Susan Baida, a diversity, equity and inclusion leader in Pittsburgh, joined Carnegie Mellon University this fall as the inaugural executive director of the Collaboratory Against Hate, a joint effort between CMU and University of Pittsburgh.
The center aims to “develop and support innovative multidisciplinary, interdisciplinary and cross-university research aimed at understanding how extremist hate is generated, how it circulates in online and real-life spaces, and how it polarizes society and provokes harmful and illegal acts, especially toward communities of color and other minoritized groups.”
In her new role, Baida will work with leadership to build multidisciplinary research, foster growth and manage daily operations.
Before joining CMU, Baida worked as the director of the Center for Engagement and Inclusion at UPMC, where she developed and implemented diversity and inclusion strategy for their 40+ hospitals and clinics. She also co-founded and acted as president of the healthcare technology startup eCareDiary, Inc., which addressed “the comprehensive needs of family caregivers caring for aging adults.”
Baida has also served in executive roles for Fortune 500 companies, which include Avon, Estée Lauder Companies and Starwood Hotels. She currently sits on the board of directors for the Women’s Center & Shelter of Pittsburgh, La Promesa Foundation and Association of Latino Professionals for America (ALPFA) Pittsburgh.
The catalytic power of this Summit in bringing together those who are devoting their lives to pushing back and working to confront, understand and work towards solutions around hate in our society is a noble and difficult task. The Summit not only energized those who attended but led to connecting the dots in a global network of those doing this work. The stories of the victims of hate were painful to witness but their courage in coming forward was inspirational. Those who attended left energized with the hope that by working together solutions can be forged.
