February 06, 2023

Conversation on ‘fostering welcoming and belonging’ on campus is Feb. 14

A “Conversation of Understanding” next week will look at the 2022 Viewfinder Campus Climate survey and ways to improve a sense of belonging and making university campuses more welcoming. Faculty, staff, students, alumni and community members are invited to join the live virtual discussion at noon Tuesday, Feb. 14 on the SIU System’s YouTube channel. 

The conversation will look at the benefits of belonging that include higher job satisfaction, reduced stress, more connection and communication, and increased communication. The discussion will also focus on critical issues regarding equity and justice in the country and what can be done to address those issues within the SIU System and beyond. 

Participants will include: 

  • Dan Mahony, SIU System president.
  • Sheila Caldwell, SIU System vice president for antiracism, diversity, equity and inclusion, and chief diversity officer, who will facilitate the conversation.
  • Heidy Cuervo Carruthers, associate professor of Spanish, foreign languages and literature, and Hispanic/Latinx Faculty and Staff Association, SIU Edwardsville.
  • Candice Hall, assistant professor, Department of Educational Leadership, School of Education, Health and Human Behavior, SIU Edwardsville.
  • Nick Niemerg, assistant director, constituent relations, University Advancement, and president, Queer Faculty and Staff Association, SIU Edwardsville.
  • Sookyung Suh, transformation strategist for the Office of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion, assistant professor, director of organizational change management, SIU School of Medicine.
  • Angela Towne, program coordinator, LGBTQ Resource Center, SIU Carbondale. 

A Q&A session will follow where participants can use the YouTube comment section. Questions may be submitted before or during the event to doris.williams@siu.edu.  

To add the event to your Outlook calendar, view it on the campus calendar, click the plus sign at the bottom, then click download iCal.  

This is the fourth session of a six-part series for the 2022-23 academic year. The Conversation of Understanding series began in June 2020 and features virtual exchanges where students, alumni, faculty, staff and community members can share their experiences and thoughts on a variety of themes related to diversity, equity and inclusion.   

The SIU System President’s Office and the SIU System Diversity Advisory Council are discussion sponsors.