Summits - Staff

UC Riverside Hosts Second Diversity Summit
The University of California, Riverside hosted the second in a series of Diversity Summits on Monday, Oct. 24 at the UCR Extension Center, conference rooms D and E, 1200 University Ave.

The purpose of the summit was to advance campus discussions on the value of diversity in various university programs and departments. The summit focused on enhancing both staff diversity and the career opportunities for diverse staff who want to become managers. Featured speakers were Chancellor France A. Córdova; and Carlos Cortés, professor emeritus in the Department of History and world-renowned expert on diversity in the media. There were also special presentations from UC Office of the President representatives Kay Miller, executive director of client relations, and Joseph Epperson, director of diversity and employee programs.

Professor of Anthropology and Special Assistant to the Chancellor for Excellence and Diversity Yolanda T. Moses organized the event. Her planning group included Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs Jim Sandoval; Susan Allen Ortega, dean of students; Adrienne Sims, director of the Women’s Resource Center; Title IX Office Director Debbie Artis; Ashley Panthera, assistant vice chancellor, Human Resources; Principal Contract and Grant Analyst Bill Schmechel; Carolyn Murray, professor of psychology; Gary Wilkins, director, Office of Faculty & Staff Affirmative Action; UCR Staff Assembly Chair Kathy Barton, who is also director of marketing and research at the College of Natural and Agricultural Sciences; and Sue Anderson, principal human resources analyst.

This summit collected information to further one of the Chancellor’s strategic goals of recruiting and retaining staff, managers and administrators who reflect the diverse face of California and the nation. Campus leaders believe that this diversity only serves to enrich the academy with varied perspectives and innovative ideas. The summit was designed to highlight the challenges the institution faces in increasing, for example, the number of women and underrepresented minorities in the staff and administrative ranks, including:

1. recruiting and retaining a diverse staff,
2. creating a climate that embraces diversity,
3. and ongoing education and training around diversity issues.

This forum offered the opportunity to discuss strategies to meet these challenges as well as to develop a blueprint for action. Institutional leaders were seeking the input of concerned citizens of the region as well.

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