Office of International Education

Community Conversations With International Education, Diversity, and Inclusion

October 2, 2020

The Office of International Education, Diversity, and Inclusion is excited to invite the University community to join us on Thursday, October 29^, in our second Community Conversations session. We will again engage in meaningful peer-to-peer conversations about race. We will host conversations on two separate works—Option A is a great conversation for those learning to understand racism in themselves and the world around them. Option B is good for those who have spent a good deal of time engaging in anti-racist conversations and actions and/or are members of our BIPOC community.

Option A: How to be an antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi or Video Overview (Pair with this short video, The Urgency of Intersectionality from Kimberlé Crenshaw)
Option B: Eloquent Rage by Brittney Cooper or Video Overview (Pair with this short video The Urgency of Intersectionality from Kimberlé Crenshaw). Available via the public library; can be downloaded using your library card using the libby app. Email oiedi@up.edu for assistance if you are having difficulty gaining access to Dr. Cooper’s book.

Each option will be offered at both noon to 1:30 p.m. and 4 to to 5:30 p.m. on October 29, 2020.

RSVP to these conversations by Tuesday, October 27, so that we can assign you to a group.

We are also seeking facilitators for these discussions. Facilitators are not trainers. These are peer-to-peer conversations. We are looking for folks who are comfortable helping manage conversation flow and reminding the group of community standards if appropriate. Structure and discussion questions are available here. Facilitators are invited for a check-in at 11 a.m. on the just before the October 29 conversations and a debriefing on Friday, October 30, at 1 p.m.

Email oiedi@up.edu with questions, comments, or accommodation requests and check this link for updates. Finally, don’t forget to RSVP here!

Meaningful Peer-to-Peer Conversations About Race: July 30

July 17, 2020

The Office of International Education, Diversity, and Inclusion is excited to invite faculty and staff to join us on Thursday, July 30 from 4 to 5:30 p.m. as we engage in meaningful peer-to-peer conversations about race. We will host three conversations for you to choose from on the following works, please read or watch one of the materials below in preparation for the conversations:

Group 1) So you want to talk about race by Ijeoma Oluo or Video Overview
Group 2) White Fragility by Robin DiAngelo or Video Overview
Group 3) A conversation on talking to kids about race: Why are all the black kids sitting together in the cafeteria? By Beverly Daniel Tatum or Video Overview

You will need to RSVP to these conversations Monday, July 27 so that we can assign you to a group.

We are also seeking facilitators for these discussions. Facilitators are not trainers. These are peer-to-peer conversations. We are looking for facilitators who are comfortable helping manage conversation flow and reminding the group of community standards if appropriate. Structure and discussion questions are available here.

If you have a discussion or affinity group already established or would like to have a conversation as an office unit, please share with us what you are doing and let us know if you would like us to help you invite others or if we can help with logistics.

Email oiedi@up.edu with questions, comments, or accommodation requests and check this link for updates. Finally, don’t forget to RSVP here.

Office of International Education, Diversity, and Inclusion Announced

June 29, 2018

Effective July 1, 2018, a new academic unit, the Office of International Education, Diversity, and Inclusion, will be created that will include the following functions and personnel:

Director of Equity and Inclusion: To Be Announced
Director of International Students: Michael Pelley
Director of Studies Abroad: Eduardo Contreras
The Collaborative for International Studies and Global Outreach (CISGO)

Offering support to the director of equity and inclusion will be Yuri Hernandez Osorio, coordinator for diversity and inclusion programs in the Office of Student Activities.

Based on Tactic D 1.1 of the University’s Vision 2020 Strategic Plan (“Create a position to lead and support existing campus-wide international and intercultural endeavors, and to expand opportunities”), Eduardo Contreras will assume responsibility for this unit as assistant provost. The unit will be housed in Buckley Center and it will include a space where students can gather in a supportive environment that embodies the University’s commitment to diversity, inclusion, and equity.

For more information contact the president’s office at x7101 or simek@up.edu.