Universal Diversity is a pleasant oxymoron, one the Office of Multicultural and International Student Services will be touting at the 5 annual Diversity Leadership Conference on February 20-21.
Registration is required for the conference, and forms are available on the M.I.S.S. website. Registration is also provided on Friday between 4 and 6 p.m. The opening banquet will start at 6 p.m. Friday evening. Business dress is expected.
The conference includes networking with other leaders and sponsors, innovative speakers, Multicultural Awareness Certification, interactive workshops, breakfast and lunch on Saturday, free entertainment, and a chance to win giveaways. It is encouraged that participants bring resumes and business cards for the networking session.
“The conference is a way to make students, faculty, and staff aware that diversity is not a simple thing. It’s very important in a globalized world,” McDonough said.
Dora G. Alcal, a Texas State University System Board of Regents Member, will be speaking at the conference on Saturday evening.
“Having a regent is a big deal,” Ashley McDonough, the program coordinator, said. “President Jim Gaertner will be introducing Alcal. She is very involved in the diversity initiative.”
Justin Jones-Fosu, president of JS Training, will speak on Friday evening. Saturday morning’s speaker will be Mike Domirtz, a leading expert on healthy dating, consent, and sexual assault awareness.
“This year will be very unique. The decorations will be very funky, kind of Andy Warhol-ish,” McDonough said.
More people have already registered for this years conference than any previous year, and organizers are expecting over 250 people.
“This years conference will definitely be the largest yet,” McDonough said. “Students from around the state are expected.”
The conference was started in 2005 by members of the SHSU Diversity Council. This conference is the first of its kind in the state of Texas.