The Lynn Hall Food Pantry regularly helps PVM family members facing food insecurity. The Food Drive March 3-17 offers several options to get involved and keep the pantry stocked.
Isn’t it comforting to sit down to a good meal? But it’s easy to take that experience for granted. Not everyone feels assured of being able to enjoy such meals. There are those who lack the time, energy, or money to prepare a meal. You can help those in our PVM family who need assistance from our Food Pantry. We have the power to make a difference through a Food Drive that begins next week!
The Food Drive to benefit our very own PVM Food Pantry will take place March 3-17. Donations can be dropped off at Student Services and outside of Central Supply. There also will be volunteers at the Lynn Hall loading dock in order to make it convenient to drop off donations from 7:30 a.m. to 8:15 a.m. Monday through Friday. If you would like to find out what kinds of items are needed, check out the Food Pantry’s Amazon Wish List. The list makes it easy to donate items that will be shipped directly to Student Services.
Click here to view the wish list on Amazon. Thank you for your food donations to help with restocking the PVM Food Pantry!
In recognition of Black History Month, Purdue Veterinary Medicine is highlighting the career of a college leader who also has served in national leadership positions, always with a passion for enhancing the diversity of the veterinary profession — our very own Dean Willie Reed. Since earning his DVM degree at Tuskegee University, he has persistently pursued his dream of becoming a veterinarian while expanding opportunities for others from diverse backgrounds to do the same.
Born in Mobile, Ala., Dean Reed spent his childhood in a nearby small town. Living in a rural community, Dean Reed grew up around many animals. He also excelled in science classes, which helped foster his interest in studying veterinary medicine. His commitment to the field solidified when his high school vocational agriculture teacher said veterinary medicine would be a good fit for him. However, getting into a good program was difficult as there were less than 20 veterinary schools in the entire nation at the time. Moreover, the entire county that he grew up in only had one veterinarian.
Additionally, in an era of desegregation, times were challenging and opportunities were limited for Black students, but thankfully Dean Reed was blessed with a supportive family who aided him during every step of his journey. He remembers how his grandmother taught him first grade on the front porch of her house and his father was a strong supporter of his interest in studying veterinary medicine. Dean Reed recalled that his father even said that he likely would have studied veterinary medicine himself if the opportunity had been available at the time. With the blessing of a supportive family, Dean Reed set off in 1972 for Tuskegee University, one of the nation’s Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HCBU).
That adventure proved to be one small step toward future giant leaps. “Dreams do come true, but they are built on the foundation of hard work and determination,” Dean Reed shared.
Describing his Tuskegee education as excellent, Dean Reed said he found that a multitude of different opportunities were available. During his summers, he took advantage of a chance to study comparative laboratory animal pathology at the University of Alabama in Birmingham as well as at a pharmaceutical company in Kalamazoo, Mich. While in Kalamazoo, Dean Reed met Dr. Doris Hughes, the first Black woman to earn a Purdue DVM degree. Dr. Hughes and her husband were both Purdue graduates, and encouraged Dean Reed to complete his PhD at Purdue. He took their advice and in 1982, with his newly minted PhD degree in hand, he joined the Purdue Veterinary Medicine faculty, first serving as an assistant professor of mammalian pathology and later as associate professor of avian pathology and as chief of avian disease diagnostic services in the Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory.
More change came in 1990 when Dean Reed left Purdue to join the Michigan State University faculty as a full professor and director of the Animal Health Diagnostic Laboratory, now known as the Veterinary Diagnostic Laboratory. During his time at MSU, he also became chairperson of the Department of Pathobiology and Diagnostic Investigation. While serving in these positions, he helped create one of the largest pathology training programs in the country and opportunities for minorities, eventually growing the number of Black pathology graduates by 40%. Under his leadership, the MSU College of Veterinary Medicine constructed the largest and one of the most comprehensive veterinary diagnostic laboratories in the country performing over 600,000 tests per year.
Dean Reed’s career continued to reach new heights leading to a signature moment in 2006, when he was contacted about an opening for a new dean of the Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine. He immediately accepted the invitation to apply.
As Dean Reed recalled, “My mind was flooded with memories of the very special, palpable feeling of family that characterizes the community of Purdue Veterinary Medicine faculty, staff, and students. The chance to return to the Purdue campus and lead this team was especially compelling. I accepted the appointment effective in January 2007, and began the most exciting and rewarding time of my career.”
