California State University, Bakersfield's Division of Equity, Inclusion and Compliance continued it's community conversations series Thursday June 25, 2020 with a panel discussion moderated by CSUB Chief Diversity Officer Claudia Catota. This second installment of the series had similar themes to the first edition, but shifted it's format to focus on panelists providing context, insight, and answers to questions brought up in that community conversation. The panel presentation centered on three core topics: faculty recruitment and retention, Ethnic Studies at CSUB, and the Young Men of Color Initiative. CSUB Provost Dr. Vernon Harper led the discussion with a series of slides providing historical context to key questions asked in the prior community conversation such as data relative to faculty ethnicity, as well as highlighting immediate financial investments CSUB has made as a direct result of that conversation "One of the things we did in academic affairs was take a very hard look at questions asked and number one, act, not simply listen," Dr. Harper stated.

A series of Interdisciplinary Studies professors also provided insight into ethnic studies, it's relevance, and the possibility of its own department at CSUB. Assistant Professor of Interdisciplinary Studies Dr. Tracey Salisbury shared her hopes of the university expanding the educational offerings of CSUB beginning with ethnic studies, "let's be the leader of the curve, not behind it."

The next Community Conversation is scheduled for July 9, 2020 and will be hosted by Vice President of Student Affairs, Dr. Thomas Wallace. Support this podcast