CPH 11 - Backpacks, Blueprints, and Boldness: A Conversation with Dyan Jenkins Ali, MHA, LHI

In this deeply moving conversation, Dyan Jenkins Ali shares what it means to lead with courage, clarity, and conviction. From surviving a racially motivated attack on her childhood home to organizing the University of Michigan’s COVID-19 response, Dyan reflects on how her values, faith, and lived experiences have shaped a lifetime of principled leadership. She introduces us to her philosophy of “backpack wisdom”—a powerful metaphor for the lived knowledge we carry and draw from over time. 

Through stories of advocacy, resilience, and hard truths spoken in rooms not built to hold her voice, Dyan reminds us that leadership isn’t about demanding authority—it’s about listening, influencing, and standing firm in service of the greater good.

 

Meet Dyan Jenkins Ali

Dyan Jenkins Ali holds three roles within the university as recently appointed Chief of Staff for the Chief Health officer, Office of the President, Associate Director, VOICES UHR- Strategy and Planning and Adjunct Faculty, School of Public Health. In addition to these roles, she held the role staff lead for the Campus Health Response Committee- President’s committee and Senior Project Manager - University HR Strategy and Planning, managing administrative and operational projects that impact the development of goals and initiatives designed to enhance multiple student, staff, patient and faculty health benefits and experiences. Her health care career spans more than 27 years, in which time she has worked in an executive capacity with M-CARE, Delta Dental, Providence Hospital and Health Alliance Plan. Dyan has held a State of Michigan Agent//Producer License in Life, Health and Disability, and is a certified phlebotomist.

She holds a membership with the Association of HealthCare Executives and National

Association of Health Service Executives, past-treasurer of U-M’s Letterwinners M Club Board in which she served nine years, and a diplomat with the U-M Credit Union. Dyan received a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and a Master’s degree from the School of Public Health both from the University of Michigan-Ann Arbor.

 

Listen To This Episode of The Courageous Public Health Podcast

 

Conversation Highlights

• Defining Courage Across a Lifetime - Dyan reflects on how courage has shaped every stage of her life—from standing up to racism in elementary school after her family’s home was burned down by the KKK, to speaking truth to power in high-stakes public health leadership roles.
• “Backpack Wisdom” - She introduces her metaphor of the backpack: a flexible, ever-growing container of experiences, lessons, and tools. Unlike a rigid toolbox, her backpack holds everything from “little wins” to deep values, reminding her what she carries into every room.
• Truth to Power as a Practice -  Dyan shares that courage often looks like “speaking truth to perceived or intentional power”—even when her voice shakes, her hands sweat, or she’s the only one willing to speak.
• Power as Influence, Not Control - Rather than commanding others, she frames power as the ability to influence through empathy, clarity, and shared purpose: “Success is when you’ve influenced a number of people to move forward together.”
• Access vs. Acceptance - She draws a profound distinction between being granted access to a room and actually being accepted within it—underscoring the importance of inclusion, not just representation.
• The Foundations Beneath It All - From the words on her basement wall (“All because two people fell in love”) to her lifelong values of connection, faith, and service, Dyan emphasizes that true leadership starts with what’s built into our foundations.
• Leadership During COVID-19 - She recounts leading pandemic response at the University of Michigan, coordinating across disciplines and breaking down silos—not through hierarchy, but by listening deeply and influencing collaboratively.
• Vision for the Future - Her vision centers on community well-being, intergenerational impact, and a commitment to making the world better for her great-great-grandchildren.

“I carry a backpack of wisdom—filled with wins, tools, lessons, and faith. I draw from it every single day.” - Dyan Jenkins Ali, MHA, LHI

 

Stay In Touch:

Dyan Jenkins Ali on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/dyan-jenkins-ali-mha-lhi-7525213/

Email Dr. Kristi McClamroch - [email protected]

Dr. Kristi McClamroch on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/kristi-mcclamroch/

www.CourageousPublicHealth.com

Subscribe to Weekly Courageous Public Health Podcast Updates - http://eepurl.com/jcgQv6

 

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Public Health Consulting To Support You

At Courageous Public Health, we are turning up the volume on courage within women, particularly Black, Indigenous, and Women of Color who are doing the work of public health. We support public health organizations through workshop design and facilitation, and speaking engagements. Interested in working with us? Reach out on email, LinkedIn, or our website!