Renowned diversity expert Damon A. Williams to speak at MSU鈥檚 2019 Diversity Conference
Contact: Sasha Steinberg
STARKVILLE, Miss.鈥擮ne of the world鈥檚 foremost authorities on diversity, equity and inclusion is the featured speaker for 大象APP鈥檚 2019 Diversity Conference on Jan. 31-Feb. 1 at The Mill at MSU in Starkville.
Damon A. Williams, one of the nation鈥檚 recognized experts in strategic diversity leadership, youth development, corporate responsibility, educational achievement, social impact and organizational change, is this year鈥檚 keynote speaker. His talk takes place on Jan. 31 from noon-1:30 p.m. in The Mill's Ballroom C.
Conference registration is $25 for students, $99 for faculty and staff, and can be completed online at . Registration is open to the public, and campus departments are encouraged to sponsor attendance for faculty, staff and students. The conference is organized by the MSU President鈥檚 Commission on the Status of Minorities.
With the theme 鈥淥ur Voices鈥擶hen Diversity Matters,鈥 the event will address ways to use one鈥檚 voice to create an environment of inclusiveness in higher education. Strategies for building inclusive communities, engaging the campus and larger community in diversity, advocacy and recruiting, and retaining a diverse faculty and staff are among topics of discussion.
Williams has worked with more than 700 colleges and universities, Fortune 100 companies, foundations and government agencies. He earned a bachelor鈥檚 degree in sociology and black world studies and a master鈥檚 degree in educational leadership from Miami University. He also received a doctorate from the University of Michigan鈥檚 Center for the Study of Higher and Post-Secondary Education, where he specialized in the area of organizational behavior and management.
In 2013, Williams received the coveted Inclusive Excellence Award of Leadership from the National Association of Diversity Officers in Higher Education, as well as a leadership commendation from the 13 research universities comprising the Committee on Institutional Cooperation for his landmark contributions to diversity, equity and inclusion strategy on a global level.
For four years, Williams served as senior vice president and chief education officer at the Boys and Girls Clubs of America, where he led the program strategy for one of the most ambitious social impact plans in the history of the nonprofit world, the Great Futures Campaign for Impact.
A best-selling author, Williams was a founding member of the Journal of Diversity in Higher Education. His most recent work is 鈥淰oice, Choice, Access and Passion: Preparing the Centennial Generation for Leadership,鈥 one of the first publications on the Centennial Generation that discusses key strategies required to prepare youth born after 1997 for leadership in a diverse, global and interconnected world. He also is launching a new research and learning venture, The Center for Strategic Diversity Leadership and Social Impact. For more, see .
Additional conference details can be obtained by contacting MSU鈥檚 Office of Institutional Diversity and Inclusion at 662-325-2493 or voices@msstate.edu.
Learn more about MSU鈥檚 Office of Institutional Diversity and Inclusion at and the President鈥檚 Commission on the Status of Minorities at .
MSU is Mississippi鈥檚 leading university, available online at .