SRU launches Diversity Management Workshop Series for faculty and staff

Slippery Rock University is hosting a pair of online workshops to kick off its new Diversity Management Series, featuring presentations from higher education diversity and inclusion leaders from across the country.

Oct. 16, 2020

SLIPPERY ROCK, Pa. — Slippery Rock University is hosting a pair of online workshops for SRU faculty and staff to kick off its new Diversity Management Series, Oct. 20 and Nov. 9.

The workshops will feature presentations from higher education diversity and inclusion leaders from across the country. The workshops are designed to prepare faculty and staff for the University's upcoming diversity and inclusion strategic planning process, initiated by the Office of the President in collaboration with Terrence Mitchell, SRU's special assistant to the president for diversity and inclusion, who was appointed to his role in July.

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"We're excited to provide the SRU community with the necessary insight to enhance our campus culture as it relates to diversity and inclusion," Mitchell said. "Having access to nationally renowned leaders in higher education will help expand everyone's knowledge and create frameworks for more inclusive workplaces and learning environments."

The first workshop will be conducted 12:30-2 p.m., Oct. 20, via Zoom. It will feature a presentation by Damon Williams, author and chief catalyst of the Center for Strategic Diversity Leadership & Social Innovation, a management consulting firm founded by Williams that has worked with more than 1,000 colleges and universities, corporations, nonprofit organizations and government agencies.

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In his keynote address, Williams will speak to faculty and staff from SRU and Edinboro University, discussing the importance of thinking strategically when managing diversity on a college campus. Following the presentation, Williams will meet with members of President's Commissions from SRU and other diversity stakeholders to provide them with solutions and practical strategies to develop a more inclusive and welcoming campus.

The second workshop, 6 p.m., Nov. 9, also via Zoom, will feature Carl Moore Jr., assistant chief academic officer from the University of the District of Columbia, who will share his strategies around inclusive teaching environments with the SRU and Edinboro communities. Moore will also meet separately in a closed meeting with faculty from SRU's College of Education on Nov. 3.

Links for the Nov. 9 workshop and future workshops in the series will be communicated through campus email to the SRU community. Future workshops will address diversifying leadership teams, building campus capacity to meet the needs of new demographic communities and planning to meet the intersectionality needs of today's students.

For more information about the Diversity Management Series, contact Mitchell at terrence.mitchell@sru.edu.

MEDIA CONTACT: Justin Zackal | 724.738.4854 | justin.zackal@sru.edu