DeWan Stroud is an experienced Human Resource and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) leader with 12+ years of experience in HR management covering recruiting and staffing, talent management and retention, and employee learning and development.
He is currently the Chief People Officer at BestSelf Behavioral Health and has been with the company since 2021. DeWan leads and supports the human resource and learning and development teams and also guides and supports Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging initiatives.
DeWan graduated from Daemen University with a bachelor’s degree in business administration with a specialization in human resources. He is a certified lean professional, Lean Six Sigma Black Belt from the University of Buffalo TCIE and a certified DEI practitioner from Cornell University.
DeWan began his career with Remedy Staffing as a recuirter and then moved to the human resource department at People Inc. in 2009 and moved to the HR leadership team from 2012 to 2021 prior to joining BestSelf Behavioral Health.
Mr. Stroud is passionate for helping people reach their goals and be the best that they can be through recruitment, learning and development, and much more. He is a youth sports coach and a board member for Housing Opportunities Made Equal. He previously served on the board for the National Federation of Just Communities. DeWan is also a member of the DEI committee for Buffalo Business First.
DeWan has won the Buffalo Black Achievers Award in 2010, the Leadership Buffalo Rising Leader Award in 2014, the Buffalo Business First Idea Award in 2020, and the Buffalo Business First Top 100 Leaders of Color Award in 2023.
DeWan joined Parent Network of WNY’s board because of the connection he had with the organization’s mission since he is a proud dad of 2 daughters, 1 who was diagnosed with autism at the age of 2. With the organization’s mission aligning with his passion to help others, DeWan hopes to continue raising awareness for the organization and implement DEI initiatives within the organization and various committees.
