History
Diversity Day was created as a celebration of SIUE’s new seven-year Diversity and Inclusion Strategic Plan. It was also an opportunity for the campus to come together, learn more from each other, and invite our alumni and community to celebrate with us as we live our mission, vision and values.
Diversity Day is now an annual tradition to celebrate our diverse communities on the Alton, East St. Louis and Edwardsville campuses. For Diversity Day 2022, we hope to expand to a SIU System-wide event while also partnering with community organizations. By embracing and learning about ourselves and others, we enrich our worldview and become better equipped to function in an ever-changing world.
Diversity Day 2021
Inclusive Excellence In Action
SIUE Diversity Day 2021 was a celebration of our institution’s past, present and future as it relates to advances in equity, diversity, and inclusion. This goal was encapsulated in the day’s theme, "Inclusive Excellence in Action." Designed with community engagement and participation across SIUE’s campuses in mind, Diversity Day showcased the multitude of ways in which membership in the global community is core to our values and mission. It also highlighted efforts to activate inclusive excellence at the University.
This educational day was held virtually and included panels and engagement sessions developed around the four dimensions of SIUE's Inclusive Excellence framework:
- Access and Success (Students, Faculty and Staff): Attentiveness to the demographic diversity of the University and ensuring equitable opportunities for all faculty, staff and students to succeed.
- Campus Climate: Commitment to creating a campus community where all are embraced, honored and valued.
- Diversity Learning and Education: The intentional incorporation of diversity into the curriculum and active engagement with diversity for fostering student learning and development; and support for faculty, staff and administrators in acquiring knowledge and developing skills needed to approach their work with cultural competence, cultural humility and an equity mindset.
- Community Engagement: Considers the role of the University in addressing systemic inequality and improving outcomes for underserved populations in surrounding communities.
The kickoff event for Diversity Day was the SIU Conversation of Understanding. The topic was "Perspectives on an Anti-Racist, Equitable and Inclusive SIU." The virtual event was held Wednesday, Oct. 20 at noon.
Diversity Day 2021 offered an exciting array of sessions, as well as a keynote address from Dr. Tia Brown McNair, Vice President in the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Student Success at the Association of American Colleges and Universities (AAC&U). View the available recordings
We encouraged everyone to join us as we discussed building the foundation for putting inclusive excellence into action!
Diversity Day 2020
SIUE Celebrates its Third Annual Diversity Day
An engaging, thought-provoking and provocative assortment of topics and speakers were discussed and presented during the third annual Diversity Day, October 14-15, 2020. Under the theme, “The Fierce Urgency of Now – SIUE Shaping a Changing World,” the virtual event boasted more than 22 presentations with approximately 975 people registering.
“Diversity Day’s theme highlights the work of SIUE’s new Anti-Racism Task Force,” said Associate Chancellor and Chief Diversity Officer Venessa A. Brown, PhD. “Designed with community engagement and participation across all three of SIUE’s campuses in mind, Diversity Day showcased the multitude of ways in which membership in the global community is core to SIUE’s mission and values.”... Read More
Diversity Day 2019
SIUE Annual Diversity Day Highlights Social Justice Advocate Howard Ross
Well-meaning people can unintentionally create isolation, inequities and even harm to those who are different from themselves, according to Howard Ross, leading social justice advocate and influential expert on identifying and addressing unconscious bias.
Ross, founder of Cook Ross and best-selling author, was the keynote speaker on Tuesday, Oct. 15 during Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s second annual Diversity Day. The two-day event, under the theme “From Awareness to Action, SIUE Shaping a Changing World,” included artistic offerings, music, presentations, exhibits, guest speakers and a parade of nations...Read More
Inaugural Diversity Day 2018
Differences Celebrated, Barriers Challenged during SIUE’s Inaugural Diversity Day
Hundreds of students, faculty, staff and community members of varying ethnicities, ideologies, gender identifications and sexual orientations took part in Southern Illinois University Edwardsville’s Inaugural Diversity Day 2018 on Tuesday, Oct. 16 on the University’s Alton, East St. Louis and Edwardsville campuses.
The Diversity Day theme was “From Awareness to Action, SIUE Shaping a Changing World.” The kickoff event for community stakeholders on Monday, Oct. 15 featured Olympic legend and gold medalist Jackie Joyner-Kersee as the guest speaker.
The daylong event was educational, motivational, challenging and fun. It was jam-packed with speakers, art, presentations, posters and cuisine representing varying ethnic roots. The Diversity Day Committee also presented SIUE’s Diversity and Inclusion Strategic Plan...Read More
Conference Materials
For more information on the numerous speakers, educational sessions and events held throughout Diversity Day, please see our conference materials below: