1 “Diversity: The Power of Working Together for Change” Raytheon Sponsors Diversity Office at Disability Employment Awareness Seminar e Office of Diversity and Community Engagement, in partnership with the Office of Institutional Equity and Compliance and Raytheon Company, held the Disability Employment Awareness Seminar, which addressed the training needs and diversity challenges of college students with disabilities transitioning to the workforce. During the event’s Corporate Networking Luncheon, Raytheon presented a $5,000 check to the Office of Diversity and Community Engagement. e ODCE presented awards to Gary LaMonte, the vice president of Human Resources and Security for Raytheon Network Centric Systems; Emanuel Brady, Chief Diversity Officer and Vice President for IT in Raytheon Space and Airborne Systems; and Joseph W. Madaus, Ph.D., director of the Center on Postsecondary Education and Disability and professor in the Department of Educational Psychology at the University of Connecticut. Gary LaMonte served as the facilitator for the Corporate Networking Luncheon, during which UT Dallas alumnus Desmond Blair shared the phrase “students with differences” to describe students with disabilities which was well received among the luncheon participants. Fall 2015 e Office of Diversity and Community Engagement e MOSAIC Raytheon sponsors UT Dallas at the Disability Employment Awareness Seminar.
Transcript
1
“Diversity: The Power of Working Together for Change”
The Office of Diversity and Community Engagement, in partnership with the Office of Institutional Equity and Compliance and Raytheon Company, held the Disability Employment Awareness Seminar, which addressed the training needs and diversity challenges of college students with disabilities transitioning to the workforce.
During the event’s Corporate Networking Luncheon, Raytheon presented a $5,000 check to the Office of Diversity and Community Engagement. The ODCE presented awards to Gary LaMonte, the vice president of Human Resources and Security for Raytheon Network Centric Systems; Emanuel Brady, Chief Diversity Officer and Vice President for IT in Raytheon Space and Airborne Systems; and Joseph W. Madaus, Ph.D., director of the Center on Postsecondary Education and Disability and professor in the Department of Educational Psychology at the University of Connecticut.
Gary LaMonte served as the facilitator for the Corporate Networking Luncheon, during which UT Dallas alumnus Desmond Blair shared the phrase “students with differences” to describe students with disabilities which was well received among the luncheon participants.
Fall 2015
The Office of Diversity and Community Engagement
TheMOSAIC
Raytheon sponsors UT Dallas at the Disability Employment Awareness Seminar.
2
The Office of Diversity and Community Engagement strives to accomplish the fulfillment of the UT Dallas commitment to embrace, enhance and celebrate diversity at all levels of the University and our community through the efforts of faculty, staff, students, the executive leadership and community partnerships. UT Dallas aspires to be a leader in promoting diversity to reach the highest levels of excellence.
Arthur GreggAssistant VP for
Multicultural AffairsDirector,
Multicultural Center
Dr. George FairVice President for Diversity &
Community EngagementDean,
School of Interdisciplinary Studies
ContentsPg. 1 - Disability Employment Awareness SeminarPg. 2 - About UsPg. 3 - Office of Institutional Equity and CompliancePg. 4 - Institutional Diversity InitiativesPg. 5 - The Veterans Lecture & Community Diversity Advisory CouncilPg. 6-7 - Diversity AwardsPg. 8 - Women’s CenterPg. 9 - Multicultural CenterPg.10 - Community EngagementPg.11 - Contact InformationPg.12 - 2016 Diversity Awards Ceremony and Soirée
Contact UsThe Office of Diversity andCommunity Engagement,The University of Texas at Dallas,800 W. Campbell Road, AD26,Richardson, TX 75080
Physical Location:Administration Building AD 3.207Phone: (972) 883-4566Fax: (972) 883-4565
Community Engagement Multicultural Center
Galerstein Women’s Center Institutional Diversity Initiatives
James DockeryAssociate Vice President &
Title IX Coordinator,Institutional Equity
and Compliance
Office of Institutional Equity and Compliance
About UsOur Mission
3
The University of Texas at Dallas is committed to providing an educational, living and working environment that is welcoming, respectful and inclusive of all members of the University community. An environment that is free of discrimination and harassment allows members of the University community to excel in their academic and professional careers. To that end and to the extent provided by applicable federal and state law, the University prohibits unlawful discrimination against a person because of their race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy), national origin, age, disability, genetic information or veteran status. The University’s commitment to equal opportunity extends its nondiscrimination protections to include sexual orientation, gender expression and gender identity.
Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 is a federal law that prohibits sex discrimination in education. It reads, “No person in the United States shall, on the basis of sex, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefits of, or be subjected to discrimination under any education program or activity receiving Federal financial assistance.”
The Office of Institutional Equity and Compliance was created in the spring after the Office of Audit and Compliance were split into separate offices — Internal Audit and the Office of Institutional Compliance. Mr. Dockery’s role overseeing Compliance includes ensuring that the University follows practices that promote compliance with applicable laws, regulations, agreements and procedures.
James Dockery is assistant vice president for the Office of Institutional Equity and Compliance. As part of his role, Dockery serves as the University’s Title IX coordinator. Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972 protects students, employees, applicants and others from all forms of sex discrimination, including discrimination based on gender identity. Dockery is the primary contact person for reports of discrimination under Title IX, which includes sexual assault, domestic violence, dating violence, sexual harassment and stalking.
Brandy Davis serves as UT Dallas’ Director of Title IX Initiatives and as Deputy Title IX Coordinator in the Office of Institutional Equity and Compliance. Prior to coming to UT Dallas this past August, she worked for a private law firm as an attorney where she primarily represented public schools and colleges. Ms. Davis also teaches a class in higher education law for the University of North Texas. She graduated with honors from SMU Dedman School of Law and obtained her bachelor’s degree in philosophy from Florida State University.
“This semester, we have been very busy providing Title IX training to ensure that everyone is aware of UTD’s policies and procedures for addressing sex discrimination, sexual harassment and sexual violence on campus. I am proud to be a part of a university that is committed to equal opportunity and a safe learning and working environment for everyone.”
-Brandy Davis
Office of Institutional Equity and Compliance
Title IX: Sexual Discrimination, Harassment and Assault
4
Disability Employment Awareness SeminarThe Office of Diversity and Community Engagement strives to accomplish the fulfillment of the UT Dallas commitment to embrace, enhance and celebrate diversity at all levels of the University and our community through the efforts of faculty, staff, students, the executive leadership and corporate community partnerships. The Office of Diversity and Community Engagement, in partnership with the Office of Institutional Equity and Compliance and our corporate partner Raytheon Company, addressed the training needs and diversity challenges of college students with disabilities transitioning to the workforce at the Disability Employment Awareness Seminar.
The UT Dallas faculty, staff, students, caregivers and corporate community were invited to attend the seminar. At the seminar, discussions, information and resources reflected a number of the promising approaches that are available to support students’ preparation for the workplace demands of the new global economy. The seminar was held with the goal to broaden the awareness for affected students as well as corporate and educational entities alike to create a strong partnership between faculty, staff, students and the corporate community in the North Dallas area.
Joseph W. Madaus, Ph.D. is a director for the Center on Postsecondary Education and Disability, and a professor for the Department of Educational Psychology at the University of Connecticut.
Emanuel Bradyis vice president for Information Technology and chief information officer at Raytheon Space and Airborne Systems, and is a member of the SAS Leadership Team.
In her lecture, Juana Bordas explored the value and the richness Hispanics bring to America. Hispanics are “De Colores” – a diverse and multicultural people. Through music, interaction and sharing, attendees experienced the positive assets and creative energy this diversity brings. Latino leadership is people-centered, community-based and encourages participation – attendees explored how Latino leadership is well-suited for a multicultural global future. Juana Bordas is a nationally recognized Latina leader and award-winning, best-selling author. She is a founder of Mi Casa Resource Center in Denver and the founding president of the National Hispana Leadership Institute. Bordas was the first Latina faculty at the Center for Creative Leadership and served as vice president of the Greenleaf Center for Servant Leadership and trustee of the International Leadership Association.
