Dr. Breauna Marie Spencer brings over 15 years of experience at the intersection of technology, education, and public policy. Known for her equity-driven approach, she leads efforts to transform systems and build inclusive opportunities that foster lasting change. As a deeply committed scholar-practitioner, Dr. Spencer leverages research, strategy, and advocacy to dismantle structural barriers and cultivate ecosystems where innovation can thrive for all.

Throughout her career, Dr. Spencer has taken on transformative leadership roles, including serving as the Inaugural Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Stanford University's Computer Science Department-the first position of its kind in one of the top computer science programs in the world. In this role, she spearheaded institutional efforts to improve access, belonging, and representation for historically marginalized groups in computing. She has also worked with a range of mission-driven organizations dedicated to advancing equity in technology, contributing to large-scale research and policy initiatives that address disparities in STEM education, workforce development, and digital access.

Dr. Spencer has worked for nationally and globally recognized organizations, including Google, WestEd, UC Irvine, Tara Mohr LLC, and the National GEM Consortium. As a researcher and consultant, she has led and contributed to initiatives focused on inclusive innovation, program evaluation, and equitable tech talent pipelines. In addition to her applied work, Dr. Spencer has taught undergraduate and graduate courses in sociology, social psychology, and research methods at Loyola Marymount University and American Baptist College, combining academic rigor with mentorship and community impact.

An accomplished scholar, Dr. Spencer's interdisciplinary research explores the intersections of race, gender, education, and technology. Her work has been published in leading academic journals such as the Journal of Women and Minorities in Science & Engineering, Journal of Diversity in Higher Education, DuBois Review: Social Science Research on Race, Sociological Forum, and the International Journal of Qualitative Studies in Education, among others. Her scholarship informs policy and practice in ways that are data-driven, equity-minded, and grounded in real-world experience.

Dr. Spencer's leadership and contributions have been recognized with more than 80 awards, honors, grants, and fellowships from prestigious organizations. These include the National Science Foundation, Google, UC Irvine, the Special Interest Group on Computer Science Education, the National Association of Student Personnel Administrators, the American Evaluation Association, the University of California Institute for Mexico and the United States, and many others.

A proud five-time alumna of UC Irvine, Dr. Spencer holds a Bachelor's degree in Sociology
(with Honors), a Bachelor's degree in Education Sciences, a Master's degree in Sociology, a
Master's degree in Demographic and Social Analysis, and a Ph.D. in Sociology. Her unique blend of academic expertise, organizational leadership, and policy insight positions her to shape the future of technology in ways that are inclusive, ethical, and justice-driven.