Office for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Introduces New Discussion Cafés

September 4, 2020

A new series launches this fall in the form of a PVM Virtual Learning Café designed to foster discussion with the intent to enlighten, encourage, and inspire. Hosted by the Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine Office for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, the first session will be held on Wednesday, September 30.

The monthly series, hosted on a Wednesday from 12:30 – 1:20 p.m., will include 50 minute, online discussions with the goal of developing opportunities to network around diverse topics related to cultural climate. Dr. Latonia Craig, PVM assistant dean for inclusive excellence, said the reasons for starting these cafés stemmed from the period of racial unrest our nation has faced in the past few months combined with a need for more opportunities within the college to speak on these subjects. “Our goal is to create an opportunity for dialogue,” Dr. Craig said. “When we talk to each other, we gain more perspective.”

This project received a generous donation from Joanne Troutner, a client of the Purdue University Veterinary Hospital. As a result of this support, a wide range of incentives, including books, will be available to the first 40 students and 20 faculty or staff members who attend the café sessions.

The initial discussion on Wednesday, September 30, led by Dr. Craig, will cover the topic, “Increasing Your Intercultural Competency.” The following sessions this fall include, “What If I Say the Wrong Thing? Strategies to Employ” on October 21 and “How to be An Ally” on November 18. Topics are based on feedback received from an interest survey sent to the PVM family this summer. The Office for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion plans to release the spring schedule in early November. A recording of the sessions will also be available on the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion website following the events.

Click here to register for any of the fall PVM Virtual Learning Cafés. Those registered will then receive a link to participate prior to the event.

Additionally, the Purdue University Division of Diversity and Inclusion is hosting a series of distinguished guest speakers this fall.  The next virtual learning event will feature Ben Crump, civil rights attorney and lead attorney for the family of George Floyd on Thursday, September 10, at 7:00 p.m. Click here to learn more and register.

Writer(s): Jonathan Martz, PVM Communications Intern, and Allison Carey | pvmnews@purdue.edu

Recent Stories

“Paws Up” – brought to you by the PVM Wellness Committee

This week, sincere gratitude is shared with Abby Props who is the Pathology Laboratory Supervisor in the Animal Disease Diagnostic Laboratory.

Student Landscape Project Benefits Animals at Purdue Veterinary Hospital

A student-led landscape redesign project has taken root at Purdue University, in the form of outdoor upgrades at the Purdue University Veterinary Hospital. Originally developed by Mary Schultz, a graduating senior in the College of Agriculture’s Horticulture and Landscape Architecture program, the project reimagined outdoor spaces used for animal recovery, training, and enrichment. This summer, the hospital implemented one of the recommendations, which involved replacing natural turf in an outdoor dog run with a new synthetic material.

Purdue Veterinary Medicine Welcomes New Students

As the heat and long days of summer subsided and the start of a new school year approached, the sense of excitement and new beginnings pervaded Lynn Hall over the last couple of weeks with the arrival of Purdue Veterinary Medicine’s new DVM and Veterinary Technology students. The DVM students in the Class of 2029 participated in a week-long onboarding program that started Monday, August 18, while the Veterinary Technology students in the first and second years of the program were welcomed with an Ice Cream Social and orientation program at the start of the fall semester.

Approaching Purdue Veterinary Conference Mixes CE and Celebration in September

The start of a new academic year signals the approach of the annual Purdue Veterinary Conference and the last chance to get an early-bird discount on registration. The conference is scheduled for September 16-20 on Purdue University’s West Lafayette campus, and features a variety of specialized tracks as well as special events. Early bird registration ends September 1, and late fees will apply as of September 2.

Purdue College of Veterinary Medicine Names New Senior Director of Admissions and Student Success

A key Purdue Veterinary Medicine staff member who has played a vital role in admissions and recruitment will now serve as the new senior director of admissions and student success. Lori Stout has been promoted to the position and Dean Bret Marsh announced the appointment Tuesday, August 26.

Lecture Hall Murals by Acclaimed Artist Continue to Inspire Lynn Hall Visitors

Two murals by artist Harry Boone have been part of Lynn Hall’s large lecture hall for more than 20 years. Commissioned in 1998, the works continue to leave a lasting impression, and Boone recently returned to campus to see them again.