Dior Vargas

Leading Voice on Mental Health Equity & Social Change

Fields of expertise:

Author Allyship Hispanic Heritage Month Activist / Social Justice Empathy in the Workplace Women Empowerment Psychological Safety Mental Health

Dior Vargas, MS, MPH, is a mental health activist with more than 15 years of social justice experience. She partners with universities, organizations, and corporations to advance self-care advocacy, expand access to wellness, and promote diversity in mental health. She created the People of Color and Mental Illness Photo Project, which addresses the lack of BIPOC representation in media portrayals of mental illness. She also edited The Color of My Mind, a photo book inspired by the project.

Dior has received numerous awards, including being named a White House Champion of Change for Disability Advocacy Across Generations under the Obama administration. She speaks nationwide, and her work and insights have been featured in The New York Times, Forbes, and Newsweek. She was recognized on the City & State Mental Health Power 50 List and featured in the CBS special Essential Heroes: A Momento Latino Event.

Dior holds a BA in the Study of Women and Gender from Smith College, an MS in Publishing from Pace University, and an MPH from New York University. She was born and raised in Spanish Harlem, New York City, and still lives in the apartment where she grew up.

What our clients say about this speaker

Dior was an absolute pleasure to work with from start to finish. Her message was clear, thoughtful, and delivered with authenticity and impact, leaving a lasting impression on our audience. She brought professionalism, warmth, and expertise to every stage of the process. We look forward to hearing her speak again and would welcome the opportunity to work with her in the future.

The University of Kansas

Dior made a tremendous impact at our Hispanic Heritage Month event. At a time when both our country and organization were navigating significant challenges and change, her message was timely, thoughtful, and deeply meaningful. She created a space for authentic conversation, reflection, and connection so much so that one attendee was inspired to come out to their family as a result of the discussion. The feedback was overwhelmingly positive, and Dior's ability to foster dialogue that leads to real personal impact was truly remarkable.

Pratt & Whitney

It was a privilege to have Dior speak at our World Mental Health Day event. She was an absolute pleasure to work with professional, approachable, and deeply relatable. Her message resonated powerfully with our audience, sparking meaningful reflection and connection. The feedback we received was overwhelmingly positive, with many attendees sharing how much her talk impacted them personally.

Expedia Group

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