Dr. White joined forces with another WilmU alum, Andrea Singleton, to create the Proud Professionals Network. The mission of the organization is to provide professional development for LGBTQ and allies, along with business and social networking opportunities for members.
Diversity shows itself in many ways: race, sexuality, culture, values, religion, gender and a multitude of others. Alumnus Dr. Lemar White understands this and wants to push forward a culture of acceptance and understanding in professional spaces.
Dr. White works at the Internet giant, Google, as an ethics and compliance program manager in its Anti-Bribery Division. It’s a widely coveted position, and research shows it’s harder to get hired at Google than it is to get into Harvard University.
But earning the position wasn’t enough for Dr. White; he wanted to contribute to the diversity and community service mission of the organization as well. At Google, Dr. White heads the Gayglers D.C. Network, an employee resource group for LGBTQ professionals at Google, and also co-leads the Black Googlers Network. In 2017, he led a team of about 100 Google employees to Flint, Michigan, to address poor water quality affecting the community.
“People have extended support to me in times that I’ve needed it the most,” says Dr. White, “and I want to extend that same favor to others.”He grew up in Barbados and moved to the United States at 17 to attend Florida International University, where he studied accounting.
“I didn’t know anyone when I moved to Miami,” says Dr. White. “I grew up with such a strong family connection but moved to a place where I knew no one and had to figure life out on my own.”
He built his support system through the student government association, honor societies, peer advising club and other campus groups. “My time in Miami pushed me to make strong ties and recognize the importance of your community, identity and support system,” says Dr. White.
Dr. White holds an MBA from Texas A&M University-Commerce, and an Ed.D. with a concentration in Organizational Leadership and Communication from Northeastern University. At WilmU, he earned an MS in Management with a concentration in Information Systems and an MS in Management with a Concentration in Human Resources Management.
He has become an expert in the fields of anti-bribery and anti-corruption, and is regularly called upon to speak at conferences in the U.S. and abroad. Recently, leaders of the Barbadian government invited him to review and consult on an anti-corruption legislative policy that would be presented in the House of Parliament.
In 2017, Dr. White joined forces with another WilmU alum, Andrea Singleton, to create the Proud Professionals Network. The mission of the organization is to provide professional development for LGBTQ and allies, along with business and social networking opportunities for members, while also focusing on community engagement, activism and philanthropy.
“I understand the struggles that are presented to those in the LGBTQ community who are working in spaces that don’t accept us,” he says. “We want to develop current and future leaders, both professionally and personally. I’ve done some recruiting with Google and I see how so many people are underprepared for the tough interview process. I want to make sure that we are preparing students and the next generation of those who want to be in tech or companies like Google, Amazon, Facebook or the like.”
Within a year of starting the organization, the team provided scholarships to two homeless LGBTQ students attending Florida International. The team plans to add more scholarships each year.
In connection with Wilmington University’s Colleges of Business and Online and Experiential Learning, the Proud Professional Network is offering a Leadership & Diversity Academy to college students to prepare them to handle issues pertaining to diversity and LGBTQ matters. The inaugural course in September filled up quickly. Participants are eligible to receive college credit for completing this training.
—Britney Gulledge