Salsa, Soul and Spirit: Diversity as a Leadership Opportunity
Institutional Diversity Initiatives
Special thanks to our corporate sponsor:
5
Military service members and veterans are equipped with the strategies and tools to ensure they thrive in overwhelmingly adverse situations. While they are engulfed in purpose and a mission-oriented mindset while in uniform, many warriors temporarily lose that sense of purpose and falter during their transition back into civilian life. Attendees heard from two veterans who have fought their way through intense conflict overseas, battled the hardships of reintegration back at home, and discovered a renewed sense of purpose by helping bridge the military-civilian divide.
KeeShaun Coffey and Mike Rials shared myths related to the signature wounds of our nation’s most recent wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and traumatic brain injury (TBI), and how training the brain like we train the body empowers warriors to master their most valuable weapon – their brain. Their presentation included a preview of the Center’s scientifically validated high performance brain training program that has been shown to support cognitive enhancement and life improvement in many populations, including warriors, executives, teens, healthy adults and those with TBI. Additionally, Coffey and Rials highlighted how a holistic approach to adopting the right strategies and healthy brain habits can propel these warriors to lead the successful, fulfilling lives they deserve.
In mid-April, the Office of Diversity and Community Engagement’s Community Diversity Advisory Council wrapped up its last meeting for the school year. The council is led by Raul Hinojosa, UT Dallas Director of Community Engagement. The purpose of the Council is to support ODCE initiatives and advise staff about important diversity and inclusion best practices. The Council’s membership include representatives from DFW iRealty, FedEx Office, American Language Technologies Inc., Parkland Health & Hospital System, Lennox International Inc., Southwest Airlines Co., Raytheon and Blue Cross Blue Shield. Over the course of the year, members took a tour of the recently built Edith O’Donnell Arts and Technology Building and discussed diversity-related programs and initiatives at the University, including Diversity Dialogues, Empower & Connect Women’s Series, Martin Luther King Awards Breakfast and the Minority Scholars’ Symposium.
Council members were also briefed by UT Dallas staff from various departments, including the Veteran Services Center’s director, Lisa McNeme and Director of Education Abroad and Intercultural Programs, Lisabeth Lassiter. Several Council members and their corporations provided generous support for the ODCE Retention Scholarship and were recognized at the Diversity Awards Gala in spring. The individuals and corporations that provided support included Jay Forte, Lennox International Inc., Southwest Airlines Co. and Blue Cross Blue Shield.
The Veterans Lecture
Community Diversity Advisory Council
KeeShaun Coffeyis head of business development at the Center for BrainHealth’s Brain Performance Institute. He oversees the strategic growth and development of the organization and delivers high performance brain training to executives and warriors.
Mike Rialsis a Marine Corps veteran, Purple Heart recipient and is head of training operations for the Brain Performance Institute. He facilitates high performance brain training for warriors, corporate executives, athletes, and others.
6
DiversityAwardsCeremony and Soirée
On Thursday, April 23, 2015, ODCE celebrated its Annual Diversity Awards Ceremony. During the event, over 100 guests gathered in the UT Dallas Alexander Clark Center to celebrate the achievements of students, student organizations, staff, faculty and community and corporate members who help advance UT Dallas’s commitment to embrace, enhance and celebrate diversity.
