Diane Finnerty

Diane is the Director of Cultural Competence Initiatives at the National Resource Center for Family Centered Practice in the School of Social Work and was honored with this award.

As Director, Diane develops and coordinates educational programs for non-profit, business, and social service organizations throughout the country.  She also serves as an administrative director of the Rural Latino Capacity Building Initiative, collaborating with rural Latino communities in Iowa, Minnesota, Idaho, and Oregon to address issues related to poverty and education. Diane is well-known for her presentations and workshops that facilitate dialogue about diversity.  Diane has been described by colleagues as a “genuine diversity soldier” and a “champion in the diversity effort” because of her passion for and her proven commitment to fostering cross-cultural understanding.