October 24, 2023
Diversity Programs Office Fall Update
In closing Hispanic Heritage Month, the K-State College of Agriculture and K-State Research and Extension (KSRE) Diversity Programs Office and K-State Minorities in Agriculture, Natural Resources, and Related Sciences (MANRRS) Chapter had a busy month.
September 18-23, 2023, MANRRS hosted their fall 2023 K-State MANRRS Week. Thank you to everyone who participated in the events throughout the week. Follow the link to learn about the events that were hosted during MANRRS Week.
September 19, the DPO and K-State MANRRS hosted the 13th iteration of the “Growing our Mindset” Diversity Forum. The forum featured Hannah Osowski, Scoular HR Manager and Leader of Scoular Emerging Leaders Organization (SELO), to speak about the importance of diversity in the workplace. Thank you to the DOW Center for Multicultural and Community Studies for sponsoring the event. If you missed it, you can watch the recording here.
October 3, the DPO started the month of October by supporting the Hispanic American Leadership Organization (HALO) at their 17th Annual Midwest HALO Encuentro. The Office of Student Belonging and Inclusion and HALO student group hosted over 600 high school and community college students.
October 4, the DPO and the K-State MANRRS hosted the Career Readiness Workshop at the Morris Family Multicultural Student Center at 6:00 p.m. There were 30 students and eight companies that participated in resume critiques and mock interviews. The event featured a variety of stations to allow students multiple professional development opportunities with corporate partners and professionals. The DPO and K-State MANRRS would like to thank: Ardent Mills, K-State Career Center, K-State Ag Academic Programs, Seaboard Foods, Corteva, Kansas Soybean Commission, Cargill, and Smithfield foods for facilitating the event. Special thanks to Ardent Mills for sponsoring the food for the event.
October 6, the DPO research team attended and presented at the Michael Tilford Conference on Diversity and Multiculturalism at Washburn University. The team, Dr. Zelia Wiley, Summer Santillana, Raymond Thomas, Dr. Lonnie Hobbs, Jr., and Dr. Andrew Barkley conducted a College of AG DEIB Climate Survey in fall 2022 and an identical survey in spring 2023. The Tilford presentation compared the fall 2022 and spring 2023 College of Ag Diversity Climate Surveys.
October 11, K-State MANRRS hosted Dairy Farmers of America (DFA) Diversity Manager, Antoinette Redmond, to speak to MANRRS general body. Antoinette spoke about upcoming internships, jobs, and scholarship opportunities. She also gave the chapter advice about Career Fair best practices. The students enjoyed celebrating Dr. Wiley’s birthday during this meeting with ice cream and cookies. Thank you to DFA for speaking and sponsoring the food.
Thank you to everyone who participated in DPO and K-State MANRRS events during 2023 Hispanic Heritage Month. Follow us on social media to hear about upcoming events. Facebook: K-State AG Diversity Programs Office, Twitter: dpooffice, Instagram: dpo_kstate — or contact Zelia Wiley, assistant dean and director of diversity programs, at 785-532-5793 or zwiley@k-state.edu.