Diversity Advocate for Students & Counselor

Hello. My name is Denise Hinds-Zaami. I am a Counselor with the Multicultural Resource Center, as well as Penn State University's Diversity Advocate for Students (all 24 campuses), and the Coordinator of the Penn State Support Network – Zero Tolerance for Hate. I welcome the opportunity to counsel and assist students at Penn State University. I see my positions to include the roles of advocate, confidant, inspirational guide, catalyst, provider of information, encouragement coach, facilitator, defender and educator. I want to see Penn State students shine with confidence and success when mastering their academic course work, when negotiating different systems on campus, when tackling social and political realities they find, when overcoming adversities, when confronting personal challenges, and as they fulfill their dreams while becoming even better citizens of this world. It can be gratifying to know that you're not alone and that others do care. I and my coworkers are here for you. We utilize various methods to help you achieve that success.

I grew up in the housing projects of Brooklyn, New York. It was in New York City that my interest in and respect for diversity was cultivated. Such interest has led me to extended stays in Texas, Atlanta, North Carolina, Brazil, and Morocco, as well as to shorter trips to California, Hawaii, Jamaica, Puerto Rico, St. Thomas, Bolivia, Canada, France, England, Italy, Switzerland, Germany, Spain, Portugal, Senegal, China, Egypt, Argentina, Antarctica, The Fiji Islands, Australia and New Zealand. I value the multicultural experience, travel, and helping others to see that they are a part of a global family in a universal plan. My educational background includes a BA in Psychology from City College of New York, an MS in Social Work from Columbia University, an MA in Psychology from The University of Texas at Austin, and an Exec. Ed.D. (Administrative Education) from Seton Hall University.

I have worked in the past as a counselor, a psychologist, a psychotherapist, a social worker and supervisor of social workers, a mental health coordinator and director, an advocate and an educator, from preschool through college and university level programs around the country. In 2003, I founded The Moveable School, and continue to watch it develop. As former president (twice elected) of The New York Association of Black Psychologists, Psi Chi (Honor Society in Psychology), Kappa Delta Pi (Honor Society in Education), The Pennsylvania Black Conference on Higher Education, and the Community Diversity Group, I have used my energies to assist individuals, groups, families and communities. I am committed to putting all of my experiences and skills together in my efforts to assist and empower students. This commitment can be seen in my roles here at Penn State University as Advisor to 1) The NAACP Student Organization, 2) The Z T F H: Student Advisory Board, and 3) CLGBT's Student Concerns Committee. Respectfully, I believe that we learn from each other…as we live in this world together...concertedly helping the world and our lives to improve.

Dr. Denise Hinds-Zaami
Diversity Advocate for Students / Counselor
219 Grange Building

• Report Hate at Penn State (if you witness or experience an act of hate or bias, REPORT IT).
• Zero Tolerance - Penn State Support Network (make a difference, join today).
• Contact Denise Hinds-Zaami [dxh45].
• Return to MRC Staff.