Career and Community

Dr. Gunderson is an award winning educator, community speaker, organizer, leader, and equity consultant and trainer for various institutions in Canada and the United States focusing on issues that impact IBPoC populations especially on racial identity and mental wellness. She is currently the Deputy Leader of the BC Green Party and the first person of African-descent to assume that role. Dr. G. is a frequent guest speaker to various organizations and to K-12 and post-secondary institutions. Her pronouns are she/her.

It is impossible to summarize a 25 year career in a paragraph, so some highlights are below. Please note that if you collaborate with her, she will send you an extensive biography and you can tailor it to your organization and audience.

• She taught her first psychology course in 1996 and has taught thousands of students until 2019. She was a California tenured psychology professor of psychology at Sacramento City College for nine years and before SCC, she taught for 4 years at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles.

• In Canada, she has has taught at Camosun College, Justice Institute of British Columbia, and Vancouver Island University. In addition, she taught the dual-credit courses at various high schools throughout Greater Victoria.

• Former associate program director and internship coordinator for CityU of Seattle – Victoria Campus for the School of Arts and Sciences Masters of Counselling program

• Provided key subject matter expertise to the Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General during the development and implementation of provincial training on fair and impartial policing.

• Registered clinical counsellor and intern supervisor at Lau Welnew Tribal School in British Columbia.

Community Engagement in Canada:

• She is the representative for her PAC to the Victoria Confederation of Parent Advisory Councils, co-founder of Girls and Femmes with Afro-textured Hair and a leader within her ACB communities.

• She was elected Vice-President English for the Federal Green Party of Canada in 2021 (the first IBPoC person to hold that position). Co-founder of Girls and Femmes with Afro-textured hair and The FAM show/podcast. A previous member of the African Heritage Association of Vancouver Island (AHAVI), and BC Black History Society. She was the African Heritage Association of Vancouver Island (AHAVI) representative to the Greater Victoria Police Diversity Advisory Committee for many years, a former board member for the Victoria Immigrant and Refugee Center Society, a previous member of the Planning, Transportation, and Economic Development Advisory Committee for Saanich, and a representative to the Confederation of Parents Advisory Council of Saanich.

Community/Leadership Engagement in the United States:  

• Elected to the Faculty Association of California’s Community Colleges (FACCC) board of governors for two years. FACCC is the 9,000-member statewide professional advocacy association for all community college faculty.

• Appointed by Sacramento’s City Council and Mayor to Sacramento’s Community Racial Profiling Commission for 2 years.

• 4-year tenure as the California statewide chair of the Professional Development Committee for FACCC (www.faccc.org). Under her leadership, FACCC had California’s first statewide community college diversity conference with 72 districts were represented. The board decided to institutionalize the conference and made it a biannual event.

• She served as a Senior Research Associate and Program Evaluation Consultant for the Imoyase Group and UCLA. The Imoyase Group was an organization that specialized in assisting community based organizations in South Central, Los Angeles with developing and implementing quantitative/qualitative measures to assess program efficacy.

Awards

Since high school, when she was recognized as the Most Spirited to USC's Black Student Union as a person who will make a difference, Dr. Gunderson has received numerous awards, nominations, and recognition from community, government, universities, and high schools for her work and spirit.   They include:

Nominated for the 2024 BC Multiculturalism & Anti-Racism Award - Breaking Barriers official recognization for work in tackling systemic or institutional racism and reducing barriers for marginalized communities. (March 2024).

Victoria Confederation of Parent Advisory Councils (VCPAC)John Young Advocacy Award for courageous, principle-based efforts advocating for equity and access for all students. VCPAC is the official representative for School District 61 Parent Advisory Councils.(May 2023).

African Heritage Association of Vancouver Island Cultural Diversity Award for promotion and education of diversity in the move towards an inclusive and equitable society. (March 2022).

Who Did Your Hair (WDYH) Making History Award for excellence in the African-Canadian business community. (November 2017)

African Heritage Association of Vancouver Island (AHAVI) Entrepreneurial Award for her "outstanding role in business activity and employability to strengthen and to promote growth of the Canadian economy and of her status as a role model in engaging immigrant women in the business community.” (February 2013)

Faculty Association of California Community Colleges Full Time Member of the Year Award for her leadership at the campus or district level that benefits faculty. FACCC is a statewide professional membership association that advocates for all 112 California Community College faculty who teach 2.5 million students a year. (February 2012)

“Someone You Should Know Award" A student generated award honoring professors for their work on behalf of students with diverse abilities. (December 2010)

Associated Student Government’s Humanitarian Professor of the Year Award that represents a professor who has exhibited dedication and commitment to the 23,000 students at Sacramento City College. (May 2009)

NISOD (National Institute for Staff and Organizational Development) Excellence Award. This United States national award honors individuals who have demonstrated teaching and leadership excellence in institutions of higher education. (Spring 2009)

John W. Rice Diversity Award In July of 2009, Sacramento City College received this prestigious statewide award for their work on the Cultural Democracy Initiative (CDI). Dr. Gunderson, along with 5 of her colleagues comprised the CDI executive committee. CDI attempted to institutionalize the process of creating an educational environment that recognizes, respects, and shows sensitivity to the cultures represented on campus. One of the major activities undertaken was to sponsor Beyond Diversity Workshops and Courageous Conversations from February 2006 to August 2008.

Psi Chi (National Psychology Honor Society) Teacher of the Year Award (twice) and an outstanding professor honor. Loyola Marymount University (1999-2003)