Director of Belonging & Wellbeing Named to a Selective Cohort of Women Aimed at Helping Girls Rule Their Own Experiences

Pictured: Angela Barber-Joiner on the left along with the other members of the 2024 Dr. Patty Diversity Fellowship cohort.


Uniquely positioned to further the mission of both Cincinnati Country Day School and Ruling Our eXperiences (ROX), Angela Barber-Joiner, the school’s director of belonging & wellbeing, was one of ten women of color across the country selected for the 2024 ROX Dr. Patty Diversity Fellowship.

According to the ROX website, the Dr. Patty Diversity Fellowship was established to amplify the vision and legacy of Dr. Patricia Cunningham, who was a trailblazing advocate for social change, representation, and equity. In championing her legacy, this prestigious fellowship increases access to ROX’s robust, evidence-based Program for Girls and provides leadership opportunities for diverse female educators and school mental health professionals. 

“As a Black woman, Angela brings an essential perspective to our school’s leadership team, providing representation for students who might not otherwise see themselves reflected in positions of authority,” says Alexis Nordrum, Middle School psychologist.  “Her commitment to diversity and inclusion is evident in all aspects of her work. Angela has been a tireless advocate for expanding opportunities for our students to engage with diverse perspectives and experiences. She is passionate about ensuring that every student feels seen, valued, and supported, which is why I am confident she will use the Dr. Patty Diversity Fellowship to further enrich our school community and empower the next generation of girls.” 

Country Day has implemented the ROX program each year since 2019 thanks to Alexis Nordrum, who introduced the program to the school. During the 20-week evidence-based program, seventh-grade girls participate in activities and conversations with the goal of equipping them with the knowledge and confidence to succeed in relationships, academics, and life.

“Angela's deep understanding of the emotional and psychological needs of students, especially young girls, has been instrumental in enhancing the effectiveness of the ROX program at our school,” says Alexis. “She approaches each interaction with empathy, insight, and a genuine desire to empower the girls to overcome the challenges they face. Her dedication to fostering a sense of belonging and resilience in our students is inspiring to witness.”

Founded in 2011, ROX is now implemented in nearly 40 states with more than 7,500 girls annually, with a steadfast mission of creating generations of confident girls who are in control of their own relationships, experiences, decisions, and futures.

“At ROX we use data to inform our programming, our decisions, and our investments,” says Dr. Lisa Hinkelman, founder and CEO of ROX. “Data shows that diverse women are underrecognized in educational leadership and that girls want and need advocates, role models, and mentors who look like them. The Dr. Patty Diversity Fellowship program is working to address the disparities and increase the opportunities.”

As a member of the 2024 fellowship cohort, Angela attended training in Columbus to become a ROX facilitator and engages in monthly meetings that provide leadership and professional development.

“It was really powerful to do this training with nine other women of color,” says Angela. “We shared our stories, opened up about our experiences, and reflected on the challenges we faced as young girls. Those conversations fuel my passion—thinking about what we needed back then and realizing how we now have the power to create that impact for the girls in our schools today. I feel a responsibility to fight for every woman because I truly believe that empowered women empower women. I want to see and embrace their strength, to know how powerful and capable they are, now and always.”

The fellows will now deliver the school-based ROX Program for Girls at their schools while continuing their fellowship experience through 2026.  “When girls in ROX have a Dr. Patty Fellow as their facilitator, they experience the impact of a ‘real life’ role model who looks like them – one who continually shows up for them, believes in them, and invests in them,” says Leah Borden, senior advisor to the Dr. Patty Diversity Fellowship. “This profoundly increases their connection to school and their sense of belonging in their educational environment.”

And Angela truly does feel inspired, connected, and ready.

“I think ROX aligns directly with our mission of creating leaders,” says Angela. “Many times, a girl is viewed as being bossy when she speaks up; but no, she's just being a leader, and we all lead differently. When I think about my role, I think about how a program like ROX allows me to learn more about how to help girls become leaders and what they need to be equipped with to lead. We need to be intentional about empowering girls to be leaders, and not only face but also conquer a world that has not been built for them.”

Click here for more information about the Dr. Patty Diversity Fellowship and ROX.