The Center for Diversity & Inclusion (CDI) hosted the fourth annual Diversity & Equity Summit at Daemen University on Saturday, April 20, providing a safe space for students, faculty and staff, alums, and members of the community to engage in justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion conversations.
The theme for this year’s summit was “Who Will You Be Today,” which was chosen by the CDI team as a way to encourage participants to reflect on their roles and identities in the pursuit of equity.
“It invites introspection into the dynamic nature of personal and collective identities, emphasizing the importance of adaptability and allyship,” said Jordan Printup, the assistant director of the CDI and the coordinator for Vision for Success. “By aligning with equity work, the theme underscores the need for individuals to consciously choose inclusive and equitable roles, fostering a community that embraces diversity and actively works towards creating a fair and just environment for all.”
Nearly 100 participants took part in the summit both in person and virtually.
Tiffany Gaines, the curatorial and digital content associate for the Burchfield Penney Art Center, served as the keynote speaker.
The summit also featured several other presenters including:
- Kurt Blankschaen (he/him/his) – “Acting Out”
- Devon Cozad (she/her/hers) – “The Library is for Everyone*: How to Achieve Equitable Reference Services for Online Students”
- Destiny East (she/her/hers) – “Dress for Success: The Identity Conundrum of Professionals”
- Cadence Russell (she/her/hers) – “The Power of Storytelling in Disability Advocacy”
- William Maybee (he/him/his) and Josie Raphaelito (she/her/hers) – “Indigenous Inclusion and Health Equity”
- Mark Martinez (he/him/his), Robyn Swan (she/her/hers), Tony DiRomanis (he/him/his) – “Raising Awareness of Racial and Ethnic Disparities: VA Disability Benefits”
- Kay Leach (she/they) – “Tarot for Personal and Collective Transformation: Navigating Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Through Symbolic Reflection”
- Amy Wilson (she/her/hers) and Hermen Diaz (he/him/his) – “Re-Imagining Professionalism for Authentic and Equity Centered Practice
Printup added, “The Summit is continuously growing year after year. It truly has turned into a transformative day with presenters who display such passion for their subject areas. We find that students, faculty, and staff all walk away having new insight on specific topics and an invigorated drive to make Daemen and the world better.”
