High school students, parents, civic leaders, business executives, and residents are invited to join Indiana University-Purdue University Columbus (IUPUC) students, faculty, and staff on Monday, January 18 from 11 a.m. until 1 p.m. as the campus honors the life and lasting legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
Dr. Lawrence Richards, interim vice chancellor, and dean shares “IUPUC is proud to continue its tradition of hosting a guest speaker in the Columbus Learning Center on Martin Luther King Day. This year, the presentation will take place at 11 a.m. in the CLC Lecture Hall on Monday, January 18, 2016. The public is cordially invited for the talk and a light lunch and conversation to follow.”
Richards also said that he will announce and recognize the recipients of IUPUC’s 2016 Excellence in Diversity Award during the January 18 event. “The recipients of this year’s IUPUC annual Excellence in Diversity Awards will be announced at the event. These awards recognize contributions through leadership on internal and external projects that positively impact the IUPUC campus and the Columbus community and surrounding region, respectively. Also, a special Champions of Diversity Award will be presented this year.”
“MLK Day provides an opportunity to reflect and re-energize in the struggle for civil and human rights throughout the United States and the world. I invite the community to join us for this event on this inspiring occasion. We will celebrate the legacy of Martin Luther King and recognize special examples of local leadership in promoting understanding and compassion for all,” explained Richards.
ABOUT THE SPEAKERS:
Dr. Kim D. Kirkland joined the Office of Equal Opportunity at IUPUI as director in June 2008. Kirkland is responsible for monitoring compliance with the University’s anti-harassment and anti-discrimination policies and laws. Dr. Kirkland’s experience includes monitoring compliance with federal and state equal opportunity and nondiscrimination laws and regulations. She also works in investigating and resolving discrimination and harassment complaints to determine if compliance or policy violations exist, to circumvent potential litigation, and propose corrective action(s) and/or interventions.
Additionally, Kirkland leads the business-wide diversity initiatives aimed at increasing the representation of women and minorities in leadership roles through recruitment, promotion, retention programs, and embedding accountability into performance goals.
Dr. Kirkland received her B.S. in Marketing from the University of Cincinnati; M.Ed. in HRD (Organizational Development) from Xavier University, Cincinnati, Ohio. She is a graduate from the Institute for Management and Leadership in Education at the Harvard Graduate School of Education; and her Ed.D. in Leadership Studies from Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, Ohio.
Margo Foreman is the assistant director, Diverse Workforce Recruitment & Retention in the Office of Equal Opportunity at IUPUC has been an employee at IUPUI since 1998. In addition to working for the Office of Equal Opportunity, she is a graduate student in IU School of Medicine in the Masters of Public Health Program.
Dr. Sandra Miles, director of student affairs and university ombudsman, at IUPUC, is a public advocate for diversity. On behalf of IUPUC, she adds, “We are extremely grateful to the African American Fund of Bartholomew County for sponsoring the lunch that will be provided and to the residents of Columbus who attend and support this event each year.”
For more information, please contact Dr. Sandra Miles, director of student affairs and university ombudsman, at (812) 314-8539 or smiles3@iupuc.edu.