Kansas State University

Diversity Programs Office Update

Submitted by Zuleica Gerardo and Dr.Zelia Wiley

DPO would like to share some information about our upcoming events:

• Dr. Keith Harris, Assistant Professor in Agribusiness Management, came to speak to the MANRRS General Body Meeting about “From College to Career” on Wednesday, November 4. We thank him for taking the time out of his busy schedule to speak to us!

• Rosalyn Durant, senior vice president, College Networks, programming for ESPN, was the speaker for the 16th annual Huck Boyd Lecture in Community Media at 9:30 a.m. Thursday, November 5, in the ballroom of the K-State Alumni Center. Her topic was "Leadership Lessons from an ESPN Executive." A panel discussion followed at 10:30 a.m. also in the ballroom of the K-State Alumni Center.

• The K-State Black Student Union partnered with the K-State Alumni Center in "Adinkrahene: A Celebration of the Leadership of Dr. Myra E. Gordon." This event was to honor and celebrate Dr. Gordon, Associate Provost for Diversity, as she plans to retire at the end of 2015. The event took place on Saturday, November 7, from 9 - 11:30 a.m., in the K-State Student Union Ballroom.

• Please join the Office of the Provost in honoring Myra Gordon’s 13 years of service to Kansas State University with a retirement celebration from 3:30 – 5 p.m. Wednesday, December 2, in the Tadtman Boardroom of the Alumni Center. A short program will start at 4 p.m.

• The DPO recommends everyone attend Sanskriti 2015. It is a chance to experience Indian culture through dance, music, art and much more at 12:30 p.m. on Saturday, November 14, in Forum Hall at the K-State Student Union. There will be traditional and Bollywood dance and music, free henna tattoo designs, and drinks. Entry is free for all.

• The DPO would like to congratulate the three College of Agriculture graduate students chosen to present at the 13th Capitol Graduate Research Summit, February 2, 2016, at the State Capitol in Topeka: Caroline Ylioja, doctoral student in animal sciences; Olalere Olatoyre, doctoral student in agronomy; and Dilooshi Weerasooriya, doctoral student in agronomy. We wish them well in their presentations!

• The DPO would like to congratulate Dariyan Springfield and Makinsey McIntosh from the K-State MANRRS Chapter on their sponsorships by the National MANRRS Board and the Agriculture Future of America (AFA) to attend the 2015 AFA Leaders Conference in Kansas City, MO on November 5-8. The Conference, themed “Be: The Voice. The Catalyst. The Future,” had keynote speakers, an award dinner, and an opportunity fair, featuring jobs in the industry as well as graduate schools. These students represented the K-State MANRRS Chapter and the College of Agriculture very well. We are proud of them!

Please continue to look for more diversity events as we continue to advertise. We appreciate your support. For more information about upcoming events or to collaborate with the DPO, please call 785-532-5793 or contact Dr. Zelia Wiley, Assistant Dean of Diversity, zwiley@ksu.edu.