HIV/AIDS Awareness activist, athlete, and former Project Runway contest Jack Mackenroth served as the master of ceremonies. The program opened with a rendition of the national anthem by Dhunki, a South Asian a capella group founded at UT Dallas. What followed was an inspiring testimonial by Anna Morales, a neuroscience major, recipient of the ODCE’s Retention Scholarship and a Diversity Scholar. Danielle Edmonds and Aeon Robitaille, winners of the 2015 UT Dallas Poetry Slam, performed their poem, “Walk a Mile in My Shoes.” Second place winners include Ms. Reema Patel and Ms. Carolyn Nguyen, along with third place winners Ms. Veronica Rodriguez, Mr. Dennis Kovalev and Mr. Jacob Mandel.
Nicholas Hernandez, a political science major, was presented with the Student Diversity Award, an award given to a student who has shown a commitment to academic and community excellence. Kappa Delta Chi Inc. was awarded the Student Organization Diversity Award because of its mission to promoting the values of unity, honesty, integrity and leadership among women at colleges and universities.
Melissa Palmer received the Staff Diversity Award, and Dr. Charles Hatfield received the Teaching Award for Inclusive Excellence and Intercultural Engagement.
In addition to its mission of recognizing the achievements of UT Dallas students, staff and faculty, the event acknowledges the contributions of community and corporate individuals. Jay Forte, a member of ODCE’s Community Diversity Advisory Council, was honored with this year’s Community
7
Champion of Diversity Award. In addition to being CEO/President of American Language Translations, Forte is a founding member of Youth First Texas (now a program of the Resource Center at Dallas, Youth First), Youth First Texas-Collin County (now GALA Youth), and serves as a representative of the Dallas Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and the Dallas Convention and Visitors Bureau.
Blue Cross and Blue and Shield of Texas, a division of Health Care Service Corporation, received the Corporate Diversity Award.
Proceeds from ticket sales to this event, along with the generous contributions of Blue Cross Blue Shield, Lennox, Rockwall Collins, Southwest Airlines, the UT Dallas School of Natural Sciences and Mathematics, and the UT Dallas Department School of Arts and Humanities will fund the Retention Scholarship. With over $14,000 raised, ODCE will be able to award Retention scholarships to a diverse group of students who are in the later years of completing their undergraduate education. For many students, this scholarship helps defray a number of costs that would otherwise make it especially challenging for students to continue their education and obtain their degree. This year’s event marks the first time in which, due to their generous gifts, Lennox International and Blue Cross Blue Shield will have a select group of Retention scholarships designated with their company’s name.
The event closed with an unique opportunity to see firsthand a portion of the AIDS Memorial quilt that was provided courtesy of C.U.R.E., a not for profit, Plano-based organization that educates the North Texas region on the continuing risks and stigma associated with HIV/AIDS.
Guests were also treated to an assortment of food from around the world and music from a live mariachi band. Special thanks to all of the volunteers and participants, students from the UT Dallas Student Ambassadors program, the Academic Bridge program, the Bangladeshi student organization, the Comet Jazz student band, members of the Student Diversity Advisory Council, and Abigail Zapote for her leadership of the Student Diversity Advisory Council.
Thank you to our sponsors
8
Lavender Graduation has become an iconic ceremony at many American universities starting with the first Lavender Graduation in 1995 at the University of Michigan. For the past three years, UT Dallas has joined the growing list of universities who are honoring this tradition.
The LEAP (LGBTQIA Education, Advocacy and Programming) Committee, under the direction of the Galerstein Women’s Center, has developed and hosted Lavender Graduation for our graduating LGBTQIA students who wish to be recognized for their academic and personal achievements. This year’s ceremony took place on May 12, 2015, in beautiful McDermott Suite with a delicious buffet provided by Chartwell’s. Additional sponsors of the event included Alumni Relations, the Office of Diversity and Community Engagement, the Career Center, the Multicultural Center and the Student Counseling Center.
This year’s Lavender Graduation honored eleven graduating LGBTQIA students along with their support system of peers, partners, family, faculty and staff. Dean Gene Fitch and Associate Dean of Students, Kim Winkler presented each graduating student with a certificate and rainbow cord, and each student received a gift bag from Lauren DeCillis, Director of the Galerstein Women’s Center.
