At Dartmouth Cancer Center, we believe that diversity drives innovation, promotes equity, and improves the patient experience. We are committed to creating a diverse workforce by recruiting and retaining trainees, faculty, and staff that fully represent the communities that we serve. We strive to maintain an inclusive and belonging culture that values all individuals.
Contact us at Dartmouth.Cancer.Center_DEIB@dartmouth.edu.
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Meet our team
Olúwatóyìn Ajíbọ́lá Aṣojò, PhD
she/they
Associate Director for Inclusive Excellence
Olúwatóyìn Ajíbọ́lá Aṣojò, PhD, Professor of Biochemistry and Cell Biology at the Geisel School of Medicine, is Dartmouth Cancer Center's Associate Director for Inclusive Excellence. Dr. Aṣojò leads the implementation of Dartmouth Cancer Center's Plan to Enhance Diversity and chairs our Dartmouth Cancer Center "Triple Helix" workgroup to optimize interactions between our Offices of DEIB, Cancer Research Training and Education (CRTEC), and Community, Outreach, and Engagement (COE).
Dr. Aṣojò was previously a tenured Associate Professor and Chair of the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at Hampton University. Before Hampton, she was an Associate Professor at Baylor College of Medicine. Dr. Aṣojò has served as PI of ACS, NIH, NSF, Sloan, and corporate grants and programs that broaden the participation of diverse groups in STEM and biomedical careers. Dr. Aṣojò’s research interests include structure-based therapeutics discovery, the chemistry of life processes, and deploying evidence-based interventions to increase recruitment, retention, and persistence in biomedical careers.
View my Geisel School of Medicine profile.
Publications
Tonya Mathis, MEd
she/her
Director, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging
In 2023, Dartmouth Cancer Center welcomed Tonya Mathis as the Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging for the Center. Tonya brings experience in DEIB in higher education, spanning more than 20 years.
Before she arrived at the Cancer Center, she had most recently focused on diversity initiatives, including implicit bias training, Safe Space training, diversity accreditation standards, and DEI taskforce advisement at Boonshoft School of Medicine.
Tonya simultaneously served as the Director of the Higher Education Recruitment Consortium (HERC). She focused on engagement and retention through professional development and revision of the Inclusive Excellence Action Plan.
Tonya is building an evolving portfolio of educational sessions, workshops, and trainings. Starting with the vetting processes of providers in trans cancer care, the representation of those in our catchment area, and the building of a diverse and inclusive higher education system and cancer care workforce.
Christina Cavener, PhD
she/her
Program Manager of Strategic Initiatives and Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging
Dr. Christina Cavener is the Program Manager of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB), and Strategic Initiatives at Dartmouth Cancer Center. She collaborates with center leadership to design and implement programs that advance inclusive excellence, strengthen research training environments, and align with the Center’s strategic goals.
Dr. Cavener also supervises and mentors fellows in the Individualized Mentorship Program to Accelerate Cancer Training (IMPACT)—a post-baccalaureate research program funded by the American Cancer Society. Through IMPACT, she supports early-career researchers in developing leadership, teamwork, and scientific communication skills to prepare them for future careers in cancer research and care.
With more than 20 years of experience in education, program management, and equity-centered leadership, Dr. Cavener has held academic and nonprofit leadership roles focused on advancing diversity and justice through training and community partnership. She holds a PhD in Multicultural Women’s and Gender Studies from Texas Woman’s University.
Scout, MA, PhD
they/he
Dartmouth faculty member and Executive Director of the National LGBTQI+ Cancer Network
In 2023, Scout was recruited as a Dartmouth faculty member. He simultaneously serves as the Executive Director of the National LGBTQI+ Cancer Network.
Scout was recruited to provide training in LGBTQ cancer care and workforce equity as the Dartmouth Cancer Center Adjunct.
In addition to Geisel School of Medicine, Scout has faculty appointments at both Brown University and Boston Universities' Schools of Public Health.
"He spends much of his time providing technical assistance for tobacco and cancer focusing agencies expanding their reach and engagement with LGBTQ+ populations."
Statements
- Dartmouth Health Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging statement
- Geisel School of Medicine Inclusivity statement
Employee resources
- Dartmouth College Employee Resource Networks (ERN)
- Dartmouth Health Employee Resource Groups (ERG)
- Big Think+ for Dartmouth College Employee