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 working in the IBIC office, 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 working with others to engage in social justice-grounded praxis (reflection and action) and centering the social/cultural margins. Outside of work, Ester enjoys exploring the Bay Area, playing sports (particularly flag football!), traveling, and spending quality time with the people in her community.
Focus areas: staff and faculty engagement, campus partnerships, LEAD 152 | Dialogue Lab: Exploring and Cultivating our Capacity to Engage Across Difference, Certificate in Critical Consciousness & Anti-Oppressive Praxis program
Ashley Kelly (she/her)
Associate Director | 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: Faces of Community, campus partnerships
Zayna Seyedi (she/her)
Assistant 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
Jeannie Yamazaki (she/they)
DIBE Program Coordinator | jy1@stanford.edu
Originally from Valhalla, New York, Jeannie lived and worked in Japan before coming to Stanford. She earned her B.S. from Cornell University, where as a dialogue facilitator and peer counselor, she became passionate about human connection. Continuing now as a Program Coordinator for the IBIC, she aims to facilitate connection – with ourselves and one another – as a means to disrupt, dismantle, and heal from oppressive systems. In her free time, Jeannie loves to listen to audiobooks, cook good food (or attempt to, anyway), and go on walks.
Focus areas: PSYCH 103F, LINKS, Dialogue Grant Program
Adrian Vega (he/they)
DIBE Program Coordinator | adrianvega@stanford.edu
Born and raised in Point Reyes, CA, Adrian’s experiences as a FLI student of color at Stanford drove their interest in pursuing a career working alongside diverse college students. After graduating from Stanford in 2019, Adrian went on to mentor and advise first-generation/low-income college students. More recently, Adrian earned their Ed.M. in Education Leadership at the Harvard Graduate School of Education. Adrian is excited to be back on The Farm and support the Office’s work towards building a supportive campus community for all. Outside of their work, Adrian loves spending time in the kitchen, lounging at home, playing with his nephews, and buying new books.
Focus areas: LINKS, Peer Facilitation Program, Faces of Community