Marian Vasser PhD Candidate

Marian serves in the capacity of assistant vice president for inclusive excellence and belonging, where she leads university DEIB educational opportunities. Her leadership purview includes high level oversight of the Cultural and Equity Center. Hired in 1993, Marian’s diverse tenure working in Human Resources, Physical Plant, Controller’s Office, Student Affairs – Career Center, Athletics – Football, Brown Cancer Center, A&S Dean’s Office, Provost Office, and the President’s Office contributes to her well-rounded knowledge, advocacy, and strong relationships across the university and greater community. She has served on many UofL committees including, but not limited to, ATHENA; CODRE; COSW; Faculty Affairs – Leadership, Equity and Diversity; Inclusion and Equity Council; Staff Senate; Sustainability Council Planning & Administration Committee; and university-wide Strategic Planning.

With approximately eighteen years of experience as a Culture, Equity, and Belonging Practitioner, Marian is committed to fostering environments that truly align with our Cardinal Principles, with a specific focus on equity and belonging. In addition to conducting numerous campus-wide workshops and facilitated dialogues annually, she has also presented at numerous local and national conferences. Marian created a social justice youth summer camp and the Interns for R.E.A.L. (Resistance, Education, Advocacy and Leadership) Change, which aim to cultivate social justice leadership skills in youth K-12 and college students respectively.

Honors include:

2024 Kentucky PTA Honorary Lifetime Achievement recognition
2024 CODRE Commissioner of the Year
2023 UC Berkeley Bridging Differences in Higher Education Learning fellow
2022 College Personnel of Kentucky (CPAK) Hall of Fame induction
2021 University of Louisville Student Government Association Presidential Award
2020 Today’s Woman – Educator of the Year nomination
2019 UofL Presidential Multicultural Engagement award
2019 Adult Black Achiever recognition
2019, PBS recruited and filmed Marian to be featured in a pending documentary for PBS Frontline regarding school integration efforts in the U.S., looking back at Brown v. Board of Education and the current state of schools in the U.S
2019 acceptance in an intensive Harvard University Institute for Leaders in Higher Education

As a Louisville native, Marian remains active in the community and has served on several boards including Evolve 502, numerous JCPS district-wide committees and more. In addition to conducting workshops through JCPS and school districts across the region, she has also consulted and provided educational opportunities for over 30 diverse external partners (e.g., collegiate, corporate, faith-based, government, K-12, etc.) to build more inclusive and equitable learning and work environments.

Marian obtained a bachelor’s degree in Sociology and a masters in Higher Education Administration while working multiple jobs and single parenting. Marian is currently a doctoral candidate conducting research on the impact of the COVID era on white activism in Louisville Kentucky, with a specific focus on the Breonna Taylor movement.

Marian is the proud mom of three handsome, intelligent, and talented Kings. A fun fact about Marian is that she has a peculiar fondness for serving on jury duty.

Session

Unseen Barriers In Birth and Postpartum Work

Implicit bias shapes how we see the world—and how we show up for the families we serve. While doulas are committed to compassionate, equitable care, unconscious biases—both personal and systemic—can create barriers to that support.

This keynote explores how bias manifests in birth and postpartum work and its impact on maternal health outcomes. We’ll go beyond awareness to focus on action: how to recognize bias in ourselves and others, how to respond in the moment, and how to advocate effectively within healthcare systems.

Participants will leave with practical strategies for fostering accountability, addressing bias in real time, and creating a birth culture where every parent is seen, heard, and empowered. By rooting ourselves in equity, we can rise together as a stronger, more inclusive birth community.