Dean Reed explained that one of his favorite aspects of the College of Veterinary Medicine is the friendly and hardworking atmosphere that the staff and faculty members create. He is thankful for the supportive environment they have helped foster, which he counts as a factor even in his own success, in a way that is reminiscent of how his own supportive family helped him succeed when he was a child. “When you like the people you work with, work doesn’t feel like work,” Dean Reed emphasized.
Dean Willie Reed was awarded an honorary degree by the Royal Veterinary College of the University of London in 2018 for his leadership contributions to diversity and inclusion in the veterinary profession. (Photo courtesy of the Royal Veterinary College)
When asked what advice he has for current students studying veterinary medicine, Dean Reed advised that any university students should seek to get involved on their campuses and make connections, which will come in handy later in life. Reflecting on his own experience, Dean Reed said he likely never would have become Dean of the Purdue College of Veterinary Medicine if he had not met Dr. Hughes in Kalamazoo. Furthermore, he said he probably would not have had the job opportunity in Kalamazoo had he not been recommended for it by one of his favorite professors at Tuskegee University.
With more than 30 years of experience in academia, not only has Dean Reed led the College of Veterinary Medicine, he also has played an influential role in the veterinary profession nationally. A diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Pathologists and charter diplomate of the American College of Poultry Veterinarians, Dean Reed has been heavily involved in the veterinary community and as a leader in organized and academic veterinary medicine, serving as president of the Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges, president of the American Association of Veterinary Laboratory Diagnosticians, president of the American Association of Avian Pathologists, and chair of the American Veterinary Medical Association Council on Research. In 2018, Dean Reed received an honorary degree from the Royal Veterinary College of the University of London for his leadership at Purdue in expanding opportunities for minority students.
A role model for role models, Dean Reed epitomizes the persistent pursuit of the next giant leap, both in terms of pursuing his own dream, and helping others pursue theirs.
Writer(s):
Jonathan Martz, PVM Communications Intern
| pvmnews@purdue.edu
Dr. Geoffrey Lossie, avian diagnostician and clinical assistant professor, is a pathologist involved in receiving samples sent to the ADDL. The primary transport containers are disinfected and the samples are prepared to be taken to the Molecular Diagnostic Section of the facility for testing. (Purdue University photo/John Underwood)
Innovators at Purdue’s Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory (ADDL) have used their expertise to make the on-campus testing facility one of the only labs in Indiana actively looking for and able to detect the UK variant of the COVID-19 virus. This ability, combined with the university’s data-driven testing approach, has made it possible for cases to be caught, thereby stopping any potential spread among the campus community.
The current PCR test run at the ADDL detects three viral gene targets – two of which must be positive to call the sample positive for SarsCoV2. Identification of the UK (B117) variant strain begins at the point of the ADDL’s analysis of the sample, where one of the three targets, the “S gene,” is absent while the other two gene targets are observed. This “S drop” pattern is a hallmark pattern in the B117 variants, but not all S drops are actually the variant – many are the original strain. When S drop is noted, the sample is sent to another lab on campus for whole genome sequencing of the virus. Sequencing results are typically available in two days and reveal any mutations or changes in the virus’s RNA, which can indicate a COVID-19 variant. All S drop samples detected at Purdue are sent to the Indiana State Department of Health, which then forwards the samples to the CDC.
More than 55,000 tests have been conducted since January 1. Of just over 1,000 positive tests in the spring semester, five cases of the UK COVID-19 variant have been confirmed in the Purdue campus community. The cases were detected as part of the university’s robust testing and contact tracing protocol and in collaboration with the Tippecanoe County Health Department and the Indiana Department of Health.
Four cases of the UK variant were detected in students during pre-arrival testing for the spring semester — two were roommates, and the other two unrelated. Each was arriving to campus from an international location. As previously announced, all students were required to have a negative test before the beginning of classes, and all students traveling internationally were and are required to quarantine before accessing campus. The four pre-arrival positives for the UK variant were discovered during that quarantine period. Contact tracing found that there was no spread due to the quarantine plan. The fifth case was recently identified in an individual who works in health care off campus. They have undergone isolation and contact tracing as well.
The Protect Purdue Chief Medical Officer, Dr. Esteban Ramirez, has discussed the presence of the variant and quarantine efforts during live-streamed Purdue Provost’s Conversations and during public Tippecanoe County Health Department briefings. “Our unique internal testing ability made us fortunate and able to catch the initial cases before returning to campus,” Dr. Ramirez said. “PPHC has not yet seen any difference in the severity in the small number of variant cases we have detected.”
