Diversity Equity and Inclusion Fellowship

Tirrany Thurmond

Founder and Principal Consultant
Idaltu Counseling and Consulting

Tirrany Thurmond, M.Ed., NCC, LGPC is the Founder and Principal Consultant of Idaltu Counseling & Consulting, an educational consulting firm that specializes in the healing practices of mental health counseling, social justice advocacy, and antiracism education. Tirrany’s curiosity about people — who they are, how they evolve, where they hurt — guides her work and led her to found Idaltu. Just as human beings need one another to evolve, we need one another to heal.

Tirrany’s uses a culturally responsive and trauma-informed approach to guide her support for organizations and individuals. She is a mental health therapist, story collector, and genealogist, committed to reimagining institutions and society. Her tenure spans over a decade in higher education on large and small campuses, specifically student affairs, equity and inclusion, student recruitment, and faculty and staff development.

Tirrany is a Qualified Administrator for the Intercultural Development Inventory, TEDx speaker, and sought-after facilitator and advisor. She’s a proud HBCU graduate – earning a bachelor’s in behavior analysis from Savannah State University – and a master’s in counselor education from Georgia Southern University.

Jason Riley

Venture Intern Program Manager
Sam M. Walton College of Business & Division of the Vice Chancellor for Economic Development
University of Arkansas

Jason is a proud first- generation college graduate hailing from Little Rock, Arkansas. He earned his undergraduate Bachelor’s degree in Family Consumer Science from the University of Central Arkansas. Following graduation, he embarked on a fulfilling journey at the Arkansas School for Math and Science (ASMSA), initially serving as a residential mentor and later earning a promotion to Senior Residential Mentor.

During his tenure at ASMSA, Jason exhibited leadership by overseeing the hiring and training of a dedicated staff. His role extended beyond administrative duties to providing comprehensive support to students in social, emotional, and academic spheres. Seeking new challenges, Jason transitioned to the University of Arkansas as an Academic Outreach Specialist. In this dynamic role, he played a crucial part in guiding students through transitions from middle to high school and high school to college.

In addition to his outreach responsibilities, Jason played a pivotal role in aiding current college students in finding their academic balance through retention work and facilitating diversity education workshops. Driven by a desire for broader impact, he made a leap into the private sector, offering support to students through academic advising and coaching at Elsmere Education. While this experience brought valuable insights, Jason discovered a deep longing for the love and programming inherent in traditional higher education, and would make his way back to the University of Arkansas as a Program Manager for the Venture Intern Program.

In his current capacity, Jason oversees internship placements and operations for students collaborating with local startups in the community. His commitment is unwavering as he strives to create an inclusive environment where students and colleagues from all walks of life feel welcomed and valued. Jason holds a Master’s Degree in Higher Education Administration from the University of Arkansas.