Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility

I am deeply committed to advancing diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) in academia and the health professions. This commitment stems from my core belief that every individual deserves to be treated with dignity and respect—regardless of race, gender identity, political beliefs, religion, or any other characteristic that society may use to divide us. I strive to create a supportive, welcoming, and empowering environment where all individuals can grow academically, professionally, and personally.

Although my lived experience is one of relative privilege, my journey as a mentor began with advocating for pre-medical students and recognizing the systemic challenges many of them face during the application process. My service on the BUSM Admissions Committee introduced me to holistic review practices and the importance of recognizing and mitigating bias. This experience broadened my advocacy to include peers, near-peers, and especially women in science and medicine. I am passionate about supporting women as they navigate the complexities of work-life balance, career advancement, and identity—encouraging them to embrace their roles as scientists, clinicians, parents, and partners without compromise.

As a relative newcomer to formal DEIA work, I have learned through service to my students—first in the Medical Sciences (MAMS) program, and now in the Oral Health Sciences (OHS) program and across Graduate Medical Sciences (GMS). Since 2012, I have directed the OHS program, a pipeline master’s program designed to increase the number of students from historically underrepresented backgrounds entering dental school. This includes first-generation college students and those from socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds. Over the past decade, I have worked to expand the program’s reach and impact through personalized mentoring, academic enrichment, near-peer mentoring, and the development of a soft-skills course focused on critical thinking and ethics.

I find working with diverse students incredibly rewarding. Many have overcome significant adversity or lacked access to mentorship and support. I strive to be the advocate and ally they may never have had—someone who listens, believes in them, and helps them succeed.

Since 2017, I have also served as the GMS Liaison to Disability & Access Services. This role, which I did not initially seek out, has become one of the most meaningful aspects of my work. Supporting students through the challenges of COVID-19 and beyond has deepened my understanding of the barriers faced by students with disabilities. I am proud to be part of the growing movement to bring visibility and equity to this often-overlooked area of inclusion.

In 2021, I played a key role in launching the GMS Community Catalyst Center (C3), which was created to foster student success and belonging—particularly in the wake of the pandemic. C3 supports a wide range of student communities, including international students (gGLOBAL), first-generation college graduates (gFIRST), students of color (gSOC), LGBTQIA+ students (gPLUS), parenting and non-traditional students, veterans and military-affiliated students (gMAV), and students with disabilities.

My DEIA journey is ongoing. I remain committed to learning, growing, and advocating for a more inclusive and equitable academic and professional environment—one where every student feels seen, supported, and empowered to thrive.

RECENT PRESENTATIONS

TA Davies, MA Kelley (2020) Effective Communication Skills Promote Cultural Awareness. Presented remotely via recording at 2020 American Dental Education Association Annual Session & Exhibition (remote COVID-19).
TA Davies, M Murphy-Phillips, E Stocks (2019) The Road Less Traveled: Student Affairs Careers in Graduate and Professional Schools. Presented at the All of the Above Conference, Boston College, Boston, MA.
TA Davies, JM Calabrese, CW Leone, LG Dunham (2019) Boston University’s MS in Oral Health Sciences Program Advances the Diversity Initiative of the Goldman School of Dental Medicine through Collaborative Programing. Presented at 2019 ADEA
Diversity and Inclusion Workshop, Portland, OR.
TA Davies, LG Dunham, GM Johnson, ES Lacy, C Leone (2018) Meeting the Diversity Imperative through Post-Baccalaureate Programs. Presented at the 2018 American Dental Education Association (ADEA) Annual Session & Exhibition, Orlando, Fl.

RELEVANT PUBLICATIONS

Bottenfield KR, Kelley MA, Ferebee S, Best AN, Flynn D, Davies TA. Effectively teaching cultural competence in a pre-professional healthcare curriculum. BMC Med Educ. 2024 May 21;24(1):553. doi: 10.1186/s12909-024-05507-x. PMID: 38773591; PMCID: PMC11106880.

