KILO ZAMORA portrait
  • Instructor (Lecturer), Gender Studies
  • Academic Senator , School for Cultural and Social Transformation
801-558-9215

Biography

Kilo Zamora, MSW |  kilo.zamora@utah.edu

Social Change Facilitator  | Educator | 

Uofu banner project

 

Kilo is known for his skills to create learning environments for groups to develop themselves and transform their communities. Kilo applies his talents as a community engagement consultant and a teacher in the College of Cultural & Transformation, University of Utah. Recently he served on Mayor Mendenhall’s transition team and as the past chair of the Salt Lake City Human Rights Commission. Before his career at the univerity he served as the Executive Director for the Inclusion Center. His awards including the University of Utah’s faculty recognition award, School of Social Work’s Teacher of the Year, Pete Suazo Social Justice Award, Equality Utah Award, Utah Education Association Award, Utah Martin Luther King Award, Southern Utah University Humanitarian Award, and University of Utah’s Outstanding Young Alumni Award. Some of his recent successes are conulting Intermoutain Health Care in developing their equity plan,  transforming PENN State Univesity's Athletic Department's DEI strategy, developing Weber School District's and Park City's first equity plans, lead University Neighborhood Partners strategic plan process, and is active in passing multiple state and local policies to protect marginalized people. 

 

VITA

R. Kilo Zamora, MSW

 

801-558-9215

kilo.zamora@utah.edu

 

Education 

University of Utah, College of Social Work, Salt Lake City, UT 

Masters of Social Work Degree, 2000

 

Southern Utah University, College of Sociology, Cedar City, UT 

Bachelor of Science, sociology, 1996

 

Biography 

Known for creating learning environments for leaders to develop themselves and transform their communities. I apply my talents as a teacher and as a social change consultant. In the classroom, I focus on community organizing, legislative policy advocacy, and social justice facilitation. In the community, I am a consult for national health care organizations, universities, arts and community foundations, cities, and non-profits helping them close systemic gaps that impact marginalized people.

Awards 

  • Banner Project Nominee, University of Utah  
  • Faculty Recognition Award, University of Utah
  • Teacher of the Year, Graduate School of Social Work, University of Utah 
  • Humanitarian Award, Southern Utah University
  • Dr. Sharon Goodwill Memorial Award, Excellence in the Field of Mental Heath, University of Utah 
  • Outstanding Young Alumni Award, University of Utah
  • Charles E. Bennett Human & Civil Rights Award, Utah Education Association 
  • Advocate of the Year, Equality Utah
  • Martin Luther King Drum Major Award, State of Utah
  • Pete Suazo Social Justice Award, University of Utah
  • Trainer of The Year, Brighton Resort Ski School 

Teaching 

Pedagogy: I have learned that working with a group of learners, over an entire semester, brings forth breakthroughs in the field of study which leads to community wide transformation. At the core of my teaching are encouraging self reflection, providing real experiences, refining praxis skills, and investing in students’ lives.

 

  • Gender and Nature, (Gender Studies Division, 2021-Ongoing) 
  • Gender Studies Internships, (Gender Studies Division, 2020-Ongoing)
  • Gender Justice Scholars, (Gender Studies Division, 2016-Ongoing)
  • Gender On The Hill, a undergraduate and graduate class (Gender Studies Department, 2016-Current)
  • Gender Theory and Community Organizing, GNDR 5200 (Gender Studies Department, 2016-2021)
  • Gender and Social Change, GNDR 1100 (Gender Studies Division, 2018-2021)
  • West Side Leadership Institute (University of Utah, Honors College, 2014-2019)
  • Adaptive Leadership Program (Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute, Spring 2017)
  • Peace & Conflict Studies, PCS 3500 (College of Humanities, Spring 2017)
  • Reflexive Social Work, SW6100 (University of Utah, College of Social Work, Masters Program, Spring 2016)
  • Reflexive Social Work, SW6200 (University of Utah, College Of Social Work, Masters Program, Fall 2016)
  • Gender and Politics, GND3140 (University of Utah, Gender Studies Department, Fall 2014)
  • Queer Activism Think Tank (University of Utah, Honors College, Fall/Spring 2014/15)

 

 

Advisor / Mentor

Approach: Working with colleagues and students to identify their leadership qualities and energize their networks to develop solutions. 

 

  • Graduate Student Mentor. Work with graduate assistants and graduate students to mentor them on integrating advocacy and public policy through community organizing and lobbying into graduate programs. Graduate assistants are mentored in the pathways to become teachers of Gender Studies and related fields (2016-Ongoing)
  • Piloting a College of Nursing Graduate Program within a public policy class entitled Gender On The Hill (2023) 
  • Community Engaged Teaching Fellow “reshaping pedagogical approach to volunteerism”  (University of Utah, Bennion Center, 2021-2022)
  • Teaching Fellow “transforming classrooms into inclusive communities” (University of Utah, Center for Teaching and Learning Excellence, Fall 2016-2019) 
  • Advisor for Its On US, sexual assault prevention program (University of Utah, 2018-2019)
  • Research Associate, Designing Adaptive Leadership Program (University of Utah, Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute, 2016-2017)
  • Social Justice Scholars Advisor (University of Utah, Honors College, Spring 2015-2016)
  • Westside Leadership Advisory Committee (University of Utah, University Neighborhood Partnerships, Spring 2015-2019) 
  • Peace and Conflict Studies Program Advisory Committee (University of Utah 2015-2020)
  • Diversity Curriculum Committee (University of Utah, School of School Work, Spring 2010-2015) 
  • Masters of Community Leadership Board Member (Westminster College, 2009-2012)

 

