Saturday Closing Keynote Speaker: Dr. Liza Talusan
Educator | Speaker | Author | Leadership Coach
We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Liza Talusan as our Saturday morning closing keynote speaker at the inaugural Mid-Atlantic Educators of Color Conference (MAECC).
Dr. Talusan is an award-winning educator, author of The Identity-Conscious Educator: Building Habits and Skills for More Inclusive Schools, and a nationally recognized expert in leadership, diversity, equity, and inclusion. With over 25 years of experience guiding individuals and institutions through transformative learning, Dr. Talusan invites educators to engage in courageous self-reflection and develop the skills necessary to create inclusive and thriving school communities.
Her keynote will inspire attendees to examine the power of identity-conscious practice and how we can all lead with intentionality, compassion, and accountability.
Friday Morning Special Presenter: Dr. Chrissy M. Thornton
President & CEO, Associated Black Charities
We are honored to welcome Chrissy M. Thornton, President and CEO of Associated Black Charities (ABC), as our special presenter for the Friday morning. A dynamic leader, advocate, and strategist, Dr. Thornton has dedicated her career to advancing equity, expanding opportunity, and strengthening economic empowerment for Black communities across Maryland. Through her visionary leadership at ABC, she has elevated critical conversations around wealth equity, health disparities, and systemic change, mobilizing partnerships that generate meaningful and measurable impact.
Dr. Thornton’s keynote will both challenge and inspire attendees to reflect on the role of educators and institutions in creating pathways to equity that reach beyond the classroom and into the heart of our communities.