WVU’s annual Diversity Week endeavors to promote celebration, education, and understanding of different identities and experiences present on our campus. Diversity Week is designed to create an atmosphere that provides the WVU community, including students, faculty and staff, the opportunity to explore different cultures, engage in discussions that bring new perspectives, and celebrate the presence of, and contributions made by, people of all identities and experiences.
Diversity Week 2020 was held October 11 - 16, 2020.
Did you participate this year? If so, we would love to hear your feedback. Please take a couple of minutes and respond to this brief survey.
If you missed an event of interest, some of the events were recorded and are still available to view.
Indigenous Peoples’ Day: Allyship and Advocacy
- · Hosted by DEI
- · Keynote Speaker: Bonnie Brown Native American Studies Program Coordinator
- · Moderator: Aisury Vasquez (she/her/hers), Diversity Outreach Coordinator
- · Link to recording
Disability Justice, Identity and Liberation
- · Hosted by DEI
- · Keynote Speaker: Jill Hess, Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Coordinator
- · Moderator: Aisury Vasquez (she/her/hers), Diversity Outreach Coordinator
- · Link to recording
Advancing Disability Justice on a College Campus
- · Hosted by DEI
- · Student Panelists: Lauren Florio, Nicolette Edwards, Vanessa Bishop
- · Moderator: Aisury Vasquez, (she/her/hers), Diversity Outreach Coordinator
- · Link to recording
LGBTQ+ Justice: Current and Future Movements
- · Hosted by DEI
- · Keynote Speaker: Dr. Ellen Rodrigues, Interim Director of the LGBTQ+ Center
- · Moderator: Aisury Vasquez, (she/her/hers), Diversity Outreach Coordinator
- · Link to recording
State of Diversity Address
- · Speaker: Vice President Meshea L. Poore, Esq.
- · Moderator: Aisury Vasquez, (she/her/hers), Diversity Outreach Coordinator
- · Link to recording
The Legacy and Power of Hispanic and Latinx/e Students
- · Hosted by DEI
- · Student Panelists: Mia Sebastian, Emma Locarnini, Rachelle Nieto and Alfredo Rodriguez
- · Moderator: Aisury Vasquez, (she/her/hers), Diversity Outreach Coordinator
- · Link to recording
The Movement for Black Lives and Racial Justice
- · Hosted by DEI
- · Keynote Speaker: Dr. Amena Anderson, Assistant Professor of Practice, WVU ADVANCE
- · Moderator: Aisury Vasquez, (she/her/hers), Diversity Outreach Coordinator
- · Link to recording
The Movement for Black Lives and the Importance of Student Advocacy
- · Hosted by DEI
- · Student Panelists: Tracey Picou, Camryn Pressley, Ateria Walker
- · Moderator: Aisury Vasquez, (she/her/hers), Diversity Outreach Coordinator
- · Link to recording
Promoting Inclusive, Safe and Supportive Research Environment
- · Hosted by HSC Office of Research and Graduate Education
- · Speaker: Dr. Allison Gammie, Director, Division of Training, Workforce Development, and Diversity, National Institute of General Medical Sciences
- · Description and Link to Recording
Defining the Future of Diversity in the Workplace
- · Hosted by WVU Career Services
- · Speakers: Charlotte Swiger, Ryan Stannard, Charrae Rogers
- · Description and Link to Recording
Oct 11 - 17 Exhibit: Women Beyond Bars (in the Pylons)
- · Hosted by Schools of Public Health, Reed College of Media, Honors College
- · Description
October 12 Indigenous Peoples’ Day
10 a.m. Indigenous Peoples’ Day: Allyship and Advocacy
- · Hosted by DEI
- · Keynote Speaker: Bonnie Brown Native American Studies Program Coordinator
- · Moderator: Aisury Vasquez (she/her/hers), Diversity Outreach Coordinator
- · Link to recording
October 13 30th Anniversary of the ADA: Advancing Disability Justice
9 a.m. Race, Science and Power
- · Hosted by HSC Office of Research and Graduate Education
- · Keynote Speaker: Angela Saini
10 a.m. Disability Justice, Identity and Liberation
- · Hosted by DEI
- · Keynote Speaker: Jill Hess, Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Coordinator
- · Moderator: Aisury Vasquez (she/her/hers), Diversity Outreach Coordinator
- · Link to recording
Noon 2020 Election Series: The Value of Citizenship
- · Hosted by Eberly College of Arts and Sciences
- · Speaker: Greg Graham, Associate Professor in the Clara Luper Department of African and African American Studies, University of Oklahoma
- · Description
5 p.m. How to Navigate and Be Successful in a Male-Dominated Industry
- · Hosted by Statler College
- · Speaker: Laurie Wiegand-Jackson, Board Chairperson, Council on Women in Energy & Environmental Leadership
6:15 p.m. Advancing Disability Justice on a College Campus
- · Hosted by DEI
- · Student Panelists: Lauren Florio, Nicolette Edwards, Vanessa Bishop
- · Moderator: Aisury Vasquez, (she/her/hers), Diversity Outreach Coordinator
- · YouTube Link
7 p.m. Navigating Health Professional Education as a Person of Color/Under-represented Minority