University Services 

  • Transformation Intersectional Collective Facilitator (University of Utah, College of Cultural and Social Transformation, 2021-2023)
  • College of Architecture, Dean Search Committee (University of Utah, 2022-2023)
  • Academic Senate (University of Utah, College of Cultural and Social Transformation, 2021-Current
  • University Neighborhood Partners Anniversary Celebration Committee (University of Utah, Spring 2022-Current) 
  • Day of Intersectionality- intersectional teaching design” panel moderator (University of Utah, Office of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion, Fall 2022)
  • Professor Off Campus Initiative (University of Utah, Tanner Center For Humanities, 2018-2019)  
  • Community Engagment Consultant (University of Utah, School of Architecture 2016-2020)
  • University Neighborhood Partnership Strategic Planning Consultant (University of Utah 2017-Current)
  • Moderated Panel on Global Extremism, Dolowitz Lecture Series (University of Utah Fall, 2017)
  • Authored chapters for West Side Leadership Institute Manual, The Road to Community (2015). “Inclusive Leadership” (Chapter 3) and “Conflict Resolution” (Chapter 5) 
  • Student Advisor Leadership Trainer (University of Utah, Office of Engagement, 2015-Current)
  • Diversity Integration Consultant (University of Utah, Physical Assistant Program, School of Medicine, 2015-Current)
  • Inclusive Excellence Consultant (University of Utah, College of Nursing, 2016)
  • Inclusive Mental Health Consultant (University of Utah, Counseling Center, 2015-2016)

 

Current Clients  

  • Intermoutain Health Care
  • Park City Community Foundation 
  • Salt Lake City Arts Foundation
  • Utah Democrats House of Representatives
  • Summit County
  • Salt Lake City Mayoral Administration
  • The Road Home Homeless Services
  • Penn State Athletic Department
  • Weber School District’s Inclusion Strategy Consultant  
  • STEM In Action, Utah  
  • Park City Municipality Equity Consultant

Recent Presentations 

  • “Bystander Training For Community Health Professionals,” Intermoutain Health, Spring 2023
  • “Advocacy In Health Care Research,” Research Division, Intermoutain Health Care, Spring 2023
  • “Inclusive Leadership For Community Foundations,” Park City Community Foundation, Spring 2023 
  • “The Future Of Equity In Public Art,” Salt Lake Arts Foundation, Salt Lake Corporation, Spring 2023
  • “Equity In Health Care Research,” Research Division, Intermoutain Health Care, Fall 2022
  • “Inclusive Leadership In Local Government,” Summit County Leadership, Fall 2022
  • “Developing Leadership In A Political Caucus,” Utah House of Democratic, Fall 2022 
  • “Unveiling Masculinity,” Womens Resource Center, University of Utah, Spring 2021
  • “White Supremacy In Public Schools,” Utah Education Association, Summer 2019
  • “Inclusive Practice In PA programs,” National Physician Assistant Education Association, Fall 2018
  • “The Art of Social Justice Dialogue,” Bennion Center, University of Utah, Fall 2017 
  • Facilitating Diversity Dialogues,” Students Services Diversity Council, University of Utah, Summer 2017 
  • Dismantling Systemic Discrimination,” MLK Week Hinkley Lecture, University of Utah, Spring 2017 
  • “The Art of Facilitation Series,” University Neighborhood Partnerships, University of Utah, Spring 2016 
  • “Systemic Privilege: The Saboteur’s Guide to Dismantling Privilege," Breaking the Pipeline Symposium, Cosponsored by Racially Just Utah & S.J. Quinney College of Law, February 2016  
  • “The Ethics of Inclusion,” Ethics Awareness Week, Utah Valley University, September 2014 
  • “Ethics: A Critical Multicultural Mental Health Practitioner,” Critical Issues Facing Children & Adolescents Conference, October 2014
  • “Intersectional Ally: The New Era of Activism,” LGBT Resource Center’s Gay-La, University of Utah, October 2014

 

Professional Experience 

Gender Studies Division- University of Utah, 2017-Present 

Career-Line Faculty Member

Develop and teach praxis CEL courses that teach and mentor undergraduate and graduate students. 

 

 

Social Change Consultant, 2013-Present 

Private Consultant  

Provide tailored workshops, coaching, and consolation to assist clients in strategic planning, DEIB strategies and leadership, crisis management, governance, and human relations. Sectors of focus are government, universities, and nonprofits. 

 

 

Human Rights Commission, Salt Lake City Corporation, 2013-2017  

Chair

As a commissioner, major accomplishments include two reports on the State of Women and Racial Engagement in Salt Lake City. 

 

Inclusion Center for Community and Justice, 1992-2013

Executive Director 

Inclusion Center is the oldest human relations organization in the United States. Founded as the National Conference for Christians and Jews in1927, the mission is to eliminate bigotry and discrimination. The Center develops inclusive solutions to promote respect for all people through conflict resolution, education and advocacy.  During my twenty years with the Center, I developed a series of programs that organize people of all ages, backgrounds and sectors to develop skills and improve the lives of disenfranchised people. In 2005, the parent organization of the Inclusion Center dissolved and we underwent a complete reorganization. I redesigned the Center to create a locally relevant mission and strategic plan for the Intermountain West. I developed accounting and budgeting systems, information technology strategy and infrastructure, human resource procedures and a new identity for the organization. I cultivated and secured new funding streams to keep the organization relevant and functioning. I am very proud that the ICCJ headquarters is located on the campus of the University of Utah. Over 300 volunteers help provide services to 30,000 people annually. 

 

United States Peace Corps.,1997

Rural Community Development Volunteer

Stationed in Suriname in the interior of the Amazon Rainforest 

 

Southern Utah University, 1995-1997

Multicultural Coordinator