Spring 2013 True Colors - Kent State University

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FROM THE DESK OF DR. BROWN Dear Friends, Spring is a time of transition: A time to look ahead, but also a time to reflect on the past and build on the work of those who came before us. The Division of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) welcome this time of transitioning; from building on the past, connecting to the present, and working towards a visionary future for diversity. We are aiming for transformative leadership throughout the university, a value that can be held by all members of the Kent State family. Through collaborative efforts we will transform our university into a place of national and international distinction for inclusive excellence in action. Spring semester at Kent State offers numerous opportunities for us to appreciate the diverse heritage we all share. DEI’s areas lead major programming and often connected to Black History and Women’s History months as well as bringing awareness to sexual assault during the month of April. Though programming is a cornerstone of the work within DEI, our efforts often include day-to-day support to students, faculty, staff and community members that work to benefit the entire Kent State University community. True Colors, our semi-annual division newsletter, shows how far we have come, as a division and a university, in our progress for diversity and inclusion. I’m always pleased to reflect on how hard DEI has worked and how much it has accomplished. The stories in this issue of True Colors include highlights of academic and outreach activities by the DEI team, including Native American and women’s events, breast cancer awareness, and activities of I AM, the Inclusive Actions Movement, a re-imagining and refocusing of the 100 Commitments initiative. Spring also is a time to celebrate our Upward Bound staff and programs, as we honor our graduating seniors and wish them well on their journeys to the future. Spring will also include the release of the division’s Equity Action Plan, our strategic vision and road map for the next five years. These stories we tell and remember represent building blocks of progress. As a division, we help assemble a university that embraces diversity work and is a national model of inclusion and equity. The Kent State community continues to respond to our focused efforts in the pursuit of “inclusive excellence,” which binds together President Lester A. Lefton’s Excellence in Action agenda. What we do is important, and I continue to recognize the good work everyone does for Kent State, its students, faculty and staff. True Colors is one vehicle in which to celebrate our distinctions and our commonalities. I hope you enjoy this spring edition. For the DEI staff members and all who work toward inclusive excellence: Thank you, Alfreda Brown Vice President for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion 2 Spring 2013
PROGRAM HIGHLIGHTS WOMEN’S CENTER The Women’s Center is scheduling mammogram appointments for qualified Kent State employees, spouses and students on April 10, 11 and 12. Mammograms take approximately 12 minutes and will be conveniently provided in Tiffany Breast Care’s mobile mammography unit. The van will be located on the Kent Campus in front of the Women’s Center. Each participant’s health insurance will be billed or participants may self-pay. EARLY DETECTION IS KEY Many women with early breast cancer have no symptoms. It is crucial to get screened before symptoms have a chance to appear. The most common sign of breast cancer is a new lump or mass. Other signs may include: • Swelling of all or part of the breast • Skin irritation or dimpling • Pain in the breast or nipple • Thickening of the nipple or breast • Discharge other than breast milk Marlo Kibler, coordinator of University Benefits for Kent State, was asymptomatic (no symptoms) and looked like the picture of health. She didn’t drink or smoke and maintained an active lifestyle. “I had an extremely rare form of cancer that is not typically responsive to traditional treatment methods such as chemo or radiation. Only because I go to the doctor every year to get a physical exam was it found,” says Kibler. “As it turns out, the type of cancer I had is indigenous to people of color and Greek decent. It affects less than one percent of the world population.” Kibler encourages other women to get screened and be proactive about their health. COLORS TRUE “Today, I am cancer free due to a surgery and I have been that way almost five years. I make sure I get every screening and test available to me during my annual physical and take a proactive approach to my health care.” BLACK WOMEN AND BREAST CANCER Although the overall lifetime risk of breast cancer is lower for black women compared with white women, the death rates are higher. Breast cancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer among black women and in 2010, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) reported that breast cancer was the leading cause of cancer death for black women aged 45-64 years. What was most alarming in this CDC report was that the breast cancer death rate for women aged 45-64 years was 60 percent higher for black women than white women. (CDC: National Vital Statistics System: http://www.cdc. gov/nchs/nvss.htm). To make the mammogram appointment more inviting, the Women’s Center will provide a free 10-minute chair massage for stress reduction and relaxation. The massage will be provided by Kristin Driscoll, licensed massotherapist and owner of Songs of the Sidhe Day Spa. For additional information or to register, call the Women’s Center at 330-672-9230, Monday through Friday, from 8-5. WOMEN’S HISTORY MONTH – MARCH 2013 Women Inspiring Innovation Through Imagination: Celebrating Women in Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics During the month of March, the National Women’s History Project will highlight the contributions of women in the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) and encouraging young women to consider careers in these fields. Kent State University’s Women’s Center will focus on the same theme for Women’s History Month with a variety of events and programs. For the Women’s History Month schedule of all events, please visit www.kent.edu/ womenscenter. Spring 2013 3
Page 1: COLORS TRUE THE Newsletter of the D
Page 5 and 6: SPOTLIGHT ON DIVERSITY January 20,
Page 7 and 8: COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS ACROSS THE UN

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