UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. – The Penn State Smeal College of Business will celebrate diversity and inclusion at a variety of events scheduled for March 28–April 1 during Smeal Diversity Week.
A partial list of events includes:
Multicultural Women’s Forum Big Hat Lunch
Scheduled for noon to 3 p.m. March 27 in the Business Building Atrium, the attire is "Sunday Best" — big hats are not required but encouraged. The honorary speaker is Iyore Olaye, 2016 Cornell University alumna, and the only Black woman chemical engineer in her graduating class. In 2018 Olaye was named by Forbes as a "30 under 30" honoree. The event will include raffles, discussions about women empowerment and presentations from sponsors, which include PwC, PNC, EY, Altria, Kohl’s and UPS.
Diversity Enhancement Program Speaker Series featuring J.B. Smoove
Actor and comedian JB Smoove is this year’s featured speaker at 6 p.m. March 28 in the HUB-Robeson Center. He plays the character Leon Black in “Curb Your Enthusiasm,” Julius Dell in "Spider-Man," and has numerous voiceover character performances to his credit. He received the 2021 Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Actor in a Short Form Comedy or Drama Series.
START Conference
Business leaders from a variety of companies, and members of the Smeal College of Business and greater Penn State and State College communities, will gather in the HUB-Robeson Center on March 31 to celebrate diversity at the START Conference. The conference is organized by a student-run committee that is largely comprised of Smeal students and supported by the Office of Diversity Enhancement Programs. Registration starts at 8:15 a.m. The formal conference gets underway at 9 a.m. It is free and open to all Penn State students, staff, faculty and community members.
Sustainability Case Competition
A Sustainability Case Competition, sponsored by the Smeal Center for the Business of Sustainability, Diversity Enhancement Programs, Lincoln University and Morgan State University, is planned for April 1. This year’s case focuses on COVID-19 and issues associated with vaccination availability, accessibility and acceptability. People of color in the United States have been disproportionately affected by COVID-19 and yet these communities also have faced the largest barriers when it comes to gaining access to vaccinations, and to relevant, effective education about the benefits.
COMO Spring Formal
The Council of Multicultural Organizations will be holding its first annual spring formal. All of Smeal’s diverse organizations will gather together at 7 p.m. on April 1 to celebrate their accomplishments for the year.
For more information and to register for events, contact Smeal Diversity Enhancement Programs.