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East Stroudsburg University’s Provost’s Colloquium Series, an intellectual experience that promotes dialogue among ESU faculty, staff, students, and community, continues with a presentation by Laura Kieselbach, Ed.D., assistant professor of English, T. Storm Heter, Ph.D. associate professor of philosophy and religious studies, and Gene Kelly, Ph.D., interim dean student life. The presentation “A Predominantly White Institution in Transition: Diversity and Inclusion Efforts at ESU” will take place on Wednesday, November 20 at 5:30 p.m. in Beers Lecture Hall. The lecture is open to the public at no cost.

The presenters will discuss the subject of doing diversity work at a Predominately White Institution (PWI) in transition. ESU has a faculty demographic that reflects the national trend of an “overwhelmingly homogenous” 82% white educational workforce, yet 43.4% of the students are of a different demographic. Since 2014 ESU has experienced an explosive growth of racial diversity within its student population, while the diversity of the faculty and staff has stagnated. In 2016, a collection of staff, faculty, and students at ESU formed the Diversity and Inclusion Committee to support new and existing diversity programming. Three areas in which members of the Diversity and Inclusion Committee have been working are gender and sexuality, culturally relevant teaching, and small group student dialogue. The panel will share the successes and continued challenges as they carry on efforts to change the campus culture as a whole.

For more information about the Provost’s Colloquium Series, contact Christina McDonald, director, office of sponsored projects and research, at (570) 422-7954 or cmcdonald9@esu.edu.