SPEAKER

Mary Williams

Rev. Dr. Roberta J. Wilburn is an ordained minister as well as award-winning diversity and inclusion expert, a bestselling author, diversity trainer, intercultural coach, and transformation servant-leader who models Christ-centered compassion and advocates for marginalized groups. She seeks to cultivate kingdom communities where everyone feels valued, respected, and flourishes by following the guiding principles of her life based on Micah 6:8 which states: 

And what does the LORD require of you but to do justly,                                To love [a]mercy, And to walk humbly with your God?

She is a social justice advocate that works with people who are serious about uncovering their hidden biases and doing the necessary work to become culturally sensitive and responsive advocates and allies. Using her R.E.A.L. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Framework she teaches and encourages others how to embrace cultural differences, disrupt racist practice, and foster collaborative relationships with people from diverse backgrounds using a faith-based perspective so they can excel in a diverse and inclusive world. Dr. Wilburn is also the President and Co-founder of Wilburn & Associates, LLC a consulting organization that focuses on helping to build intercultural skills in Christian leaders and empowering women in ministry to overcome limiting beliefs so they can become confident in fulfilling the call that God has on their lives. 

As a transformational servant-leader, she has always tried to have her hands on the pulse of local and national concerns, and it has been recognized by others locally and nationally. She was recently selected to be included in the 125th edition of Marguis Who’s Who In America for Excellence in Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Training. November 2022, she received the Grassroots Project Award for Cultural Leadership in her community. She is also the recipient of the designation of a Lilac City Legend and Strong Woman Achieving Greatness for Women’s History Month in March 2021. In the fall of 2016, her diversity work was validated when she became the recipient of the YWCA Women of Achievement Carl Maxey Racial and Social Justice Award and the following year, she received the 2017 Insight Into Diversity Giving Back Award for Administrators in Higher Education. She was also the first female minister to become president of the male-dominated Spokane Minister’s Fellowship. She has held numerous ministry roles in New York, Tennessee, Washington, and the District of Columbia including church elder, associate minister, director of discipleship training and director of a church prophetic team. She has also ministered in South Africa, Nigeria, Senegal, and Mexico. She has a doctorate in Christian Counseling from Jacksonville Theological Seminary, and another doctorate in Education from George Washington University. She has given numerous presentations nationally and internationally and has written several publications. Her publications include: a book chapter entitled: Make Your Inclusion Matter, in “Make It Matter: How to Create a Life of Unforgettable Impact and Abundant Fulfillment” released in April 2021. Additionally, she was a part of another book anthology with Les Brown and Dr. Cheryl Wood entitled “Unleash Your Undeniable Impact.” Her most recent publication that was released in 2022 is a book for middle school children with Catharine Drum Scherer called The Path to the Mountain. She has worked in higher education for over 35 years in various roles such as interim chief diversity officer/associate vice president, professor, division chair, and associate dean. She is married to James Wilburn, Jr. and they have 3 adult children and 3 grandsons.