- · Hosted by Multicultural Association of Students in Healthcare (MASH)
- · Panel with student representatives from the WVU Schools of Medicine, Pharmacy, and Dentistry
- · Moderator: Dr. Kerri Woodberry, MD, MBA, FACS, Associate Professor and Chief of Division of Plastic Surgery
- · Description
October 14 LGBTQIA+ Justice
8 a.m. – 5 p.m. Poster Display to Showcase Diverse Cultures
- · Hosted by School of Dentistry DEI Committee
- · Location: Hallway to the right beyond the Pylons, between the School of Dentistry and the School of Pharmacy
10 a.m. LGBTQ+ Justice: Current and Future Movements
- · Hosted by DEI
- · Keynote Speaker: Dr. Ellen Rodrigues, Interim Director of the LGBTQ+ Center
- · Moderator: Aisury Vasquez, (she/her/hers), Diversity Outreach Coordinator
- · Link to recording
11 a.m. Inclusive Language Training
- · Hosted by WVU Health Sciences Committee for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion
- · Description
1 p.m. Trans SafeZone Training
- · Hosted by WVU Tech Diversity
2 p.m. Voting While Transgender
- · Hosted by First Presbyterian Church, Morgantown
- · Speaker: Natasha Stone of Fairness WV
4 p.m. Defining the Future of Diversity in the Workplace
- · Hosted by WVU Career Services
- · Speakers: Charlotte Swiger, Ryan Stannard, Charrae Rogers
- · Description and Link to Recording
5 p.m. Moving Towards Anti-Racism: Exploring Racial Trauma
- · Hosted by School of Public Health
- · Keynote Speaker: Dr. Della V. Mosley, PhD, Black queer feminist, scholar, activist and healer committed to liberation
- · Moderator: Dr. Linda Alexander, PhD, Senior Associate Dean and School of Public Health Diversity Task Force chair
- · Description
6 p.m. Exploring Inclusion & Exclusion in the American Fraternity & Sorority Movement
- · Hosted by Center for Fraternal Values and Leadership
- · Speaker: Dr. Matthew Richardson, Director
7 p.m. Festival of Ideas: W. Kamau Bell
- · Moderator: Vice President Meshea L. Poore, Esq.
- · Festival of Ideas information
October 15 The History and Importance of Hispanic Heritage Month
10 a.m. State of Diversity Address
- · Speaker: Vice President Meshea L. Poore, Esq.
- · Moderator: Aisury Vasquez, (she/her/hers), Diversity Outreach Coordinator
- · Link to recording
2 p.m. VOX: Much More Than Spicy Food, Reggaeton and Salsa
- · Hosted by RiseWVU
- · Speakers: Mia Sebastian, Niara Cambell, Ellen Rodrigues, Gary Laruta, Aisury Vasquez
3 p.m. Promoting Inclusive, Safe and Supportive Research Environment
- · Hosted by HSC Office of Research and Graduate Education
- · Speaker: Dr. Allison Gammie, Director, Division of Training, Workforce Development, and Diversity, National Institute of General Medical Sciences
- · Description and Link to Recording
6:15 p.m. The Legacy and Power of Hispanic and Latinx/e Students
- · Hosted by DEI
- · Student Panelists: Mia Sebastian, Emma Locarnini, Rachelle Nieto and Alfredo Rodriguez
- · Moderator: Aisury Vasquez, (she/her/hers), Diversity Outreach Coordinator
- · YouTube Link
7 p.m. Learn About Islam with the Muslim Student Association
- · Hosted by the Muslim Student Association
- · Speakers: Nisa Rana, Sarah Zanablis
October 16 Black Lives Matter & Activism for a Just World
9 a.m. Reflection: Movement and Meditation
- · Hosted by the Women of Color Committee
- · Facilitator: Alex Fox, fitness instructor and meditation coach – guided group activity
- · Description
10
a.m. The Movement for Black Lives and
Racial Justice
- · Hosted by DEI
- · Keynote Speaker: Dr. Amena Anderson, Assistant Professor of Practice, WVU ADVANCE
- · Moderator: Aisury Vasquez, (she/her/hers), Diversity Outreach Coordinator
- · Link to recording
Noon Communicating Culture Change
- · Hosted by the Reed College of Media
- · Integrate Online website
1 p.m. You Are Enough. A Thousand Times Enough
- · Hosted by the Women of Color Committee
- · Keynote Speaker: Dr. Maria del Guadalupe (Lupe) Davidson, Director and Academic Coordinator for Social Justice Affairs, Eberly College of Arts and Sciences, Woodburn Professor of Women's and Gender Studies
- · Description
2-4 p.m. Social Justice Summit #1: A Call to Action
- · Hosted by the WVU Faculty Senate Inclusion and Diversity Committee
- · Registration
- · Social Justice Summit Series website
- · (Note: This event will continue 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. Oct 17)
4-5:30 p.m. Women of Color Networking Event
- · Hosted by the Women of Color Committee
- · Speakers: Dr. Tiffany Mitchell Patterson, Dr. Ellen Rodrigues, Marjorie Fuller, and Dr. Victoria Sanchez – Virtual meeting with breakout conversations
- · Description
6:15 p.m. The Movement for Black Lives and the Importance of Student Advocacy
- · Hosted by DEI
- · Student Panelists: Tracey Picou, Camryn Pressley, Ateria Walker
- · Moderator: Aisury Vasquez, (she/her/hers), Diversity Outreach Coordinator
- · YouTube Link