Campus leaders, in consultation with the Protect Purdue Medical Advisory Team and Tippecanoe County health leaders, are examining closely the latest available evidence on the COVID-19 virus and newly reported strains, which also have been detected elsewhere in Indiana. Per the CDC, these new strains, which appear to spread more easily among individuals, do not appear to lead to more severe illness or increased risk of death at this time.
Importantly, all current strategies for mitigating the spread of the virus remain the most effective tools in protecting ourselves, others, and the Purdue’s community: the de-densification of classrooms and workspaces, physical distancing, avoiding large gatherings, the correct and consistent use of face masks, robust personal hygiene, staying home when sick, promptly isolating the infected and quarantining those in close contact for further evaluation, avoiding unnecessary travel, and proactively pursuing testing when activities or interactions suggest risk of exposure. Diligent adherence to the Protect Purdue Pledge — even in one’s shared residence and when off-campus or off-the-clock — is critically important, now more than ever.
In celebration of Black History Month, the Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine highlights one of its own history makers – Dr. William Dunn. When he earned his DVM degree in 1971, Dr. Dunn became the first Black male graduate of the college.
Dr. Dunn said his interest in veterinary medicine began at the age of 8 when his family took their dog to the local veterinarian and he was amazed at the fantastic work the veterinarian did to get their furry friend feeling better again. He knew from that moment he wanted to be a veterinarian and never once changed his mind all throughout his childhood and education.
Dr. Dunn grew up in Indianapolis and attended Shortridge High School where he said he was blessed with the ability to take two years of biology from a teacher with a PhD in the field. This experience not only increased his interest in veterinary medicine, but also prepared him for the rigorous education at Purdue University.
At the time, there were only about 19 veterinary medicine programs in the entire country and Dr. Dunn said he was fortunate to live in a state which had one, with Purdue offering the only DVM program available in Indiana. During his time at Purdue, Dr. Dunn was a member of the Omega Psi Phi fraternity and also served as an advisor at McCutcheon Hall, a position that covered his tuition. Dr. Dunn encourages any college student in any major to take any kind of resident assistantship, work study position, or other job opportunity to be able to graduate with less debt.
When asked about advice for students studying veterinary medicine, Dr. Dunn explained that when students see any open door they should not be afraid to walk through it, and that sometimes you never know how your education may help you. He recalls that while he was in veterinary school, students were required to study all varieties of animals regardless of their own interests. For example, even students who wanted to be small animal veterinarians had to take classes on treating livestock, which proved useful for Dr. Dunn because of the various fields he worked in later.
After graduation, Dr. Dunn took a position with Merrick Animal Hospital in Brookfield, Ill., where he worked from June 1971 to October 1972. He then returned to Indianapolis to work for Eli Lilly and Company, where his father also had worked. His employment at Eli Lilly enabled him to serve in a myriad of positions and work with all sorts of animals from dogs and cats to pigs and horses. Dr. Dunn said he was well prepared to work with all of these creatures due to the diverse curriculum at the College of Veterinary Medicine.
After 28 years in the workforce, Dr. Dunn retired in January 2000 at the age of 52. When asked for a final piece of advice for soon-to-be-graduates of the College of Veterinary Medicine, Dr. Dunn replied that while being devoted to your career is important, enjoying life is equally so. “I got where I am by working hard when I needed to and playing as hard when I needed to,” said Dr. Dunn.
Writer(s):
Jonathan Martz, PVM Communications Intern
| pvmnews@purdue.edu
In recognition of Black History Month, Purdue Veterinary Medicine joins the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) in featuring prominent Black veterinarians who have taken giant leaps in veterinary medicine, sharing the incredible contributions they have made over the years. As reported by the AVMA in an article published February 1, the following veterinarians played a vital role in improving animal and human health, while also increasing diversity and inclusion in the veterinary profession.
Dr. Augustus Lushington (Photo courtesy of the AVMA)
In the United States, the man believed to be the first Black veterinary school graduate to earn a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree was Dr. Augustus Lushington. Born in Trinidad in 1869, Dr. Lushington moved to New York in 1889 for agriculture and pre-medicine studies. He then earned his DVM degree at the University of Pennsylvania School of Veterinary Medicine in 1897. Afterward, he established a veterinary practice in Pennsylvania and two years later, began a teaching career at Bell Mead Industrial and Agricultural College in Rock Castle, Va., where he later opened another veterinary practice treating primarily farm animals.
