The University of Delaware’s Office of Equity and Inclusion (OEI) and Division of Professional and Continuing Studies (PCS) are teaming up to host a Diversity Summit for UD employees to share their experiences and insights around diversity and inclusion. The summit will take place June 20 at Clayton Hall, from 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.

“Diversity Summit: Realizing Social Justice for a Better UD” is a one-day professional development event aimed at members of UD’s employee community who wish to develop leadership skills, work more effectively with their colleagues, and share in conversations about social justice, equity and inclusion.

“The Diversity Summit was created for individuals who have aspirations of being change agents, not only at our university but in our larger society,” said Jennifer Daniels, event coordinator and associate director of diversity at OEI. “As active members and stakeholders in diversity and inclusion efforts here at UD, it was very important for OEI to provide an expanded learning and professional development opportunity like this summit.”

"I am thrilled with this new partnership between PCS and OEI,” added Sue Groff, OEI director and University Title IX coordinator. “This affords us the opportunity to provide professional development to our staff members as it aligns with the vice provost for diversity's plan for inclusive excellence.”

Keynote speakers will be Tony Allen, a UD trustee and UD alumnus who leads the corporate reputation group for Bank of America and who serves as chair of the Wilmington Education Improvement Commission, and Carol Henderson, UD’s vice provost for diversity and professor of English and Black American studies.

“This event offers an opportunity for the UD employee community to re-center and re-energize our role in the University’s core educational mission,” said Henderson. “Vital to that mission is our continuing dedication to fostering an overall welcoming and inclusive campus community at all levels.”

Any UD employee is encouraged to enroll, and supervisors and managers are encouraged to attend to support team members by bringing back the knowledge and skills they learn to their teams.

Added Henderson, “We want participants to come away with tools and action items that will strengthen their commitment to diversity and inclusion at UD, and at the same time, connect with their colleagues and partners across the University to share experiences and insights.”

In addition to the two keynote talks, the summit includes sessions that enable participants to learn from each other in an open and safe environment and encourage alternative ways of thinking and seeing the world. The event concludes with a session dedicated to action planning, providing an opportunity for participants to think about what they can do to improve the UD community and beyond.

“We think this event will provide a valuable opportunity for open and honest conversation at UD,” said Soma Chakrabarti, PCS director and a member of UD’s campus network of chief diversity advocates (CDAs), adding, “PCS is pleased to partner with OEI to bring this important event to the Blue Hen employee community.”

The summit is open to all University of Delaware staff members, exempt and non-exempt. The registration cost for the summit is $49. Continental breakfast and lunch are included. Employees may register individually or through their departments.

For details, including group registration options for UD units, visit the summit website.