Updated January, 2023

President: Nicole Cowans, MFA
Faculty Advisor: LaToya Smith, PhD

Contact: diaspora@paloaltou.edu

Diaspora is an organization open to students, staff, and faculty in the PAU community who are interested in mental health issues that impact the Black diaspora. We serve to increase awareness of psychological, social, and environmental factors that impact the well-being of the Black community, and to foster fellowship and multiculturalism at Palo Alto University and in the broader community. We also aim to be a resource for addressing career issues that may impact psychology trainees from underrepresented groups.

The mission of Diaspora is to (1) promote restorative healing, (2) to celebrate Black Excellence and (3) to build unity and community amongst all Black students across the PhD, PsyD, MA, & MS programs as well as with alumni both locally and remotely. We define Blackness as being from the African diaspora, which is inclusive but not limited to African, African American, Afro-Caribbean, Afro-Latinx, Biracial, etc., identified people.