School of Business Forum Examined “Creating Inclusive Communities”

On September 30, more than 100 people attended a School of Business forum, “Creating Inclusive Communities in the Classroom, the Boardroom and Beyond.” The event was cosponsored by the School of Business, led by its Equity and Diversity Committee, and by the Associated Students of Madison (ASM) Plan 2008 Committee.

Keynote speaker for the forum was Wisconsin Secretary of Commerce Mary Burke, who spoke on the importance of a diverse workforce to corporate America. An interactive discussion was facilitated by UW-Madison’s Theatre for Cultural and Social Awareness, which performed vignettes involving diversity, inclusiveness and classroom/workplace climate.

“Patrick Sims’ theater group designed some very clever vignettes,” said Dean Michael Knetter. “And because they are fun, people are more relaxed, and better able to open up to their neighbors about the topics presented. Patrick’s self-effacing approach to the issues also helped people feel free to express themselves. It was the most valuable event of its kind I have attended.”

A panel of university and industry representatives discussed diversity and inclusiveness issues on campus and in corporate settings and answered questions from the audience.

Panelists were:

• Bernice Durand, Associate Vice Chancellor for Diversity and Campus Climate
• Luis Pinero, Assistant Vice Chancellor and Director of the UW-Madison Equity and Diversity Resource Center
• Patrick Sims, Director of the Theatre for Cultural and Social Awareness
• Katie Porter, Manager of Diversity and Human Resources at W.W. Grainger, Inc.
• Gary Lessuise, Assistant Dean for Master’s Programs, UW-Madison School of Business (and former executive with Ford Motor Company)
• Seema Kapani, UW-Madison Diversity Education Coordinator

As a result of positive feedback to the first forum, the School of Business Equity and Diversity Committee is planning several follow-up events for the spring semester. The aim is to involve participants in smaller interactive activities for a variety of groups within the School of Business community.

Dean Knetter said he was pleased by response to the first forum. “One of our biggest opportunities for improvement at the School of Business is the creation of a more diverse learning community, particularly within our undergraduate program,” Knetter said. “Having this community event focusing on diversity and climate was an important first step.”