Media Advisory: Colorado State University Diversity Summit

MEDIA ADVISORY

Colorado State University Diversity Summit

NOTE TO EDITORS:

     Question and answer sessions will be held at the end of Edward James Olmos and Niki Giovanni’s keynote addresses. To request an independent interview with Olmos or Giovanni, the request should be submitted in writing and submitted to Dell Rae Moellenberg by Tuesday, Sept. 21. Requests can be submitted at dellrae.moellenberg@colostate.edu. Final permission for interviews will be granted by Olmos’ and Giovanni’s speaker bureaus.

WHAT:     Colorado State University will hold the 4th Annual Diversity Summit Sept 27-30. The schedule for the summit, which focuses on continuing to build diversity and inclusive environments on campus and in the Northern Colorado community, was finalized today. A question and answer session will be held at the end of the keynote address.

WHEN/

WHERE:     Colorado State University campus, September 27-30th. A complete, detailed schedule with timeline and room assignments is available at www.provost.colostate.edu/diversity_summit.

DETAILS:      The event honors the university’s diverse culture and provides thought-provoking speakers, events and films about the role diversity plays in our society. The four-day event includes day and evening sessions, including a welcome ceremony from Colorado State President Larry Edward Penley, dialog with university administration about diversity initiatives, and several powerful special speakers, including State Representative Angie Paccione and keynote speakers Golden Globe and Emmy award-winning actor Edward James Olmos and acclaimed author Nikki Giovanni. Olmos, who is the Monfort-Professor-in-Residence sponsored speaker, is an internationally renowned actor, producer, director and community activist who is well known for projects such as "American Me," "Stand and Deliver" and his long-running role as Lt. Castillo in "Miami Vice." Giovanni is recipient of numerous honorary doctorates and has published several critically acclaimed works, including nearly 20 books of poetry and essays. A recording of her poems was one of the best-selling albums in the country. Her book, "Blues: For All the Changes," made the Los Angeles Times Bestseller list, marking the first time a poet has ever been listed. She is a University Distinguished Professor of writing, poetry and literature at Virginia Tech.

For more information about the summit and for a complete schedule of events, visit www.provost.colostate.edu/diversity_summit.