About Us
Dr. Brian Arao (he/him/his) is an innovative and passionate educator who excels at helping others grow more fully into their potential. Brian pursued this calling for more than 23 years in the field of student affairs in higher education, most recently as the Associate Dean of Students and Chief of Staff at UC Santa Cruz (UCSC). Now, as President and Co-Founder of Brave Space Leadership, he consults privately as a diversity and equity strategist, educator, and coach for colleges, universities, and both nonprofit and for-profit organizations.
Brian brings a demonstrated track record of leveraging research and data to create and execute strategies for advancing diversity, equity, inclusion, social justice, and belonging. For example, in collaboration with Kristi L. Clemens, he co-created and continues to grow the renowned Brave Space framework for promoting courageous participation in social justice-focused dialogues (see Chapter 8 of The Art of Effective Facilitation); coordinated a comprehensive and equity-focused examination of student conduct practice at UC Santa Cruz, including a self-study, external review process, and execution of an extensive set of recommendations for program improvement; led the implementation team for Trans-Inclusive Housing at UCSC and worked as the liaison for trans students’ housing-related concerns; enhanced religious and spiritual life at UCSC, including serving as the liaison for the University Interfaith Council and establishing the campus’s prayer and meditation room; provided direction to culturally themed housing communities and intergroup dialogue courses at UC Berkeley; revamped and relaunched the LGBTQIA+ Allies training program at the University of San Francisco; and attended and later interned for the Social Justice Training Institute. Further, as part of his longtime involvement in ACPA College Student Educators International, Brian served on its first equity and inclusion advisory committee; co-led the team that developed the association’s bias incident response protocol; chaired the Commission for Social Justice Education; designed and facilitated activities to help elected leaders reshape leadership structures, programs, and member services using the association’s Strategic Imperative for Racial Justice and Decolonization.
Brian is a Professional Certified Diversity Coach with the CoachDiversity Institute. He also earned a bachelor’s degree in biology from UC Santa Cruz, a Master’s in higher education and student affairs administration from the University of Vermont, and a doctorate in international and multicultural education with an emphasis in human rights education from the University of San Francisco. Brian resides in California with his husband Jimmy and their dogs Paloma and Rio. In his spare time, he enjoys plant-based cooking, powerlifting, yoga, singing with the Sacramento Gay Men’s Chorus, and participating in a wide range of geek fandoms.
You can view Brian’s curriculum vitae here.
Kristi L. Clemens, M.Ed.
Senior Consultant and Co-Founder
Kristi Clemens (she/her/hers) is a student affairs administrator with a passion for facilitating dynamic change through education and accountability. A New Yorker at the core, Kristi has a knack for identifying challenges and addressing them directly but compassionately, while considering identities, experiences, and humanity as core elements of any shared experience.
Kristi currently serves as the Executive Director of the Dialogue Project at Dartmouth College in Hanover, NH. Working in higher education for over 20 years, with experience primarily in direct support of students through residential life, academic advising, and crisis management, Kristi has integrated her experiences in these functional areas to become a well-rounded professional. Working in compliance has allowed Kristi to bring her experience as a social justice facilitator to processes which can be, at times, challenging and emotionally charged. A career-long focus on equity and fairness is an important quality in the work of policy and process development, balancing federal requirements with real-life circumstances.
Kristi earned a B.S. in Speech and Interpersonal Communication from New York University, and an M.Ed. in Higher Education and Student Affairs Administration from the University of Vermont. She currently resides in Vermont with her husband Nick, son Liam, and far too many houseplants.