Diversity Day at SIUE Celebrates Inclusive Excellence in Action
Southern Illinois University Edwardsville held the fifth annual Diversity Day on Tuesday, Oct. 11. The SIUE community came together to learn more about initiatives supportive of inclusive excellence at the Edwardsville, East St. Louis and Alton campuses.
“As a university-wide experience, Diversity Day provides a platform to celebrate diversity, build community, and learn how inclusive excellence is being activated across the campuses,” said SIUE Chancellor James T. Minor, PhD. “We must ensure our campus community is inclusive of all individuals as we learn and grow with each other through shared experiences, new perspectives and a collective desire to seek something great for ourselves and SIUE.”
The day featured two keynote speakers: Angel Jones, PhD, visiting assistant professor in the Department of Teaching and Learning at SIUE, and Bryan Hotchkins, PhD, tenured professor at Texas Tech University in the College of Education.
“Through efforts like Diversity Day, SIUE shows its commitment to creating an inclusive campus environment and a sense of belonging for all people,” said Lindy Wagner, assistant vice chancellor for Inclusive Excellence, Education and Development. “The day is a celebration of our institution’s past, present, and future as it relates to advances in equity, diversity and inclusion.”
In-person and virtual sessions included panels and engagement sessions developed around the four dimensions of SIUE’s Inclusive Excellence framework: access and success, campus climate, community engagement, and diversity learning and education.
“It is my hope that the nearly 300 individuals who participated in this year’s Diversity Day left feeling empowered to share their voice and add their diverse perspectives to the SIUE story,” said Jessica C. Harris, PhD, vice chancellor for anti-racism, diversity, equity, and inclusion. “Our anti-racism, diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts are amplified because of the commitment and dedication our faculty, staff, and students have to building a legacy of equity and excellence at SIUE.”
For more information about Diversity Day, visit siue.edu/vcedi/the-hub/signature-programs-events/diversity-day/index.
Photo: Diversity in Business Panel during SIUE’s Diversity Day 2022.