Dior Vargas

About Dior Vargas

Dior Vargas is a mental health activist, speaker, and author based in New York City. With over a decade of experience and degrees from NYU, Pace University, and Smith College, she blends academic training with grassroots advocacy, public health expertise, and a deep commitment to racial equity and disability justice to challenge mental health stigma in BIPOC communities. She is the founder of the People of Color & Mental Illness Photo Project, a nationally recognized initiative that centers QTBIPOC voices, and the author of The Color of My Mind, a groundbreaking photo essay featuring the narratives of QTBIPOC living with mental illness. Dior has led workshops and keynotes at leading universities, organizations, and companies, and her work has been honored by the Obama White House and the New York State Office of Mental Health. She is passionate about fostering inclusive conversations and empowering others to advocate for mental wellness, racial justice, disability rights, and health equity.

Experience

1. Content Expert & Chair of Mental Health Panel

   Our Bodies Ourselves

   Dec 2023 — Present

   I work collaboratively with the Program Director and the content experts to ensure that their panels curate, present, and help share the best possible content for Our Bodies Ourselves Today in the mental health subject area.

Education

• Smith College

  Bachelor of Arts - BA, Study of Women and Gender

  2005 — 2009

• Pace University

  Master of Science - MS, Publishing

  2009 — 2011

• New York University

  Master of Public Health - MPH, Health Policy

  2017 — 2019

Skills

• Adobe Creative Suite
• Graphic Design
• Social Networking
• Social Media Marketing
• Writing
• Marketing
• Copy Editing
• Social Media
• Layout
• Css
• Public Relations
• Proofreading
• Publishing
• Creative Writing
• Fundraising
• Community Outreach
• Facebook
• Html
• Books
• Oxygen
• Wordpress
• Constant Contact
• Xml
• Filemaker
• Editing
• Blogging
• Research
• Microsoft Office