Diversity & Inclusion Week: Unifying and Transforming Our World
September 28 – October 1, 2015
The schedule for CCI Diversity and Inclusion Week is as follows. All sessions are free and open to the public.
Monday, September 28 – Unifying and Transforming Our Self
Morning Session 9:00 – 10:00 a.m.
Topic: “Self-Identity in a Celebrity World”
Moderator: Dr. Mike Wirth, Dean, College of Communication & Information
Panelists:
- Dr. Joe DiPietro, President, University of Tennessee
- Dr. Cal McLean, Department Head and Producing Artistic Director, UTK Department of Theater
- Mercedes Russell, UTK student athlete
- Robin Wilhoit. WBIR-TV News Anchor
Location: Patrick Auditorium (321 Communications Building)
Diversity and Inclusion Week Keynote #1 10:10 – 11:05 a.m.
Title: “To Transform, Seek First to Understand“
Keynote Speaker: Dr. Jason Laker, Professor, Department of Counselor Education and Salzburg Fellow, San Jose State University
Location: Patrick Auditorium (321 Communications Building)
Invitation Luncheon with Keynote Speaker Dr. Jason Laker
Location: Scripps Convergence Lab
Time: 11:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m.
Afternoon Session 2:25 – 3:25 p.m.
Topic: “Who Am I: What Do Genes, Ethnicity, Religion, & Socio-Economic Class Have To Do With It?”
Moderator: Alice Wirth, UTK Lecturer, School of Communication Studies and Director, CCI Diversity Student Leaders Society (DSLS)
Panelists:
- Dr. Bharat Mehra, UTK Associate Professor of Information Sciences
- Mustapha Moussa, Realtor, Keller Williams Realty and Director of Technology, Associate Leadership Council
- Hubert Smith, Executive Producer & Host “The Hubert Smith Radio Show”
- Juniper Stinnett, Gutter Blossom’s vocals/mandolinist
Location: Patrick Auditorium (321 Communications Building)
Tuesday, September 29 – Unifying and Transforming Our Home
Morning Session 9:40 – 10:55 a.m.
Topic: “Diversity & Inclusion: Lessons Learned from Home”
Moderators:
- Dr. Michelle Violanti, UTK Associate Professor of Communication Studies
- Alice Wirth, UTK Lecturer, School of Communication Studies and Director, CCI Diversity Student Leaders Society (DSLS)
Panelists:
- Courtney Boykin, UTK DSLS student leader
- Jakob Johnson, UTK student athlete
- Montana Knell, UTK Administrative Assistant
- Carrie Sengchanthavong, UTK DSLS student leader
Location: Scripps Convergence Lab (402 Communications Building)
Afternoon Session 2:10 – 3:25 p.m.
Topic: “Diversity and Inclusion at UT: Unifying and Transforming Our Campus Home”
Moderator: Dr. Maxine Davis, UTK Assistant Vice Chancellor for Student Life
Panelists:
- Corey Clay, UTK student
- Will Freeman, UTK Student Government Association President
- Stefen Jordan, UTK student
- Whitney Shelton, UTK student
- Julian Wright, UTK DSLS student leader
Location: Scripps Convergence Lab (402 Communications Building)
Evening Session 5:05 – 6:20 p.m.
Topic: “Open Forum on Overcoming Life Changing Challenges: How to Find Help at UT and Beyond”
Moderator: Courtney Boykin, UTK DSLS Student Leader
Panelists:
- André Canty, President, Greater Knoxville Chapter of “100 Black Men”
- Makayla Claussen, UTK student
- Myrna Gourgy, UTK DSLS student leader
- Julian Wright, UTK DSLS student leader
Location: Scripps Convergence Lab (402 Communications Building)
Wednesday, September 30 – Unifying and Transforming Our Community
Morning Session 10:05 – 11: 05 a.m.
Topic: “Diversity and Law Enforcement in a Post-Ferguson World”
Moderator: Phyllis Nichols, President and CEO, Knoxville Area Urban League
Panelists:
- Nate Allen, Deputy Police Chief, City of Knoxville
- Thomas Cortez, UTK student
- Troy Lane, UTK Chief of Police
- Dr. Mike Martinez, UTK Assistant Professor, School of Journalism & Electronic Media
Location: Scripps Convergence Lab (402 Communications Building)
Afternoon Session 12:15 – 1:15 p.m.
