DE&I summit to celebrate progress, address challenges

The U-M Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Summit will give campus community members the opportunity to learn about the work completed during the past year on both universitywide and unit-based plans to improve diversity, equity and inclusion.

Events from the summit — set for Nov. 6-10 — include a keynote speaker, an interactive panel and a ceremonial groundbreaking for a campus multicultural center.

"The summit is a way of making it clear to our community that diversity, equity and inclusion are part of the fabric of our community; that DEI is not a fad," said Robert Sellers, vice provost for equity and inclusion and chief diversity officer. "This week of central and unit activities is an opportunity to hold ourselves publicly accountable to our plan and to celebrate our accomplishments. It is a chance to shine a light on what is working well and to move on from what is not working."

Among the highlights of the week will be a keynote address at Michigan Medicine by Neha Sangwan, M.D., entitled “Bridging the Divide: Powerful Tools to Improve Your Next Conversation.” Sangwan is the CEO and founder of Intuitive Intelligence, an internal medicine physician and communication expert.

Her speech — in addition to remarks from members of the Michigan Medicine leadership team and the presentation of diversity, equity and inclusion mini-grants — is free and open to all in the Michigan Medicine community:

When: Thursday, Nov. 9

Schedule: Remarks from leadership, 8:15 a.m. – 9 a.m.; keynote address, 9 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.; DEI mini-grant awards, 11 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.

Where: Kahn Auditorium, BSRB

Claude Steele, a professor of psychology from Stanford University best known for his work on stereotype threat and social identity threat, will deliver the summit's opening keynote address from 4 p.m. until 6 p.m. on Tuesday, Nov. 7 in the Michigan League Ballroom.

At 3 p.m. on Wednesday, Nov. 8, a community gathering will take place at Rackham Auditorium, where President Mark Schlissel and Sellers will deliver a progress report about the initial year of DEI plan implementation.

Click here for a full schedule of Diversity Summit events.