Davies TA, Miller MB, Moore VA, Kaye EA. Predicting professional school performance with a unique lens: are there other cognitive predictors? BMC Med Educ. 2020 Jan 15;20(1):14. doi: 10.1186/s12909-020-1930-2. PMID: 31941519; PMCID: PMC6961370.

Davies TA, Kaye E, Stahlberger M, Abbas M, Sarkis C, Reed L, Dunham L, Schreiber BM, Leone C, Mascarenhas AK. Improving Diversity of Dental Students Through the Boston University Masters of Oral Health Sciences Postbaccalaureate Program. J Dent Educ. 2019 Mar; 83(3):287-295. PMID: 30692183


INSTITUTIONAL ROLES AND ACTIVITIES PROMOTING DIVERSITY, EQUITY, INCLUSION, AND ACCESSIBILITY

2021-present Launch and Manager of new C3 Community Catalyst Center in GMS
2020-present Graduate Medical Sciences, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Steering Committee
2017-present GMS Disability & Access Services Liaison
2012-present Program Director, MS in Oral Health Sciences (Pipeline focus)

RECENT TRAININGS ATTENDED
Accessibility Provost Workshop (December 2024)
Fundamentals of Equity in Graduate Education (EGE Workshop #1) (March 2024)
Supreme Court Ruling Sparks Community Conversation on Pathway Programs- Inclusivity in Medicine and Biomedical Pathway and Bridge Programs: Considerations Beyond Race Symposium. Keynote Speaker: Dr. Karen Morris-Prieste... (Nov 2023)
Provost’s Workshop on Accessibility: Transforming BUMC’s Culture Around Disability for Faculty and Staff (March 2023)
FDD Seminar: Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, & Accessibility (DEIA) on CVs & BU Profiles. Seminar by Faculty Development, BUSM. (May 2022)
Why Diversity Statements are Needed from Faculty Candidates. Workshop sponsored by Graduate Medical Sciences DEI Steering Committee & BU DEI Inclusion Catalyst Grant. (Apr 2022)
A Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Approach to Graduate Student Access and Outcomes. Boston University Newbury Center and Graduate Affairs at Boston University Diversity and Student Success in The Graduate School at The University of North
Carolina at Chapel Hill (Apr 2022)
Listening Session on Inclusive Pedagogy. Sponsored by BU Diversity & Inclusion (May 2021)
Inclusion, Diversity, Equity: Confronting racism and bias through student organizations. Presented at the American Dental Education Association Annual Session & Exhibition (Mar 2021)
Missing at the Table: Exploring Administrative Pipeline Gaps and Solutions. Presented at the American Dental Education Association Annual Session & Exhibition (Mar 2021)
Implicit Bias & Microaggressions, Graduate Medical Sciences, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Initiative. (Feb 2020)
ADEA Diversity Workshop Creating a Climate of Inclusiveness, Portland Oregon, Three-day conference with wide range of presenters addressing current issues facing inclusiveness in the dental admissions and education. (Oct 2019)
ACPA New England Chapter – Deans & Directors Spring Dinner – Responding to Issues of Free Speech: A Campus Wide Collaboration. (Oct 2019)
Mission-Driven Admissions: A Holistic Perspective Presented at Council of Graduate Schools, Washington, DC (Dec 2018)
Implicit Bias & Microaggressions: How our Brain Takes Short Cuts. McCahan Education Day, Boston University School of Medicine. (May 2018)

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• Media Mentions

In addition to these self-described keywords below, a list of MeSH based concepts is available here.

Mentorship
Under-represented groups
Professionalism
Graduate Education
Dental School Admission
Student Advocacy
Diversity and Inclusion
Marketing
Graduate Medical Education
Professional Development
Recruitment
Student Affairs
Graduate Affairs
Curriculum Development
Program Development
Remote Teaching
Recruitment and Retention in Higher Education

Available to Mentor as: (Review Mentor Role Definitions):

• Advisor
• Career Mentor
• Diversity Mentor
• Education Mentor
• Research / Scholarly Mentor
• Work / Life Integration Mentor