Friday, April 1, 2016

#Leaders4Diversity


On Friday, April 1, The Office of Diversity and Inclusion partnered with the School Wide Activities Team (SWAT) to host the 3rd annual #Leaders4Diversity conference. #Leaders4Diersity is a one-day conference that provides students with an opportunity to strengthen their understanding of diverse topics. Students develop leadership skills as they reflect on their identity and impact in a diverse society.


“Deaf Culture”

Students were engaged as they reflected on the meaning behind deaf culture and the privileges the “hearing world” have. Emmalee Morgan,
the Tarleton State Coordinator for Student Disability
Services and an interpreter, presented this session.


 “Managing Conflict Effectively”


Students discovered the five stages of team relationship
development and reflected on barriers that can cause conflict. Students were able to examine qualities that cause conflict and strategies to resolve conflict.
This session was presented by Landan Schaffert, the keynote speaker for the conference.

“Diversity and Voting Rights: The Challenges of Equal Representation”

During this session, Dr. Eric Morrow (the chair of the Department of Social Sciences) challenged students to think about equity in relation to growing diversity. Students reviewed examples in history where voting rights and representation have posed a challenge to society.


Workshop II

                “Links to Empower”

This session was presented by Kristina Marshall. Marshall is a full-time professor of Social Sciences at Baker College of Owosso.  She is a member of the advisory council for the National Conference on Race and Ethnicity in American Higher Education. Students were able to gain an understanding of oppressed groups within the United States in this interactive sessions. Students focused on the power of privilege and he importance of recognizing intersectional identities.

“Bring your Broom...’Cause It’s A Mess!”

             Students examined fighting and tension in this engaging session. Students learned useful techniques to confront these issues in student organizations, teams, and personal relationships. This session was presented by Corinne Ogle. 

Corinne Ogle is a former graduate student who has worked in the Office of Diversity and Inclusion. She has worked with underprivileged youth in the Youth after school program, and facilitated the Washington Leadership Conference for the National FFA.


“Hongry with an O is Different than Hungry
with a U”

During this presentation, Misty Smith raised awareness about resources for students with food instability. Students were engaged in an activity to simulate the impact decision-making has when one is faced with limited resources. Misty Smith is currently the Title IV-E Project Director and Instructor of Social Work at Tarleton State University. In addition, Mist Smith is
 a volunteer in the Tarleton Food Pantry.

               Keynote

During lunch, Students were joined by keynote speaker Landan Schaffert, a legally blind speaker and teacher with a passion for achievement and positive difference. In 2010, Schaffert was the National FFA Secretary. Schaferrt shared personal stories and connected with students during the lunch portion of the conference. Students were able to hear about the triumphs and challenges Schaffert faced and were encouraged to make a difference.


Workshop III

“Soldiers and Diversity”

In this workshop, the cultural reference of “Army Green” was explored. Through her 13 years of experience, SSG Stachura examined diversity and inclusion in the U.S. Army. SSG Stachura interacted with students as they looked into what defense means when it comes to defending one’s experiences and background.


“Diversity at its Core”

This session was designed to provide student leaders with tools to assess their role with involving students in decision-making. Barriers and biases were examined as students addressed differences in socioeconomic status, race, sexuality, and gender. This session was facilitated by Kendrick Spencer, the Assistant Vice President for Student Affairs at Jackson State University.

“Slavery, Then & Now”

Dr. Michael Landis and Texans for Freedom addressed the issue of slavery in terms of historical black slaver and modern-day slavery in this informative presentation. Dr. Michael Landis serves as an assistant professor of history at Tarleton State University. He is also a board member of Historians Against Slavery and the editor of The Historians Against Slavery blog.

 Workshop IV

“Overcoming Barriers and Embracing Mental Freedom”

This panel provided students with the opportunity to explore personal experiences of Mental Freedom. This organization is a mentoring program for traditionally underrepresented men of color. Students were able to discover the experiences and characteristics that can become barriers to success.

“What It Is to Be a House Guest in Your Own Body”

This creative writing workshop was presented by Tro’juan Henderson. Henderson is a national poet and advocate for survivors of abuse and sexual assault. In this workshop, the topics of gender inequality and beauty standards were explored.


“Matching Game Extravaganza: Test Your Rainbow Knowledge”

Presented by the Gay-Straight Alliance, students were tested on their knowledge of the LGBT+ community. Assumptions were explored as        students increased their knowledge of recognizing personal bias.


Thank you, sponsors!

The #Leaders4Diversity Conference was sponsored by Student Success and Multicultural Initiatives, Center for Academic Readiness and Success, International Programs, JTAC News, Career Services, Academic Resources Center, Health Services, Academically High Achievers, and Academic Advising.


 For more information, contact the Office of Diversity and Inclusion at diversity@tarleton.edu.










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