By Saiqa Anne Qureshi, Staff Writer, FWSF MarCom Committee
On Tuesday the 4th of November, FWSF, in collaboration with City National Bank, had the honor of hosting Dr. Mary Lomax Ghuarduzzi, to discuss embracing invisible challenges in the workplace. Denise Field, VP of Membership, and Shay Phillips, chair of the DEIB committee, introduced Dr. Lomax. Dr. Lomax is the Vice President for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion as well as a Professor of Communication at University of the Pacific. She joined in 2021 after leadership roles in communication and DEIB at the University of San Francisco. She is a UOP alumni, as well as holding a master’s degree from SDSU and EdD from Pepperdine.
Dr. Lomax began her talk around the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the first act in 1990, that codified the support of those that are differently abled. She discussed how those who don’t look like they have a difference might not be supported, as it doesn’t appear as though they have a need, and how the ADA is part of a history of civil rights legislation. She then discussed ableism, and social prejudice against those with disabilities, as well as microaggressions against those who are differently abled.
She encouraged allyship, with a commitment to doing no harm, advocating in small ways, and encouraging others to do the same. Part of that is a commitment to listen and believe, and to commit to lifelong learning. Additionally, in terms of that allyship, do not self-police or capitulate in advance, and know that your support is critical to those around you.
She cited the work of Meagan O’Rourke in, The Invisible Kingdom: Reimagining Chronic Illness, for further information on the subject.
From Connections Newsletter (Past Event Highlights): December 2025
––––––––––––––––––––––
The suggestions of the contributor do not constitute professional advice and are intended for general informational and educational purposes only. Nothing contained herein is intended to be or should be used as a substitute for professional advice, and readers should not act or rely on this information without seeking specific guidance directly from a qualified professional.
The opinions and information expressed in this blog/post/webpage are solely those of the contributor and do not necessarily reflect the views of FWSF. FWSF is not responsible for any errors or omissions in this content or any damages resulting from its use.