In 1920, Dr. R. V. Cannon and Dr. J.G. Slade became the first Black members of the AVMA.
Dr. Frederick Douglass Patterson was born in the same neighborhood as abolitionist and orator Frederick Douglass. Dr. Patterson earned his DVM and master’s degrees from Iowa State College in 1923 and by age 31 completed his PhD at Cornell University. He went on to serve as president of the Tuskegee Institute and oversaw the school’s transformation to Tuskegee University. He became the founding dean of the Tuskegee School of Veterinary Medicine in 1944, the same year he founded the United Negro College Fund (UNCF).
Dr. Lloyd B. Mobiley served as an officer in the U.S. Army Veterinary Corps in World War II and also worked in the Federal Meat Inspection Service. After returning home, he was appointed as head of the Department of Anatomy and Surgery at the Tuskegee Institute, where he introduced the intramedullary pin along with other orthopedic surgical devices used to repair long bone fractures.
Dr. Alfreda Johnson Webb (Photo courtesy of the AVMA)
Dr. Alfreda Johnson Webb and Dr. Jane Hinton were the first Black women to earn DVM degrees in the United States. Dr. Johnson Webb graduated from the Tuskegee School of Veterinary Medicine in 1949 and also was the first Black female licensed to practice veterinary medicine in the U.S. She remained at Tuskegee teaching anatomy as an associate professor before becoming a biology professor at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University. She also was a member of the planning committee that founded North Carolina State University’s School of Veterinary Medicine. In addition, she served as a legislator becoming the first Black woman in the North Carolina General Assembly.
Dr. Hinton earned her DVM degree at the University of Pennsylvania in 1949, the same year as Dr. Johnson Webb. Prior to attending veterinary school, Dr. Hinton worked in a Harvard laboratory where she co-developed what is now one of the standard methods to test bacterial resistance in antibiotics. After graduating with her Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree, Dr. Hinton worked as a small animal veterinarian in Canton, Mass., and later joined the U.S. Department of Agriculture as a government inspector on a team tasked with researching and responding to disease outbreaks in livestock.
Dr. Walter Bowie earned his DVM degree in 1947 at Kansas State University and his master’s and PhD degrees at Cornell University. He then completed post-doctoral studies at the University of Michigan. Dr. Bowie created the Cardiovascular Research Center at the Tuskegee University College of Veterinary Medicine in 1964. The center received funding from the National Institutes of Health and NASA. That same year, Dr. Bowie was elected president of the American Association of Veterinary Physiologists and Pharmacologists. He later became dean of Tuskegee’s College of Veterinary Medicine and was instrumental in establishing the NIH National Center on Minority Health and Health Disparities.
Dr. Iverson Bell
Dr. Iverson Bell served in World War II before earning his DVM degree at Michigan State University’s College of Veterinary Medicine in 1949. Following graduation, he taught at the Veterinary School at the Tuskegee Institute before serving for 30 years as a veterinarian and civic leader in the city of Terre Haute, Ind. Dr. Bell also was the first Black individual to serve as vice president of the AVMA.
An influential figure who worked collaboratively with Purdue to address matters of diversity in the veterinary medical profession, Dr. Bell was highly regarded for his tireless efforts to promote equal opportunity for all and to increase diversity in the veterinary profession. His legacy is honored through both the national Iverson Bell Symposium hosted by the Association of American Veterinary Medical Colleges, and the Iverson Bell Midwest Regional Diversity Summit, a biennial event hosted by Midwestern veterinary colleges.
Click here to view the complete AVMA article entitled, “AVMA celebrates Black History Month by Highlighting Black pioneers in veterinary medicine.”
Writer(s):
American Veterinary Medical Association
Purdue University’s Center on Aging and the Life Course (CALC) has presented its Outstanding Professor Award to Dr. David Waters, a professor emeritus in the College of Veterinary Medicine’s Department of Veterinary Clinical Sciences. A CALC faculty associate, Dr. Waters teaches biology of aging and received numerous student nominations for the award, which recognizes exceptional teaching and mentoring of emerging scholars in aging.
Dr. Waters earned his DVM degree at Cornell University in 1984 and his PhD at the University of Minnesota in 1992. From 2000-2014, he served as professor of comparative oncology and associate director of the Center on Aging and the Life Course at Purdue University. He now serves as director of the Center for Exceptional Longevity Studies at the Gerald P. Murphy Cancer Foundation.
