Diane Finnerty, Raíces Co-Director

Work Background: 
Diane brings over twenty years of experience in non-profit management, adult education, and community-based services to the Raíces Project. She currently serves as Director of Cultural Competence Initiatives in the University of Iowa School of Social Work. Prior to coming to the School of Social Work in 2003, Diane served as Diversity Resources Coordinator in the University of Iowa’s Office of Equal Opportunity and Diversity during which she consulted with campus and community organizations on the implementation of institution-wide diversity initiatives and civil rights education. Diane also serves as Adjunct Faculty at the University of Iowa teaching subjects that include: international business, leadership in a diverse society, race/class/gender in the U.S., and travel seminars on immigration and global economics in England and Mexico.
Diane worked for many years in community-based organizations addressing issues of gender violence and community-based healthcare, and is an active participant numerous community boards and projects including: the Iowa Nonprofit Management Academy faculty, founding member and long-standing presenter with the White Privilege Conference, and vetted consultant with the National Center for Cultural Competence. Recent related accomplishments include: development of a statewide cultural competence curriculum for the Iowa Department of Public Health, a comprehensive supervisory curriculum for the Iowa Department of Human Services, co-development of a cultural competence organization change model for ING Financial Services, and co-instructing an interdisciplinary course on cultural competence and reducing health disparities.  

Academic degrees:
Diane earned her Bachelor of Arts from the University of Northern Iowa and Master’s of Science from Minnesota State University - Mankato.  Her areas of specialization include organizational development, cultural competence, and critical adult education.

Place of Birth: Des Moines, Iowa  

Favorite quote:
“If you have come here to help me, you are wasting your time. But if you’ve come because your liberation is bound up with mine, then let us work together.” Brisbane-based Aboriginal Activist Sister