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| navigate: home: magazine: winter 2000: article | |
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Diversity Conference unites faculty, staff, administrators and students in dialog | ||||||||
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Nearly 400 faculty, staff, administrators and students throughout the Penn State system who are involved in efforts to develop, shape and guide diversity initiatives at Penn State gathered in June for the one-day conference on Fostering Diversity: From the Talk to the Walk. The Penn State Commission on Racial/Ethnic Diversity (CORED) organized the conference for members of the University community. Linda Block, instructor in recreation and parks, chaired CORED’s Diversity Conference Planning Committee, which worked for a year and a half to plan the event. The committee also included representatives from the Commission for Women; the Commission on Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual Equity; the Office of Veteran Services; the Office for Disability Services; the University Office of International Programs; and the Office of the Vice Provost for Educational Equity. During his welcome address, President Graham Spanier said, “One of the greatest challenges of our nation, our community and our University is creating a welcoming climate for all. Everyone at Penn State has a role to play in creating this environment. I am very pleased and encouraged with the turnout for this conference—almost 400 people, twice the number expected.” To foster communication among conference participants, Dr. W. Terrell Jones, vice provost for educational equity at Penn State, introduced a theatrical performance on the topic of prejudice by members of SST Communications Inc. This national theatre company specializes in training and research on sensitive issues. “When we were planning this conference, we discussed including a presentation by SST Communications,” Jones said. “Their theatrical approach to diversity sets the stage for open discussions on difficult topics.” Following the theatrical presentation, conference participants attended a variety of workshops organized under the categories of “Self-awareness,” “Skill Building,” “Expanding to Groups Beyond our Own” and “What is Being Said on the Subject of Diversity.” In addition, Rosemary Fennell, senior management and program analyst for the U.S. Department of Education’s Office for Civil Rights, presented the keynote address on “Creating a Supportive Campus Environment,” and Ward Flynn of the Center for Applied Leadership, introduced the concept of Virtual Space, which enables participants to create workshops on topics of their choice. He then facilitated the organization of Virtual Space sessions for the afternoon. During the conference, the Commission on Racial/Ethnic Diversity presented its first Diversity Champion Award to Dr. John Brighton, University Professor and head of the Teaching/Learning Consortium. The award honors Brighton’s 12-year commitment to diversity at Penn State. Before joining the Teaching/Learning Consortium in July, Brighton was executive vice president and provost of the University from 1991 to 1999 and served as dean of the College of Engineering from 1988 to 1991. The Commission on Racial/Ethnic Diversity and the Office for Civil Rights of the U.S. Department of Education co-sponsored the conference, which was held at The Penn Stater Conference Center Hotel. Continuing Education’s Conferences and Institutes staff assisted CORED in planning the conference. The Commission on Racial/Ethnic Diversity is dedicated to enhancing the University’s climate for diversity at all locations. For more information on CORED, call (814) 863-7889 or visit the commission’s Web site at www.lions.psu.edu/CORED/. | |||||||
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