Critics' Corner

"Maura is one of the most outstanding diversity educators I have ever witnessed. I call Maura the Lily Tomlin or Whoopi Goldberg of the diversity circuit. You will laugh one minute and be teary-eyed the next. Your school or organization will be forever changed because of her presence."

- Dr. Andrea C. Kandel
Executive Director
National Conference for Community and Justice

"Over my twenty plus years working in nonprofits, I have taken part in many diversity training sessions and found Maura Cullen's workshop to be the best. Maura uses humor and real life situations to which we can all relate."

- Susan B. Dunn
President and CEO
United Way of the Capital Area
Hartford, CT

"Recently we had a retreat for first-year students at UW, and we brought in a speaker I'd experienced twice before. She spent the weekend with us at our Rec Camp, and earlier talked with our RAs, RHA leaders and student affairs professionals. As expected, she had a tremendous impact on everyone she presented to, and will become a tradition here at UW! I wanted to suggest you invite her to your campus, and get a taste of what we were blessed to experience last weekend. Her name is Dr. Maura Cullen, and chances are you've heard of her. If not, you'll wish you had. I recommend her highly. Just don't take her the weekend we want her! I can't sing her praises strongly enough."

- Rebecca M. (Becky) Adair
Leadership Development & Community Service
RHA & NRHH Advisor
University of Wyoming

"Having been involved in diversity efforts in the legal profession for many years, I know that "diversity" is a complicated and divisive issue, often rooted in emotions deep within us. Dr. Cullen has an uncanny ability to bring those emotions to the surface and challenge her participants to think about the issues in ways never thought of before. I highly recommend her creative and engaging approach to perhaps the most significant workplace issue of our time."

- Asker A. Saeed, Esq.
President
South Asian Bar Association of Connecticut

"I am a returning RA and dreaded coming to diversity training. Maura kept us engaged for an incredible five hours through her activities, stories and humor. She made diversity easy to understand without making anyone feel guilty or angry and related it to our resident assistant role. By far this is the most enjoyable diversity training I have EVER attended!"

- Andy Weinkauf
University of Wisconsin
Platteville, WI

"Maura Cullen does not merely train participants. She engages, motivates, and challenges them to set aside ingrained preconceptions they may have about those who are different from themselves. They come away with more than the typical training handouts. They come away with a visual and visceral experience that helps them to better understand others' perspectives."

- Sharon Mangieri
Director of Employee Relations & Training
Office of Human Resources
Western New England College

"In the short time that Dr. Cullen was with us, she forever changed our organization for the better. The training really helped people see the positive aspects of our work environment and also empowered staff to take active, constructive roles for positive change within our organization. To be sure, we will be asking Dr. Cullen to return in the future!"

- Dr. Susan M. Hansen
University Housing Services
San Jose State University

"Maura Cullen has demonstrated that she is truly a leader among the finest trainers / consultants on the international campus circuit today. She relates to and communicates with students so effectively, her humor and charisma hold their media-soaked attention... even those disillusioned by and with political correctness."

- Janice Robinson
Assistant Director of Residence Life
University of British Columbia
Department of Housing & Conferences

"Maura has become a staple of our required orientation program at UVM. Students rave about her presentation and in an environment where word of mouth determines which programs students attend, she plays to a packed house. Our students continually comment that Maura transcends the "PC" lingo and the stale workshops they've heard in high school, to truly engage their minds and hearts."

- Dani Comey
Director of Orientation and Parent Relations
The University of Vermont

"Maura has been presenting Diversity Training Seminars to our students for years and has always received fantastic reviews. She has also provided training and leadership presentations to our administration and has a unique ability to bring tough diversity issues to the table for honest discussion. "Mr. Fix-It and Friends" is a powerful program that allows participants to experience a variety of individual perspectives, and engage in meaningful dialogue around these sensitive diversity issues. Maura is a skilled facilitator who is able to translate these experiences into relevant organizational learning, all in an enjoyable and engaging atmosphere."

- Dr. Matthew Reis. Manager
Organizational Development Human Resources
Babson College, MA

"Maura has the ability to positively and powerfully influence staff in their professional roles as well as their personal lives. She has the uncanny ability to balance content with process, personal with professional, lecture with experimental exercises and humor with intensely emotional issues. I highly recommend her."

- Jill E. Carnaghi
Assistant Vice Chancellor for Students
ACPA, College Student Educators International
Washington University, St. Louis

"I have been doing diversity work for over 20 years. There is no one that I respect more, or would recommend more highly as a trainer, facilitator or speaker than Maura Cullen. Her style, skills and knowledge make her one of the best in the business."

- Rev. Dr. Jamie Washington
President
The Washington Consulting Group

"While many speakers do a good presentation, few have the sophisticated group facilitation skills to quickly "go with he flow", to create those unexpected teachable moments. Maura does both."

- Penny Chick
Associate Director
Planned Parenthood

"Maura does her homework, and can adapt both her content and technique to reach your target audience."

- Andrea Butje
Co-owner
Finger Lakes School of Massage

"I feel a little selfish that we were the only ones who felt her speak. Yes, I said 'felt'." Dr. Cullen spoke to our hearts and emotions, and then asked us to respond."

- Jillian Marshall
University of Arkansas

"Able to reach any audience, bridge differences, confront prejudices, challenge doubts and ignite passions ... no it's not superhuman, it's Maura. Having witnessed Dr. Maura Cullen in a number of different presentations and uniquely different audience settings across the globe, I can warmly recommend her talents to present effectively to staff and students in any student affairs setting. Maura's work is professional, engaging, genuine and sincere, but most of all it is framed with integrity, warmth, reality and appropriate humor. If you want a sensational educational outcome for your program or special event ...Maura is more."

- David A. Holmes
Associate Director - Bendigo
Division of Residential Services
La Trobe University
AU

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