Camarillo, Calif., March 11, 2010 – CSU Channel Islands (CI) will welcome Hugh Vasquez, an educator and activist in multicultural work, to campus on Tuesday, March 16. He will give several presentations: a discussion for students, one for the CI and Oxnard College faculties, and one for the public. His appearance will kick off a Diversity Series between CI and Oxnard College that will encourage the campuses to examine their values and commitment to diversity awareness and student-centered campuses for all students.
On the morning of March 16, a group of students will meet with Vasquez to discuss sections of his documentary “Skin Deep”, which addresses racism among college students. The faculty presentation will be held in CI’s John Spoor Broome Library, Room 1360, from 12 to 1:30 p.m. The faculties will view portions of “Skin Deep” and then engage in a dialogue with Vasquez on “Addressing Diversity in the Classroom.”
Vasquez will hold a public presentation entitled “Building Multicultural Alliances” from 7 to 8:30 p.m. in CI’s MVS Center, Room 1908. Vasquez’s presentations are sponsored by the CI and Oxnard College HSI STEM programs (Hispanic Serving Institution, Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics), the Center for Multicultural Engagement and the Center for Community Engagement.
Over the last 20 years Hugh Vasquez has become a prominent speaker and leader in the field of multicultural diversity, helping national organizations to establish nationwide diversity initiatives.
He is a presenter with Speak Out, a national organization providing top speakers on social justice issues.
A filmmaker and author, Vasquez has also worked with educational institutions to create strategies to promote inclusion and equity. He and co-author Victor Lewis created a four volume curriculum entitled Lessons from the Color of Fear, to be used in conjunction with their film “The Color of Fear”, a resource for those working in diversity training.
Dr. Phil Hampton, Professor of Chemistry at CSU Channel Islands and Director of CI’s HSI STEM grant stated, “Multicultural perspectives are integral to CI’s mission and the Center for Multicultural Engagement works across faculty and student affairs to proactively address issues of diversity.”
For media inquiries contact Nancy Gill, Director of Communication & Marketing at CSU Channel Islands at 805-437-8456 or nancy.gill@csuci.edu.
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About California State University Channel Islands
CSU Channel Islands(CI) is the only four-year, public university in Ventura County and is known for its interdisciplinary, multicultural and international perspectives, and its emphasis on experiential and service learning. CI’s strong academic programs focus on business, sciences, liberal studies, teaching credentials, and innovative master’s degrees. Students benefit from individual attention, up-to-date technology, and classroom instruction augmented by outstanding faculty research. CI has been designated by the U.S. Department of Education as a Hispanic-Serving Institution and is committed to serving students of all backgrounds from the region and beyond. Connect with and learn more by visiting CI's Social Media.