INDIANAPOLIS, Ind. (Jan. 18, 2022) – Today, the Indiana Republican Party announced the members of the second class of its nationally-recognized Indiana Republican Diversity Leadership Series, a seminar and leadership training program that will provide the preparation and resources needed to increase the engagement of minority Republican leaders throughout Indiana.
“With the success of our inaugural class, I’m beyond excited to welcome this outstanding group of Hoosiers to the Indiana Republican Diversity Leadership Series,” stated Kyle Hupfer, chairman of the Indiana Republican Party. “With their vast range of experience, I know they’ll dive right into the program and position themselves as leaders to make a real difference in their communities.”
This class of 17 Hoosiers represents a wide range of backgrounds and communities across Indiana. Class members are from a multitude of counties, and their experience ranges from military, ministerial and public service, to law, technology, entrepreneurship, nonprofit, finance, and beyond.
The members of the 2022 class include:
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Magdalen Bergeron
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Carlos Brooks
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Philip Clay
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Rinetia Cole
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Shanmuga Sundaram Devasundaram
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Jose Diaz
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Robert Evans
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Brendon Garrett
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Desiney Green
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Osiel Guardano
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Landra Jackson
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Phillip Lewis
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Jerry Lopez
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Shirlene C. Olson
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Desmont Upchurch
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Ivan Ursery
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Taylor Vanover
Biographies for each member of the class are available here.
The first session of the class will be held in January with monthly sessions running through June. Those sessions will be followed by a trip to Washington, D.C., in late April. Class sessions will cover topics including civic engagement, campaign management, communication, and all levels of government. More information about the series is available here.
The Indiana Republican Diversity Leadership Series continues the Indiana Republican Party’s ongoing work to develop strong, authentic relationships within minority communities. Hupfer announced this commitment during his remarks at the 2018 Indiana Republican Party State Convention before hiring Whitley Yates as the party’s director of diversity and engagement in 2019. Together, they’ve met with minority leaders across the state.
“I am excited to continue this journey for a second year,” said Yates. “To be in this position to help equip and empower underrepresented Republicans from across the state with the resources to take up leadership roles is truly an honor. Diversity is truly dimensional, and our second class is the personification of this virtue.”
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