UT Dallas intends to continue this tradition to celebrate the accomplishments of our LGBTQIA graduating students.
The Lavender Graduation was created by Dr. Ronni Sanlo, a Jewish lesbian keynote speaker in LGBT communities. The Lavender Graduation is an annual ceremony conducted on campuses nationwide to honor LGBT students and to acknowledge their accomplishments and contributions to the University.
Galerstein
Women’s Center
9
Multicultural Center
The Hispanic Leadership Banquet held in the Student Union Galaxy Rooms on May 9, 2015, served as a ceremony to recognize Hispanic graduating seniors and student leaders. Student leader and speech contest winner, Diego Lopez, member of “So You Pretend You Can’t Dance” (SPYCD) and Omega Delta Phi Fraternity Inc. served as keynote student speaker.
These celebrations are not just a chance to applaud the end of an academic year, but a time to celebrate the success of our students. And in doing so, these events create traditions that are passed down to each entering UT Dallas student. This year, the Hispanic Leadership Banquet formed a planning committee composed of student leaders from each Hispanic student organization on campus. This committee not only put together an amazing banquet, but pushed to have cultural stoles presented to each graduating senior. This year, the Hispanic Leadership Banquet and Harambee Celebration presented over 75 stoles to each of its graduating seniors, beginning a new tradition of celebrating excellence at UT Dallas.
Hispanic Leadership Banquet
Harambee Celebration
This past spring brought forth another exciting season of end of the year banquet celebrations at UT Dallas. On April 26, 2015, the Multicultural Center held its annual Harambee Celebration in the Student Union Galaxy Rooms to honor African-American spring and fall graduates as well as acknowledge the contributions of student leaders and their achievements during the 2014-2015 academic year.
10
Community EngagementThe UT Dallas Department of Community Engagement and Project Still I Rise (PSIR) held its fifth Urban STEM Camp on campus from June 7 to 10. The camp was created to give young men from underserved communities throughout Dallas an opportunity to learn more about STEM disciplines through workshops, presentations and competency drills.
This year’s camp had a focus on coding and programing. The camp staff partnered with the Erik Jonsson School of Engineering and Computer Science’s Computer Science Outreach Department to plan the coding activities. The students attended daily workshops on “Enjoyable coding with Alice” and “Enjoyable coding with JavaScript.” The camp concluded with a corporate field trip to PepsiCo Frito–Lay Headquarters in Plano. While on the field trip, students had an opportunity to learn more about the company, meet and greet professional engineers and take a corporate plant tour. The students learned how engineers help make their favorite snacks.
The camp was supported by Rockwell Collins, Texas Instruments Black Employee Initiative, PepsiCo and McDonalds. For more information about the 2016 camp or to help support the program, contact the Department of Community Engagement at972-883-4546.
This year’s camp served 30 middle and high school students, providing them with an intellectually stimulating environment designed to strengthen their STEM skills. The camp kicked off with presentations given by UT Dallas staff on financial aid, the college application process, scholarships and college life. Following the presentation, the participants had an opportunity to compete in STEM based competitions, which taught them the value of teamwork and innovation.
11
Contact Information
The Office of Diversity andCommunity Engagement800 W. Campbell Road, AD26Richardson, TX 75080
Phone: 972-883-4566Fax: 972-883-4565Office: AD 3.207
www.utdallas.edu/diversity/
The Department ofCommunity Engagement800 W. Campbell Road, HH26Richardson, TX 75080
The Office of InstitutionalEquity and Compliance800 W. Campbell Road, SPN15Richardson, TX 75080
Phone: 972-883-2292Office: SPN 2.210
www.utdallas.edu/oiec/
12
For more information contact Rosie Peterson at [email protected] University of Texas at Dallas is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative ActionUniversity. Individuals who need special accomodations to attend, please call
The Office of Diversity and Community Engagement at 972-883-4566.Texas Relay Operation: 1-800-RELAYTX.
