OU’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Conference featured leading experts, first SOGI award

OU’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Conference featured leading experts, first SOGI award
Ian Haney Lopez
Monica Emerson looks on as Ian Haney López addresses the audience during OU's 2017 Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Conference.

On Wednesday, April 5, Oakland University held its fourth annual Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Conference. This year’s theme was “Leveraging Diversity: Creating a Community of Belonging” and featured presentations from leading experts in the field of diversity and inclusion.  

 

The featured speakers were Terrell L. Strayhorn, professor of educational studies and director of the Center for Higher Education Enterprise at The Ohio State University and Ian Haney López, the John H. Boalt Professor of Law at the University of California Berkeley.

 

The day also included breakout sessions featuring OU faculty, staff and students on issues such as accessibility, generational differences, race and ethnicity, globalization, religion, socioeconomics, and sexual orientation and gender identity.

 

The conference wrapped up with an awards presentation. The Monica E. Emerson Diversity Award was presented to Anne Switzer Zacharias, associate professor of social sciences and outreach librarian, for her efforts to promote diversity and inclusion on campus.

 

Terrell Strayhorn

Terrell Strayhorn speaks at the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Conference.

Her work includes serving on the planning committees for OU’s African American Celebration, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Conference, Women and Gender Studies Program, and LGBTQA Employee Resource Group.

In addition, Switzer Zacharias has invited prominent scholars to campus to discuss diversity and equity issues, as well as organized an annual Poetry Slam, in partnership with the Auburn Hills Public Library, which brings together diverse audiences to read and listen to poems in honor of National Poetry Month. She also serves on the American Library Association LGBT Roundtable.

 

The inaugural Timothy G. Larrabee Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Equity and Inclusion Awardwas presented to Dawn Aubry, director of Admissions; Bryan Cain, executive director of Marketing; Shane Lewis, associate director of Admissions and Grace Wojcik, director of the Gender and Sexuality Center for their work on the “Out on Campus,” initiative.

 

Using existing resources, the initiative created a collaborative effort between Undergraduate Admissions, University Communications and Marketing, and the Gender and Sexuality Center to create promotional materials that create and expand awareness of programs and services offered by the Gender and Sexuality Center. The initiative promoted a sense of affirmation to OU’s current, future and potential LGBTQIA population, as more than 80 faculty, staff, students and alumni volunteered to share their stories and become the faces of the “Out on Campus” campaign, which reached nearly 32,000 people. 

 

This year’s Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Conference was sponsored by:

 

Gold sponsor: Faurecia

 

Silver sponsors: Marsh & McLennan Agency and Oakland County Michigan Works!

 

Bronze sponsors: Aetna, Delta Dental, Fidelity, Priority Health and TIAA

SOGI Award

Grace Wojcik and Bryan Cain, pictured with OU President George W. Hynd, accept the inaugural Timothy G. Larrabee Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity Equity and Inclusion Award.

Monica E. Emerson Award

Anne Switzer Zacharias, pictured with President Hynd, accepts the Monica E. Emerson Diversity Award.