Since 2008, Dr. Waters has led the research team conducting the first systematic study of exceptional longevity in pet dogs. The research hinges on the idea that pet dogs with extreme longevity – equivalent to humans who live to be 100 years old – offer a valuable scientific opportunity to uncover important clues to understanding what it takes for pets and people to age more successfully and avoid cancer. His expertise as a One Health-minded translational researcher is evidenced by publication of more than 100 peer-reviewed scientific papers in high-impact journals, including Aging Cell, Journal of the National Cancer Institute, Journal of Gerontology, Carcinogenesis, Cancer Epidemiology Biomarkers and Prevention, and Free Radical Biology and Medicine.
Dr. Waters also is an expert on the comparative aspects of prostate cancer in men and dogs and was selected as one of the 100 scientists who formulated the scientific direction of the prostate cancer research agenda of the United States in 1997. In 1999, under the mentorship of Dr. Ken Ferraro, Distinguished Professor of Sociology and director of CALC, Dr. Waters received a prestigious Brookdale National Fellowship for Leadership in Gerontology and Geriatrics. He is the only veterinarian – one of 130 scientists worldwide – to be recognized as a Fellow in the Biology of Aging by the Gerontology Society of America.
An award-winning teacher, Dr. Waters has served as faculty for the NIH’s National Cancer Institute Summer Curriculum on Cancer Prevention since 2011, providing instruction on principles of cancer prevention to more than 500 scientists-in-training from 35 countries. In 2017, as part of a creativity project with collaborators in Australia, Dr. Waters published a manuscript exploring how cultivating an attitude of language precision can catalyze creative excellence in scientific discovery and education. His 2013 TEDx talk, “The Oldest Dogs as Our Greatest Teachers: Get the Words Out of Your Eyes,” highlights the innovation of studying the oldest living pet dogs, and underscores how our use of language limits scientific discovery and influences how we respond to new information.
The Purdue Veterinary Medicine family is saddened by the passing of a member of the DVM Class of 1975, Dr. Edward J. Northrop, of Mulberry, Ind., who died February 5 at his home following a long-term illness. He was 71.
A native of Clinton County and graduate of Clinton Central High School, Dr. Northrop earned his bachelor’s degree in animal sciences at Purdue University in 1972 and his DVM degree three years later. He worked in private practice for 45 years, serving as owner/operator of the Northrop Veterinary Clinic.
Dr. Northrop also was involved in equine management and horse breeding. In addition, he was a mentor of future veterinarians and for many years visited St. Matthews Preschool to explain veterinary medicine to the children. He also served as a Boy Scout Leader and Master and sponsored Greater Lafayette soccer teams. An expert at growing green beans and an avid woodworker, Dr. Northrop is remembered as an all-star husband, father, and grandfather.
Visitation will be this evening, Friday, February 12 from 5:00 – 8:00 p.m. and tomorrow, Saturday, February 13, from 10:00 – 11:00 a.m. at the Goodwin Funeral Home, 200 S. Main St., Frankfort, Ind., with the funeral service immediately following at 11:00 a.m. Out of respect for the health and safety of all in attendance, guests will be expected to adhere to current CDC guidelines regarding appropriate social distancing and the wearing of masks. Memorial donations may be made to The Michael J. Fox Foundation, c/o Donation Processing, P.O. Box 5014, Hagerstown, MD 21741-5014.
Purdue University Pharmacy student shown administering a COVID-19 vaccine at IU Health.
Assembled in October 2020, the Purdue COVID-19 Vaccine Allocation Task Force is an eleven-member team of scientists, medical experts, and campus leaders headed by Purdue Veterinary Medicine Dean Willie Reed, who serves as the task force chair. The team has been working in conjunction with the Protect Purdue Implementation Team to:
Determine and recommend Purdue’s response to the CDC’s and the state of Indiana’s phased and evolving approach to COVID-19 vaccination;
Gather and provide valuable information on available vaccines, including safety and efficacy;
Serve as a trusted body for the campus community, build confidence in vaccination, and help dispel misinformation.
“As a scientist and someone who genuinely cares about the Boilermaker community, I encourage everyone to receive the COVID-19 vaccine as soon as they are able,” said Dean Reed. “It is safe, it is effective, it is the right thing to do to protect yourself, protect others, and protect Purdue.”
