Klymyshyn Symposium on Inclusive Excellence And Social Justice

The Klymyshyn Symposium is a chance to celebrate and make better known the research efforts conducted nationally that are centered around equity, inclusion, belonging, and social justice. It is a chance for members of the campus and the broader community to learn about how CMU faculty, staff, and students are dedicated and involved in research and activism for diverse populations.

The Klymyshyn Symposium on Inclusive Excellence and Social Justice is set for February 12-14, 2025, at the Bovee University Center with this year's theme of "Growing from Awareness to Action." The event’s name was changed to honor the work of longtime CMU employee, Dr. A. Ulana Klymyshyn, who served the university as the first administrator for the Office of Diversity Education.

Dr. Klymyshyn also taught cultural anthropology in what was formerly the College of Health and Behavioral Sciences. She used research and social justice scholarship to advance multicultural education within the CMU community, including the surrounding area. Dr. Klymyshyn retired from CMU in 2015 with emerita status. Through a series of presentations, panel discussions, and workshops, participants will have the opportunity to learn about groundbreaking initiatives and how CMU is fostering a more inclusive and equitable environment. Don't miss out on this opportunity to engage in thought-provoking conversations and action-oriented solutions! Registration is open.

The 2025 Klymyshyn Symposium will take place in the UC Rotunda. Closing activities with the Provost's Fireside Chat and sessions will take place in CEHS French Auditorium.

2025 Klymyshyn Symposium on Inclusive Excellence and Social Justice Daily Schedule-in-Brief

Wednesday, February 12, 2025

Bovee University Center

8:30 a.m.

• Registration and Coffee

9:30 a.m.

• Session A: Examining the impact of privilege. (General)
• Session B: Building accessibility across community infrastructure. (General)

10:30 a.m.

• Session A: Thriving Under Pressure: Transforming fight or flight into Effective Responses.(General)
• Session B: Helping foster children aging out of the care to become successful adults. (General)

Noon to 2 p.m.

• Symposium Welcome
• Opening Address – Dr. Shawna Patterson-Stephens
• Vice President for Inclusive Excellence and Belonging
• Recognition of Dr. Ulana Klymyshyn

2:15 p.m.

• Session A: The audacity of an Old Settler (Educators/General)
• Session B: Press Play: Centering your why (Wellness/General)
• Session C: The intersection of race, ethnicity, and Polycystic Ovary Syndrome: Addressing health disparities (Health/General)

3:15 p.m.

• Session A: Inclusive excellence in politics (General)
• Session B: Positionality and Active Listening (General)

4:15 p.m.

• Supporting Women, Gender and LGBTQ+ Studies in Challenging Political Times (General)
• The Women and Gender Studies session will be followed by a reception hosted by the CMU ADVANCE committee and CMU Chapter of the MI-ACE Women’s Network.
  

Thursday, February 13, 2025 

Bovee University Center

8:30 AM

• Registration and Welcome

9:15 AM

•  Session A: Systematic review of access to Sex Education for minority adolescents (Wellness/Community)
•  Session B: What data tells us about CMU students' experiences with diversity (Fac/Staff & Student)
•  Employee Resource Groups: Bringing awareness and inspiring action (General/Community)

10:15 AM

•  Session A : Dementia Collaborative Coaching (Wellness/Community)
•  Session B: Consent practices and the creation of equitable and inclusive learning environments (Fac/staff & Student)

11:00 AM

• Session A: From Awareness to Action: The Role of mentoring and sponsorship in advancing equity (Wellness/Community)
• Session B: An Examination of the experiences of Autistic librarians in positions of leadership (General/Community)

12 - 2 Keynote Luncheon

• The Art of Inclusion and Advocacy
• Stacey Robinson, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

2:00 PM

• Session A: Pharmacotherapy Ethics: Navigating controversial medication ingredients in medical practice (Wellness/Community)
• Session B: Towards improving healthcare for people with disabilities (Wellness/Community)

3:00 PM

• Session A: Access for All: Increasing Emergency Contraceptives accessibility and affordability for college students (Wellness/Community)
• Session B: Equity-focused assessment: Enhancing student learning through reflective practices and data-driven action (Fac/Staff)

4:00 PM

• Session A: Photovoice as Resistance in Liminal Spaces (Fac/ Staff & Student)
• Session B: First-Gen Student Experience (Fac/Staff & Student)

Friday, February 14, 2025

College of Education and Human Services Building

French Auditorium

9:00 AM

• Coffee and Updates

9:15 AM

• Fireside Chat with CMU Interim Provost Paula Lancaster
• The intersections of inclusive and academic excellence

10:10 AM

• Session A: Learning communities as a driver for humanizing STEM  (Fac/Staff)
• Session B: A toolkit for rewriting bylaws that support Intersectional Gender Equality  (Fac/Staff)

11:10 AM

• Session A: The evolution of women in facilities: A journey of the idea to reality (General)
• Session B: Advocacy of peer support groups for Autistic college students (KCP Fellow, Fac/Staff/Students/Community)

Noon to 2 PM

• Vice Presidential Signature Session featuring Congresswoman Brenda Lawrence

2:00 PM

• Session A: Brainstorming with advisors on how to support our students (Fac/Staff)
• Session B: From Bias to Balance: A data-driven approach to fair recruitment practices (General)

3:00 PM

• Session A: First Gen Rising: The Queller Leadership Scholars program overview (Fac/Staff & Students)
• Session B: Student Advocates for Prison Reform and the Incarcerated (SAPRI): Growing from awareness to action through RSO engagement at CMU
  

2024 CMU Diversity Symposium 

Fireside Chat with President Davies

This discussion explored the state of equity, inclusion, justice, and belonging in higher education with CMU President Bob Davies. This dialogue was facilitated by OIDEI Student Assistant, Fatimah Khan.  

Lunch Keynote Holiday Simmons, MSW

Roundtable on Inclusion in Education with Provost Nancy Mathews

This discussion focused on inclusion in education and was facilitated by OIDEI Student Assistants, Yina Todd and Fatimah Khan. 

Vice Presidential Signature Session: Equity-Minded Finance in Higher Education

The Vice-Presidential Signature Session featured a conversation on equity-minded finance and budgeting in higher education. This panel discussion explored strategies for campus leaders to embed equitable practices in budgeting, resource allocation, and financial considerations related to university operations and organization.

2023 CMU Diversity Symposium

Cost of Poverty Experience

• The virtual experience is a 90-minute interactive poverty simulation that provides a glimpse into the lives of income-challenged families and their communities. This presentation was facilitated by CMU professors Lissa Schwander, Social Work, and Mary Senter, Sociology. 

Lunch Keynote Dr. Jonathan Metzl 

• Dr. Metzl’s keynote speech discussed the research presented in his novel "Dying of Whiteness: How the Politics of Racial Resentment is Killing America’s Heartland. 

Breakfast with “Real Dialogue” 

• Have you ever longed for more skillful ways to negotiate one-on-one dialogue over critical or relevant matters? Dr. Polly Young-Eisendrath, a psychologist and author, helped address that question during a presentation and demonstration of her “Real Dialogue” model. Polly uses her experiences to focus dialogue on a micro level. 

2022 CMU Diversity Symposium

The 7th Annual Campus Diversity Symposium took place on April 27, 2022.

• The event was available via LIVESTREAM
• 2022 CMU Diversity Symposium program