Dr. Leo Parvis is a Professor in the Arts and Sciences Department at Dunwoody College of Technology in Minneapolis. He teaches Cultural Diversity, Global Studies and the Psychology of Positive Thinking. He teaches both traditional classroom-based and online courses. In July 2007, he was given the Outstanding Alumni Award from Walden University for his work in the cultural diversity field and social change. In September 2004, he received The Observer Award for Achieving Excellence Beyond the Call of Duty from Dunwoody College for his work on quarterly Cultural Diversity Forums, which bring external diversity experts on campus to discuss issues of multiculturalism with students, faculty, and staff of Dunwoody (held 109 forums so far, bringing over 200 experts on campus). At Dunwoody, he is also the Diversity Education and Programs Coordinator and served as the co-chair of the Diversity Action Council for a number of years.
Dr. Parvis is also actively publishing a variety of diversity-related materials. His cultural diversity textbook "Understanding Cultural Diversity in Today's Complex World" was published in November, 2005, along with a complementary instructor's manual. This text is now in its 6th revised printing, which was updated with the Black Lives Matter movement and George Floyd murder as well as others. He has written several other publications as well, including “Diversity at Work: Mosaic Management” and “Diversity in the Real World.” His Diversity Tips booklet is being distributed to a variety of organizations including city government staff, private businesses, and non-profit groups. He is currently working on several other projects, including other diversity-related books, an online course, and seminars. He has served on the Chaska Human Rights Commission, the Board of Directors of the League of Minnesota Human Rights Commission, and is a member of the National Association for Multicultural Education, and former member of the National Association for Ethnic Studies and the International Leadership Institute.
Dr. Parvis is the president of Embrace Publications & Consulting, as well as a partner in diversitypromotions.co, a small company dedicated to promoting diversity through the creation of an “Embrace Diversity” logo and line of products using the ED logo, including a lapel pin, coffee mugs, shirts and more, all designed to get the message out to as many people across the country as possible. Dr. Parvis has been writing a monthly column (“Eye on Diversity”) for the Chaska Herald newspaper about issues of diversity and human rights since 2002. Dr. Parvis also does organizational consulting and seminars regarding issues of diversity, and diversity presentations to K-12 schools (for students as well as staff trainings) and many other organizations such as corporations, law firms, realty firms, city staff, service organizations and more. He has also presented at a number of national and regional conferences. Dr. Parvis also works with the Minneapolis YWCA as a Racial Justice Champion.
Dr. Parvis has a Ph.D. in Health and Human Services, and a M.A. in Geography and Political Science.