UCF will celebrate its 21st Diversity Week on Oct. 21-25 to recognize the university’s commitment to diversity and inclusion.
The week is organized by the Office of Diversity Initiatives, and activities include a discussion by UCF alumna and author Lindsay Moynihan about her book “The Waiting Tree,” a presentation of “Witness” by Theatre UCF to commemorate the 75th anniversary of Kristallnacht, lectures, scavenger hunt, and other activities and programs offered by colleges, departments and student organizations.
The week will begin with an Oct. 21 breakfast in the Pegasus Ballroom of the Student Union. For details on all the activities, go to http://www.diversity.ucf.edu/.
This year’s theme, “Chapter 21, Embracing and Celebrating a New Beginning,” reflects the upcoming changes as the Office of Diversity Initiatives looks ahead now that Valarie G. King retired at the end of September after 21 years as director. She worked at the university 24 years.
The breakfast keynote speaker will be Jennifer Brown, CEO and founder of Jennifer Brown Consulting, LLC, a New York company that works with businesses to promote practices that enhance diversity, leadership and innovation. Brown will also be part of a meet and greet following the breakfast.
In his inaugural address in 1992, UCF President John C. Hitt announced diversity as one of the university’s five strategic goals. He established a task force headed by Dr. King, to study diversity issues and attitudes on campus.
Diversity Week was an outgrowth of the work of a task force subcommittee.
The Office of Diversity Initiatives has been the recipient of numerous awards in diversity education, including the Institutional Excellence Award for the National Association of Diversity Officers in Higher Education.