Professional Staff
Ester Sihite, Ph.D. (she/her)
Director | esihite@stanford.edu
Ester is a 1.5-generation Indonesian American who calls Seattle home. She has held a variety of roles in higher education, from student affairs practitioner to researcher to teacher/instructor. Prior to coming to Stanford, she directed an intergroup dialogue program, and designed and facilitated diversity and social justice education at Georgetown University, which aimed for both individual- and organizational-level change. Ester earned her Ph.D. in Higher Education from Loyola University Chicago, where she studied the journeys of critical consciousness and transformative learning among educators and students, as well as organizational contexts for racial and social justice work. Her passion lies in partnering with colleagues and students through engagement in praxis (reflection and action – shout-out to Paolo Freire!) and helping to transform cultures and systems to foster greater belonging and participation among all. Outside of work, Ester enjoys exploring, traveling, playing sports (particularly flag football), and spending quality time with the people in her community (and her dog).
Focus areas: campus partnerships, Dialogue Lab: Exploring and Cultivating our Capacity to Engage Across Difference (LEAD 152), LINKS, staff and faculty engagement
Zayna Seyedi (she/her)
Associate Director | zayna@stanford.edu
Zayna Seyedi is a first-generation college graduate originally from the Bay Area. She received her M.A. in Higher Education and Student Affairs from the University of San Francisco and her B.A. in Political Science from San José State University. Her passion and research focuses on ensuring equitable outcomes for underrepresented students in higher education; as well as increasing institutional support and access to resources for all students. Zayna is a co-instructor of Psych 103F: Intergroup Communication Facilitation. The course prepares undergraduate and graduate students to facilitate courageous conversations across identity; rooted in vulnerability, story sharing, and critical self reflection.
Focus areas: PSYCH 103F, Peer Facilitation Program, LINKS, Dialogue Grant Program
Ashley Kelly (she/her)
Specialist for Dialogue Across Difference and Conflict Literacy | ashley.kelly@stanford.edu
Ashley is a southerner who has been in the Bay Area for over a decade. Ashley has had a varied career in higher education, nonprofit management and coaching and consulting. Ashley earned her Masters in Social Work from University of California Berkeley where she studied anti oppressive social work for communities and organizations. Ashley is most excited by building capacity for community change through embodiment practices and skillful dialogue. When she isn't working you can find her eating something delicious, playing with her dog or musing about why she loves the American South.
Focus areas: conflict literacy, capacity-building among students and practitioners