Founder & Principal Consultant

Meet Malissa Bryan B.A Hons., M.A (Pronouns They/She)

Malissa Bryan is the founder and principal consultant of the Rainbow Diversity Institute. Malissa Bryan comes from a specialized background in sociology with a focus on race, diversity, work, education, youth, and political economy.

Malissa received her Bachelor of Arts with Honours  degree from the University of Guelph, majoring in Sociology and minoring in Anthropology. Malissa continued to complete a Masters of Arts degree at the University of Guelph, her thesis focused on Racialized collectives in predominantly White institutions (PWI); examining the experiences of Black students and Black collectives in these spaces. Malissa is currently completing a Ph.d. in Sociology with a focus on race, education, equity and inclusion in secondary education.   

Malissa often takes a feminist anti-racist intersectional approach when conducting academic research or working within the community. Since 2010 Malissa has facilitated various levels of anti-oppression training, guest lectures, mediation and conferences using an interactive, intersectional, and feminist framewok. Some of the clients she has worked with include: The Toronto District School Board, Peel District School Board, HIV/AIDS Resources and Community Health (ARCH), Rainbow Chorus, University of Guelph, Guelph Sexuality Conference, Sherbourne Health Centre, Media Arts Network of Ontario, Facilitation Wellington Dufferin, Guelph Civic Museum and Upper Grand District School Board.