Boston College will hold its inaugural Diversity and Inclusion Summit on June 1.
The Summit, titled “Building and Leveraging Partnerships Across Campus” and sponsored by the University’s Office for Institutional Diversity, will focus on how BC contributes to the social justice mission of the Society of Jesus through its efforts to create a diverse and inclusive community. Organizers say the event has received an overwhelming response to registration.
Open to Boston College faculty and staff, the Summit—which runs from 9 a.m.-5 p.m. in Gasson Hall—will include exciting and innovative programs, initiatives, exhibits and relevant research related to diversity and inclusion, with the goal of providing a vibrant and continual learning experience for all BC employees.
“There is a lot of good work going on at Boston College in the area of diversity and inclusion, and this summit will give us an opportunity to come together as a community, and share what we are doing with thought leaders across campus to build on and leverage our work,” said Patricia Lowe, executive director of the Office for Institutional Diversity.
Explore BC's Diversity website.
A Summit highlight will be a panel discussion on best practices in the area of diversity and inclusion with nationally recognized experts from BC, including Janet Helms from the Lynch School of Education’s Institute for the Study and Promotion of Race and Culture; Brad Harrington, executive director of the Center for Work and Family; Assistant Professor of Sociology Gustavo Morello, S.J.; and Lynch School Associate Professor Richard Jackson. Associate Vice President for Alumni Relations Joy Moore will moderate.
Damon A. Williams, senior vice president and chief educational and youth development officer at The Boys and Girls Clubs of America, will present the keynote address, “Strategic Diversity Leadership: Activating Change and Transformation in Higher Education.
A former vice provost, chief diversity officer and faculty member at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, Williams joined Boys and Girls Clubs of America in 2013. He currently leads national program strategy for BGCA’s strategic outcome areas with a focus on strengthening the club experience at more than 4,000 locations that serve some four million young people annually. His 16 years of experience in youth development, organizational design and strategic planning include research contributions and the co-authored book, The Chief Diversity Officer: Strategy, Structure, and Change Management.
In addition to giving the keynote address, Williams will participate in two concurrent educational sessions to be held in the afternoon, with a meet-and-greet and book signing at the closing reception.
Summit details and registration for concurrent sessions are available at the Office for Institutional Diversity website. Participants are invited to attend all or part of Summit.
—News & Public Affairs