The 17th annual CSU Diversity Symposium will be held Sept. 26-28, in the Lory Student Center; all events are free to attend and open to the public.
In addition, Damon A. Williams, who coined the term “inclusive excellence,” will present a final keynote address on Friday, Sept. 29, at 11:30 a.m. in the LSC Theater.
The Diversity Symposium intends to educate the CSU campus and the wider community about issues of diversity and inclusion. It also provides opportunities to present research about diversity and inclusion, and communicate CSU’s commitment to these concepts.
“Learning about each other is the only way we can move forward as a community and achieve our university mission to build a campus climate that is inclusive of all its members,” said Director of Diversity Education and Training Ria Vigil. “Not only do we have the largest ever number of sessions this year, but we have incredible speakers representing a tremendous variety of diversity and inclusion research.”
Incorporating the values and principles of diversity and inclusion into any faculty or staff member’s work will benefit everyone on campus, and strengthen the commitment to the Principles of Community at all levels of the university. This helps drive CSU to be a stronger, more successful and more vibrant community.
To learn more about the CSU Diversity Symposium and see the full schedule, visit the website. Session information is also available on the Guidebook app for smartphones.
“At the end of the day, it’s about working to ensure that all members of our university and community feel welcomed, valued, and affirmed,” said Vigil.
Keynotes
Social psychology professor Claude Steele from University of California, Berkeley is best known for his research regarding stereotype threat and self-affirmation. His work suggests the way we view others can actually affect their well-being, productivity, and their ability to show up as their authentic selves.
He will speak at 5:30 p.m. on Sept. 26 in the Lory Student Center Theater.
“We chose Steele because his research on stereotype threat is groundbreaking and illuminating,” said Vigil. “We think Dr. Steele’s research provides a fantastic argument for why diversity and inclusion work benefits everyone, everywhere.”
Author Christine Sleeter will deliver the Education Keynote on Sept. 28 at 4:30 p.m., also in the LSC Theater.