Topic: “Coming to America: Immigration and Inclusion in the 21st century”
Moderator: Dr. Carolyn Hodges, UTK Vice Provost & Dean of the Graduate School
Panelists:
- Annie Ankamah, UTK student
- Valerie Gomez, JD, Equal Justice Works Americorps Legal Fellow at UTK College of Law
- Jakob Johnson, UTK student athlete
- Mirjana Pantic, CCI Graduate Teaching Associate
- Dr. Maria Stehle, UTK Associate Professor of German
Location: Scripps Convergence Lab (402 Communications Building)
CCI Diversity and Inclusion Week Keynote #2 5:45 – 6:45 p.m.
Keynote Speaker: Chris Geidner, Legal Editor, BuzzFeed.com
Location: Patrick Auditorium (321 Communications Building)
Reception: 5:00 – 5:30 – CCI Lobby
Keynote: 5:45 – 6:45 p.m.
Thursday, October 1 – Unifying and Transforming Our Workplace
Morning Session 11:10 – 12:25 p.m.
Topic: “Social Media Etiquette in the Workplace”
Moderator: Dr. John Haas, Director and Associate Professor, School of Communication Studies
Panelists:
- J. Chad Hatmaker – JD, Employment Law Expert, Woolf-McClane Attorneys at Law
- Erica Jenkins, Public Relations Associate, UT System, Office of Communication & Marketing
- Taylor Miller, Sales and Marketing Recruiter, Wyndham Hotels
- Ashley Sams, Communication and Social Media Strategist, Schools of Communication Studies and Advertising & Public Relations
Location: Scripps Convergence Lab (402 Communications Building)
Afternoon Session 12:40 – 1:55 p.m.
Topic: “Diversity and Inclusion in the Workplace: Challenges and Opportunities”
Moderator: Dr. Lisa Fall, UTK Associate Professor of Advertising and Public Relations
Panelists:
- Christopher Carlson, Director, Talent Acquisition & Diversity, Tennessee Valley Authority
- Susanne Dalton Dupes, Employee Engagement Consultant
- Doug Minter, Business Development Manager, Knoxville Chamber of Commerce
- Patricia Inés Robledo, Business Liaison, City of Knoxville
- John Rothkopf, General Manager, Meadowview Marriott Conference Resort
Location: Scripps Convergence Lab (402 Communications Building)
Evening Festival 5:00 – 7:00 p.m. RAIN OR SHINE!
CCI Diversity Festival
An all-campus barbecue with diverse music, dance, games for all ages, a photo booth and cultural performances; all CCI student organizations will be participating including: Ad Club, Communication Studies Club, Diversity Student Leaders Society, National Association of Black Journalists, Public Relations Student Society of America, and Society of Professional Journalists.
Location: Circle Park or at the CCI Building
Diversity and Inclusion Week Planning Committee Members: Alice Bowling Wirth (Chair), Julie Andsager, Josh Beach-Calvin, Courtney Boykin, Beth Cole, Heather Ervin, Lisa Fall, Myrna Gourgy, Peter Gross, John Haas, Anne Hensley, Montana Knell, Cindy Lancaster, Jeremy Mattingly, John McNair, Bharat Mehra, Carrie Sengchanthavong, Michelle Violanti, Julian Wright, Mike Wirth
Diversity Festival Committee Members: Alice Bowling Wirth (Chair), Courtney Boykin, Faith Howard, Ginger Reeves, Carrie Sengchanthavong, Chandler White, Brett Wilson, Steven Woods, Julian Wright
*“Diversity & Inclusion Week: Unifying and Transforming Our World” is targeted at all members of the CCI community with specific focus on our 1,200 undergraduate majors. The 4-day event offers participants an opportunity to gain diversity skills and knowledge along with a chance to dialogue about diversity and inclusion issues and to share best practices by bringing together leaders and experts from inside and outside the college and university. This year’s Diversity and Inclusion Week theme is “Unifying and Transforming Our World” along with daily sub-themes consisting of “Unifying and Transforming Our Self” “Unifying and Transformiong Our Home,” “Unifying and Transforming Our Community,” and “Unifying and Transforming Our Workplace.” Two keynote speeches, an open forum, eight panels and a diversity festival will provide our students, faculty, staff and the UT Knoxville community with an inspirational and informative week designed to advance their understanding of and appreciation for diversity and inclusion.