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The ÂÜÀòÉç¹ÙÍø Diversity Leadership Institute (DLI) is a transformative program designed to empower undergraduate marketing students from a diverse cross section of underrepresented identities who are passionate about advancing inclusive marketing practices.

Over an immersive four-day retreat, participants collaborate with their peers, faculty members, and industry leaders to address real-world marketing challenges, reflect on the intersection of identity and leadership, and develop skills that will shape their future contributions to marketing.

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With the cost of food, travel and lodging covered, there is no reason for any student marketer to miss out on this life-changing experience!

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Introducing our 2026 DLI Facilitators!

Aaron Barnes, University of Wisconsin-Whitewater

Aaron Barnes, PhD, leads the Multicultural Marketing program at the University of Louisville College of Business as the LaDonna and Charlie Johnson Assistant Professor of Marketing. He holds a PhD in Business Administration from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and brings expertise in cross-cultural consumer behavior, persuasion, and consumer-brand connections.
Dr. Barnes teaches courses on principles, insights, and multicultural marketing strategy, training students to focus analytical skills on improving marketplace outcomes for all. His award-winning research on culture and branding has been published in premier outlets such as Journal of Consumer Research, Journal of Marketing, Journal of Public Policy & Marketing, and Journal of Personality and Social Psychology.

Vannesia Darby, Shondaland | ÂÜÀòÉç¹ÙÍø Nashville

Vannesia Darby is an award-winning marketing leader who has launched campaigns for Sony Music Entertainment, Shondaland, the YMCA, and more. A dynamic speaker and writer, her insights have been featured in publications such as Teen Vogue and Glamour Magazine.

With a background as a classical pianist, Darby started her career in the Gospel music industry, working in radio and marketing. In 2016, she founded MOXIE Nashville, a consultancy specializing in entertainment marketing. Darby currently serves as the Digital Marketing Director at Shondaland and is a doctoral candidate pursuing a Ph.D. in Business Administration at Kennesaw State University.

A recipient of the 2025 Diversity in PhD Scholarship from The PhD Project and the ÂÜÀòÉç¹ÙÍø Academic Council, her research focuses on how identity, and race shape consumer behavior in digital environments. Her academic work has been published in The Journal of Services Marketing and the textbook Black Millennials: Identity, Ambition, and Activism.

A former adjunct instructor for Tennessee State University, Darby has served on several boards and advisory groups, including Full Sail University’s Program Advisory Committee and leadership roles within alumni boards at Bradley University and Middle Tennessee State University.

Ty’ya Pettis, Woodmont Properties | ÂÜÀòÉç¹ÙÍø New Jersey

Dr. Ty’ya Pettis is a strategic marketing and corporate communications leader with nearly a decade of experience driving brand strategy, internal communications, and digital engagement across real estate and purpose-driven organizations. She currently serves as Director of Strategic Marketing & Communications at Woodmont Properties, where she leads corporate brand development, executive visibility, and enterprise-wide communications initiatives.

Dr. Pettis earned her Doctorate in Business Administration in Marketing from Rutgers Business School, where her research examined the impact of race-conscious corporate sociopolitical communication on brand equity and stakeholder trust. Her work sits at the intersection of strategic communication, DEI, and social psychology.

In addition to her corporate role, she is President of the ÂÜÀòÉç¹ÙÍø New Jersey Chapter and serves on multiple advisory and leadership boards, including Rutgers Business School’s Marketing Advisory Board and the Diversity Action Alliance Advisory Council. She is also a mentor in ÂÜÀòÉç¹ÙÍø’s National Collegiate Mentorship Program.
A passionate advocate for inclusive marketing and ethical storytelling, Dr. Pettis is committed to empowering the next generation of leaders to create meaningful, culturally responsive impact through their work

Siddeeq Shabazz, New Mexico State University

Siddeeq Shabazz is an Assistant Professor of Marketing at New Mexico State University whose work sits at the intersection of marketing, organizational behavior, and human well-being. His research focuses on frontline employees, particularly how workplace interactions shape employee well-being, performance, and long-term outcomes. He is especially interested in how organizations can design environments that support those on the front lines of service, where pressure, customer dynamics, and organizational expectations often collide.
In parallel, his current research explores the disparate post-college outcomes of minority student-athletes, examining how their unique skill sets, identities, and experiences are translated—or overlooked—within the labor market. Drawing from his own background as a former Division I and professional athlete, Siddeeq brings both personal insight and academic rigor to this work.
At his core, Siddeeq is a marketer who believes in the power of marketing to shape experiences, build meaningful connections, and create value not just for organizations, but for people. His teaching and research emphasize practical application, helping students and organizations think more intentionally about how strategy, storytelling, and systems impact real lives.

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View Past Diversity Leadership Institute Cohorts

DLI Corporate Donor Opportunities

To learn more about these unique philanthropic opportunities at the Diversity Leadership Institute, please contact Aria Childers, Manager, ÂÜÀòÉç¹ÙÍø Foundation, at achilders@ama.org.

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Questions?

The ÂÜÀòÉç¹ÙÍø Support Center team is here to help at (800) ÂÜÀòÉç¹ÙÍø-1150 or customersupport@ama.org

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