leadership development, engagement strategy, organizational learning, workforce development, conflict management, and DEIB integration. She supports teams and leaders in navigating complex conversations, aligning around shared purpose, and cultivating the interpersonal and systemic competencies required to sustain meaningful change.

A certified Radical Collaboration facilitator, DiSC Profile trainer, and Mental Health First Aid Educator, Eileen integrates organizational psychology, adult learning theory, and facilitative leadership to strengthen communication, trust, and performance across systems. Her reach extends globally—with facilitation and research experiences in Ghana, Jamaica, Cuba, and Brazil—deepening her cross-cultural approach to leadership and systems transformation.

Grounded in her core philosophy that “you can’t do the work and not be the work,” Dr. Pippins empowers leaders and organizations to transform from the inside out—through communication, equity, and accountability that drive lasting impact.

Wanda Scott, CAP®, CFRE, Founder and Principal Consultant of Wanda Scott & Associates, is a fundraising and development professional with over 24 years’ experience in the nonprofit sector. Wanda has successfully led development and advancement teams in nonprofit and university settings. She has a successful track record of partnering with boards and leadership on fund development and governance.

Wanda has worked for national and regional organizations.  She has established major gift programs, led corporate giving programs, and fundraised for capital and comprehensive campaigns. As an experienced teacher, mentor, and coach, Wanda empowers boards and executive leadership to build fundraising capacity and create a culture of philanthropy.

Wanda has earned the Certified Fund Raising Executive (CFRE), the Chartered Advisor in Philanthropy (CAP®) professional designation, and a Master of Theological Studies (MTS) in Feminist Interpretations of the New Testament from Candler School of Theology at Emory University. Wanda is a native of Cleveland, Ohio and loves all things Frida Kahlo, 80s music, and hiking and is currently a digital nomad traveling the world.

Dr. Regina Stanback Stroud
Master Educational Leader, DEI Expert,
And Critical Race Theory Writer

Co-founder of The Village Demands, Dr. Stanback Stroud, served more than 35 years as an educator. She began her career in education as a professor of nursing at Rancho Santiago College (now Santa Ana College). She later become the Mission College Dean of Workforce and Economic Development, Skyline College Vice President of Instruction, and President, before being appointed Chancellor of the Peralta Community College District. Her successful tenure as College President included leadership in establishment of the Skyline College Promise, the Equity Institute, the SparkPoint Center, and the Center for Transformative Teaching and Learning—as well as capital improvements, a new baccalaureate degree, diversification of faculty and staff, and successful fundraising.

Named President Emerita by the San Mateo County Community College District Board of Trustees, Dr. Stanback Stroud is highly regarded for her work on student equity and diversity; education/industry collaboratives; economic empowerment and anti-poverty strategies; community workforce and economic development; and regional and state educational policy. Dr. Stanback Stroud served as the President of the State Academic 
Senate for California Community Colleges.

Elder Council

Dr. Linda James Myers
Renowned Af rican Centered
Psychologist, Author, And Healer

Professor Linda Myers specializes in psychology and culture; moral and spiritual identity development; healing practices and psychotherapeutic processes; and, intersections of race, gender and class. Internationally known for her work in the development of a theory of Optimal Psychology, Dr. Myers has conducted lectures and trainings England, South Africa, Ghana, and Jamaica. She is the author of numerous articles, book chapters, and five books, including: Understanding an Afrocentric World View: Introduction to an Optimal Psychology; and, most recently, co-editor of Recentering Culture and Knowledge in Conflict Resolution Practice. Dr Myers’ Oneness model of human functioning offers a transdiciplinary focus that builds on insights from the wisdom tradition of African deep thought and converges with modern physics and Eastern philosophies. 

Her current research interests comprise the application of that model to a broad range of issues from health and education to business ethics. 

Dr. Myers has received numerous honors and awards for excellence in research and scholarship, including being named Distinguished Psychologist by the Association of Black Psychologists; the Bethune/Woodson Award for Outstanding Contributions in the Development of Promotion of Black Studies from the National Council of Black Studies; Oni Award by the International Black Women’s Congress; and, the Building to Eternity Award from the Association for the Study of Classical African Civilization, among others. Professor Myers is a recipient of the O.S.U. College of Arts and Sciences Outstanding Teaching Award, and a past president of the Association of Black Psychologists.