Cayuga Offering Diversity Series for Students, Employees

The Spring 2023 semester will see Cayuga Community College expand its Diversity, Equity and Inclusion initiatives by offering a Diversity Series for students and employees.

The Diversity Series will feature interactive, welcoming conversations that encourage discussion while also providing information and context to help the campus community better understand and support each other. In the past several years the College has offered diversity initiatives, but the formal series expands Diversity, Equity and Inclusion programming at Cayuga.

“We’re proud to launch this enhanced Diversity Series for our staff, faculty and students. Cayuga has always prided itself on being a diverse community that welcomes everyone to our campuses, and that will never change. This series is an incredible opportunity for all of us to better understand each other, and to realize ways that we can always work to improve. I encourage all of our students and our employees to attend as many sessions as possible,” said Cayuga President Dr. Brian Durant.

The series will be facilitated by Dr. Jodie Merriday, who has previously offered diversity sessions at Cayuga. Dr. Merriday is an expert on Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, Title IX and Multiculturalism, and is an experienced speaker and curator on these and related topics.

Dr. Merriday has more than 30 years’ experience working in higher education, public education and government, including as an Assistant Professor at Gordon State College and as a lecturer at Spelman College, the Community College of Philadelphia and other institutions.

All sessions will be offered virtually and will start at 11 a.m. Interested employees and students should email Norman Lee, Director of Student Activities, at leen@cayuga-cc.edu to receive the Zoom link. The sessions are not open to the general public at this time. Additional sessions may be scheduled discussing other diversity topic areas.

Monday, Feb. 20    

Uniting Community: Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging 101    

Room T-229 on the Auburn Campus and the AMI Lab on the Fulton Campus will be available for employees and students to attend this session in-person if they prefer. Refreshments will be provided.

Monday, Feb. 27    

Understanding Race in the era of BLM, Asian Hate, and Xenophobia: Tools, Skills and Language

Monday, March 13    

Celebrating the LBGTQIA+ Alphabet Rainbow: Using Pronouns and Creating Safe Spaces

Monday, March 27    

HERStory 101: Achieving Gender Equity, Esteeming Women, and Protecting Title IX