PVM Hosts Successful Iverson Bell Midwest Regional Diversity Summit

Glenn E. Singleton pictured

Glenn E. Singleton gives the keynote address in the Purdue Memorial Union South Ballroom at the start of the Iverson Bell Midwest Regional Diversity Summit.

Nearly 120 faculty, staff, and students from eleven universities across the country attended the Iverson Bell Midwest Regional Diversity Summit held at Purdue University May 18 – 20.  The biennial event is a collaboration among the colleges and schools of veterinary medicine at Purdue, Michigan State University, the University of Minnesota, The Ohio State University, and the University of Wisconsin, with additional sponsorship by Zoetis.

The summit kicked off at lunch Friday, May 18, with a keynote address by Glenn E. Singleton, founder of the Pacific Education Group, which seeks to achieve racial equity in education.  The author of Courageous Conversations about Race: A Field Guide for Achieving Equity in Schools (2006), a protocol for sustained, deep dialog, Singleton has devoted more than 30 years to constructing racial equity worldwide and developing leaders to do the same.

Iverson Bell Midwest Regional Diversity Summit workshop pictured

Iverson Bell Midwest Regional Diversity Summit participants listen to facilitators Anna Yeakley, program director for the Intergroup Relations Program at UCLA, and Kathleen Wong(Lau), San Jose State’s chief diversity officer, during the start of afternoon workshops on Friday, May 18.

Kathy Wong (Lau), chief diversity officer at San Jose State University, and Anna Yeakley, Intergroup Relations Program director at UCLA served as facilitators for the summit, which included workshops focused on the theme of “Courageous ConversationsTM”.  Purdue Veterinary Medicine faculty members also assisted as facilitators for different tracks.  Summit participants were able to choose between the topics of “Diversity Curriculum Infusion – in the Classroom,” facilitated by Dr. Henry Green; “Student Affairs for a Multicultural Environment – Institutional Framework,” facilitated by Dr. Susan Mendrysa; and “Putting Inclusion into the Institutional Culture,” facilitated by Drs. Kathy Salisbury and Sandy San Miguel.

Dr. Kathy Salisbury facilitates track during summit

“Putting Inclusion into the Institutional Culture” is the title of a track facilitated by Drs. Kathleen Salisbury and Sandy San Miguel during the Iverson Bell Midwest Regional Diversity Summit.

Additional sessions included Intergroup Dialogue Skills and a panel discussion featuring students, staff, and faculty.  Throughout the event, participants took time to develop role play scenarios to demonstrate how to have both planned and spontaneous, courageous conversations in the context of the curriculum, student affairs, and institutional culture.  The summit concluded with group presentations and role play in Lynn 1136.

Besides the attendees from Purdue and the collaborating veterinary schools and colleges, participants also came from Oklahoma State University, the University of Georgia, Tuskegee University, the University of California – Davis, the University of Florida and the University of Illinois.

Writer(s): Kevin Doerr | pvmnews@purdue.edu

Recent Stories

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

Today we share appreciation for Dr. Madeleine Swindell, who is a Purdue Veterinary Hospital Small Animal Rotating Intern.

Enthusiasm Pervades Purdue Veterinary Medicine Graduation Celebration

Applause, cheers, and waving gold pom-poms greeted members of Purdue Veterinary Medicine’s Class of 2025 as they processed through the Purdue Memorial Union Ballrooms for the start of the College of Veterinary Medicine’s May Graduation Celebration. The event on Saturday, May 17, which followed the university commencement ceremony in the Elliot Hall of Music, attracted a capacity crowd of family, friends and loved ones.

Awards Ceremony Honors Outstanding Purdue Veterinary Medicine Staff

Applause and periodic shouts of “Bravo” punctuated the Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine’s annual spring Outstanding Staff and Bravo Awards Ceremony. The program held in Lynn Hall on May 13 honored some two dozen staff members for meritorious accomplishments.