“Expanding and Understanding our Diverse World” is the theme of this year’s UT Knoxville College of Communication and Information (CCI) Diversity and Inclusion Week, October 1-4.
The week will feature panel discussions on a wide range of diversity issues, culminating with the CCI Diversity and Inclusion Festival, Thursday, October 4, in Circle Park. The festival will include a barbecue, music, dance, and dramatic performances by students from the college and Knoxville area entertainers. For more information, visit the college’s website.
“This event offers students, faculty, and staff from our college and from the entire university a chance to gain diversity skills and knowledge,” CCI dean Mike Wirth said. “It’s also a chance to bring together leaders and experts from the university and from the wider community for dialogue and the sharing of best practices.”
Nine panels will meet throughout the week in the Communication Building’s CCI Auditorium (Room 321) and Scripps Convergence Lab (Room 402), and Alumni Memorial Building Room 27. View the complete schedule here.
Panel discussion topics:
- “Our Civic World,” featuring panels on politics and diversity and Latino issues in East Tennessee.
- “Our Personal World,” with sessions tackling diversity, health, and sexuality, and an open forum.
- “Our Work World,” with panel discussions on general differences in the workplace and exploring diversity through study abroad programs.
- “Our Communal World,” with sessions on “Does Skin Color Really Matter in Our Diverse World” and diversity in sports.
“Developing diversity and inclusion skills is a vital part of the education we provide to our students,” said Alice Wirth, lecturer in the School of Communication Studies and director of CCI’s Diversity Student Leaders Society. “CCI Diversity and Inclusion Week is a great forum for helping students learn to navigate the diverse world in which they live.”
All sessions are free and open to the public. Most events will be streamed live at www.ustream.tv.
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CONTACT:
Donna Silvey (865-974-2148, dsilvey@utk.edu)