Joining Dean Reed from the College of Veterinary Medicine on the task force is Dr. Harm HogenEsch, professor of immunopathology and associate dean for research. Other members include:
R. Ethan Braden, senior vice president of marketing and communications;
Jen Hodges, executive vice president of operations, One to One Health;
Richard Kuhn, Krenicki Family Director of the Purdue Institute of Inflammation, Immunology, and Infectious Disease;
Richard Mattes, Distinguished Professor of Nutrition Science, head of the Department of Public Health, and director of the Ingestive Behavior Research Center;
Nicole Noel, director of Purdue University Pharmacy;
Candace Shaffer, senior director of benefits in Human Resources;
Lisa Smith, medical director, One to One Health;
Scott Stienecker, medical director for infection prevention and co-director for antimicrobial stewardship, Parkview Regional Medical Hospital and Affiliates;
Gail Walenga, director of the Purdue University Student Health Center.
There are two safe and highly effective COVID-19 vaccines now available in the United States. The Indiana Department of Health determines who is eligible to receive the vaccine, and continues to update that guidance on the state’s COVID-19 website. The university does not determine who is eligible to receive the vaccine and has no immediate control over the distribution timeline.
Groups of individuals across Indiana who are currently eligible include:
First responders (fire, law enforcement, emergency medical services, reservists, and volunteers) who have in-person contact with the public.
Licensed and unlicensed health care workers who have in-person contact with patients or infectious material in any health care setting.
Individuals who are 40 years of age or older (as of March 22).
Pre-K – 12 educators and support staff (as of March 15).
Native Americans, Native Alaskans, Native Hawaiians and other native groups living in Indiana age 18 years of age and above (a special registration process is required).
To find vaccine clinics and make an appointment for yourself or on behalf of an eligible senior, visit vaccine.coronavirus.in.gov or call 211. There is no cost to receive the vaccine.
All Boilermakers, especially the most vulnerable, are strongly encouraged to receive the two-dose vaccine as soon as they are eligible as part of their continued commitment to the Protect Purdue Pledge.
Purdue also is preparing to be a vaccine distribution site and do its part to move Tippecanoe County toward immunity as soon as the Indiana State Department of Health gives its approval and makes a supply of vaccine available. To protect the Purdue campus “bubble,” the vaccines distributed on campus will only be available to the Purdue community: students, faculty, staff, and the dependents and spouses of Purdue employees.
Last semester, the Purdue Veterinary Medicine Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion launched a new Virtual Learning Café series featuring critical conversations designed to foster discussion with the intent to enlighten, encourage, and inspire others to get engaged. That series continues this semester with discussions that will be held monthly on Wednesdays from 12:30 – 1:20 p.m. The sessions will include 50-minute online discussions centered around the topic of “Difficult Conversations” – one of the topics requested most in a survey sent to faculty, staff, and students this summer by the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in an effort to identify topics of interest for the series.
The first of these lectures, entitled “Intent to Impact,” to be held on Wednesday, February 24, will feature a presentation by Monica Diaz, author of the business memoir “From Intent to Impact: The 5 Dualities of Diversity and Inclusion.” Ms. Diaz is associate vice president of talent, engagement, diversity, and inclusion at Royal Caribbean Group, the second largest cruise company in the world, and vice chair and board member of the Puerto Rican Arts Alliance. She is highly regarded as an energetic public speaker on global diversity and inclusion strategies and leadership development.
The second café will take place Wednesday, March 24 with guest speaker Marian Vasser, who will speak on the topic “Engaging in Difficult Dialogue.” Ms. Vasser serves as executive director of diversity and equity at the University of Louisville where she leads campus and community-wide diversity education and training. In recognition of her leadership, she was selected to participate in Harvard University’s “Leading for Student Success in Higher Education” training program. Her training and workshops focus on topics such as Implicit Bias, Microaggressions, Privilege and Power, Cultural Humility, and Engaging in Difficult Dialogues.
Closing out the spring series will be a talk by Stacy Lennon on Wednesday, April 21, entitled, “Difficult Conversations with Complex People.” Ms. Lennon is a negotiation advisor, coach, and trainer for Triad Consulting Group and also teaches graduate-level negotiation and leadership classes at the Tufts Gordon Institute. She has over 25 years of experience working with clients across the globe with a focus on helping clients more clearly and explicitly link thought, action, and results. A few of her past clients include Bank of America, Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, Boeing, General Mills, Microsoft, Pixar, Raytheon, the US Postal Service, World Health Organization, World Bank, and the Singapore Police Force.
