THE MODERATORS AND PANELISTS
University (MSU). At MSU, Hart previously served as associate dean for the Graduate College and professor of kinesiology. Additionally, he is a professor emeritus at Western Illinois University. Hart’s contributions extend beyond the university setting, having served as the president for the North American Society for the Sociology of Sport (NASSS). He was also the chair of the Diversity and Conference Climate Committee for NASSS and served on the inclusion committee for the North American Society for Sport Management. In the realm of accreditation and evaluation, Hart serves as a peer reviewer and member of the Institutional Actions Council for the Higher Learning Commission. He is also a faculty evaluator for the American Council on Education. Beyond academia, Hart’s athletic background as a former elite athlete and coach has led to his extensive writing on topics such as marginalized populations seeking educational access and student-athlete advocacy. He is a member of the Editorial Review Boards for the Journal of Athlete Development and Experience and Sociology of Sport Journal. Hart is the author of “The Student Athlete’s Guide to College Success” and co-author of “Diversity, Equity & Inclusion in Sport.” Hart earned a doctoral degree and his master’s degree from Washington State University. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Long Beach State University.
for Metropolitan St. Louis, the St. Louis Paralegal Association and the National Association for Legal Assistants addressing topics on “Unconscious Bias and the Legal Profession,” “The Civil Rights Movement and the St. Louis Connection,” “St. Louis’ Impact on Legal History and Social Change” and “The Plea- Bargaining Trap: How to Make an Innocent Defendant Plead Guilty and the Undermining of the Constitution.” Jefferson Higgins earned her Juris Doctor from Saint Louis University School of Law. From the University of Missouri- Columbia, she earned her master’s degree in Spanish and her bachelor’s degree in both Economics and Spanish.
Amy A. Hunter, PhD (she/her/hers) Vice President of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion and Talent Acquisition Caleres, Inc.
Amy A. Hunter, PhD, is the vice president of Global Diversity, Equity &
Inclusion and Talent Acquisition for the publicly traded Caleres, Incorporated. She recently joined the Caleres team after serving as the senior global DEI leader at Boeing. At Caleres, she leads the global initiatives for diversity, equity and inclusion and talent. She has enjoyed a career in human resources and DEI working within the healthcare, agricultural, educational and financial services industries. Hunter has more than 20 years of experience in human resources, organizational development, project management and leadership within the corporate and nonprofit arenas. Her responsibilities have included creating and implementing return on investment strategies for recruitment, curriculums for training and development and measurable retention strategies. Hunter is best known for “The Talk,” a conversation she publicly started after the killing of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Missouri. She has spoken and presented diversity training, keynotes, seminars and strategy sessions around the world. Her popular 2015 TEDx presentation, “Lucky Zip Codes,” has had nearly 45,000 views. She also was a TEDx presenter in 2014 and 2018. Hunter is well-respected globally and has received numerous awards for her achievements as a diversity scholar and activist.
Robin Jefferson Higgins, JD (she/her/hers) Chair of the Department of Law, Crime & Social Justice Webster University
Robin Jefferson Higgins, JD, is the chair of the Department of Law, Crime & Social Justice at Webster University. In addition, she is the director of the Legal Studies Program at Webster University. Jefferson Higgins teaches Methods of Legal Research & Writing; Legal Ethics; Laws of Inequalities: Race, Gender, Class and Anglo-American Legal History. Prior to her position with Webster University, she was a federal law clerk for the Honorable Charles A. Shaw, United States District Court Judge for the Eastern District of Missouri. After her clerkship, she joined the law firm of Lashly & Bear, P.C., where she practiced school law, administrative law, worker’s compensation and employment law.
She is a recipient of the 2022 Lawyers Media Diversity & Inclusion Award. Jefferson Higgins has delivered a variety of talks to the Bar Association
Her community engagements have included serving on several
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