"Roxanne showed the importance and benefits of the shared experience and how it can contribute to one’s own identity development."

Roxanne spoke at the 2nd Annual Post-Modern Social Justice Symposium at SDSU in April 2017. I could relate to her presentation on her research of the Collective Only Experience as a biracial individual myself. Biracial identity is an important, but often overlooked, identity to talk about for those who identify as such and those who do not but plan to work with diverse populations. Biracial identity is not talked about much, and I think she touched on very important aspects of identity construction for such individuals in a very elaborative and understanding manner. I appreciated that she included her own personal experiences that sounded a lot like some of the same situations I have been through myself. I left the presentation feeling like somebody else can relate to the identity conflict I experience in my life as a bi-racial woman. I also left feeling like I did not have to understand my identity completely at this point in my life and that I do not need to force myself to fit into one racial complex. I think everything that I took away from the presentation was what Roxanne wanted her participants to experience during the Collective Only Experience. Moving forward, I think it is important for me to communicate and analyze my experiences as a mixed Black and White woman with others who identify as such. Roxanne showed the importance and benefits of the shared experience and how it can contribute to one’s own identity development. I feel grateful to have heard her presentation, and glad to know that there are others who share my lived experience and understand the complexities of the biracial identity. 

Victoria Bussey-Neal

“I recommend Roxanne unreservedly...”

Dr. Roxanne Kymaani stands out for me as a touchstone in my graduate career. Roxanne brings her gift for holding a space of dialogue and self-reflection to her approach in the classroom environment. She shifts the educational discourse beyond instruction, beyond even critical thinking, and introduces the possibility for a transformative learning experience. It is a credit to Roxanne's influence that my own research interests and approach involve dialogue and deep listening. My credibility is doing this work is strengthened by explicitly recognizing issues of positionality, representation and power -- all lessons that surfaced in Roxanne's classroom as she challenged us to think about intention...our way of being in the world. I recommend Roxanne unreservedly -- not only for her expertise in dialogue techniques, but also for her rare ability to collaboratively engage with her students and clients in meaningful self-reflection that inspires important personal and professional insights. 

Heather Gerhart

“With my whole heart I thank you...”

You have my strongest recommendation. Thank you for going above and beyond your job duties to help me by providing resources to help me develop academically and personally. You truly have distinguished yourself from many of my other professors in many different ways. With my whole heart I thank you and I hope you will continue to be a strong role model to students at National University and use your talents and expertise to empower others. 

Sincerely,
Benita Dufresne

“One would be hard-pressed to find a more suited candidate for any organization...”

Simply stated, Roxanne knows her business. She applies herself to any task wholeheartedly, and she can intuit the means necessary to see it through to completion. With a rare combination of team-building skills, vision, breadth of knowledge, caring, and a touch of humor for good measure, Roxanne can lead with the best of them--and also exemplifies leadership by knowing when to follow as well. One would be hard-pressed to find a more suited candidate for any organization--especially with Roxanne's keen focus on organizational purpose in pursuit of the betterment of the whole.

Tom Cesarini
Executive Director and Founder of Convivio

"...Dr. Kymaani inspires the crowd to grapple with her research on self-identity, social identity and dialogue."

I feel like it’s uncommon to meet someone who is able to have a dialogue with so many different people in one room. Illustrating through anecdotes about others and stories of looking into herself, Dr. Kymaani inspires the crowd to grapple with her research on self-identity, social identity and dialogue. When Dr. Kymaani spoke at my event in particular, she addressed stakeholders from around the country, from college students to donors to volunteers, and clearly and simply motivated and contextualized the existence of my organization for all present.

Axel Cramer
CEO & Founder
Thought Lounge