News
Leading on Diversity
Summer 2021
Christian O'Brien '13 and Reese Blair '98, co-chairs of the new Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Council, a subcommittee of the University’s National Alumni Board (NAB).
At the close of 2020, Saint Joseph’s National Alumni Board (NAB) announced the launch of the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) Council, appointing Reese Blair ’98 and Christian O’Brien ’13 as co-chairs of the initiative. The DEI Council was created to foster welcoming and inclusive experiences and spaces for diverse segments of the alumni population.
Reese Blair '98
Reese Blair ’98 majored in accounting at St. Joe's and worked for Deloitte after graduation, making partner in 2011. He now leads an investment management practice in Philadelphia.
Blair served as the president of the Philadelphia chapter of the National Association of Black Accountants, led the affinity group for the Black Employee Network at Deloitte, and was appointed DEI leader for his office.
Blair looks forward to continuing his DEI work at his alma mater. “I’ve been blessed, and now I have to give back,” he says. “When a young person looks up and sees someone who looks like them in a position of success … that matters.”
Christian O'Brien '13
Christian O’Brien ’13 was a pharmaceutical and healthcare marketing major at St. Joe's. O’Brien says the inclusivity he experienced at the University helped him thrive.
“I was out in college,” he says. “And I was able to flourish in my skin. I want more students to have that opportunity.”
As a vaccine specialist at Sanofi, O’Brien led an employee resource group and designed programming that brought awareness and equity to LGBTQIA employees and patients. He also helped implement gender-transition guidelines, which enable employees, their partners or dependents to take advantage of the company’s gender transition medical benefits.
O’Brien recently joined Bristol Myers Squibb as senior manager for oncology commercial training.