Conference on Diversity Set for April 14

03/29/2018 

SUNY Cortland graduate and higher education consultant Jamie Piperato ’12 will return to her alma mater on Saturday, April 14, to help college students interact and communicate more effectively with people from cultural backgrounds different than their own.  

Her keynote address, “Transforming our Work: The Journey to Just and Equitable Campus Communities,” will take place during the ninth annual Student Conference on Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Social Justice.

The student-led conference, from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. that day in Corey Union, seeks to promote open-mindedness, celebrate diversity and encourage awareness of divergent views on the College campus and within students’ own communities.

Piperato, the founder of JPHigherEd, an identity-conscious professional development company that provides in-person trainings, online webinars and online courses, will speak at 12:30 p.m. in the Corey Union Function Room.

Supported by a Campus Artist and Lecture Series (CALS) grant, Piperato’s lecture is free and open to the public.

 “The journey to a just and equitable campus is twofold,” Piperato said. “First, we must recognize our responsibility to reflect on our own capacity to engage and work towards social justice.

“Second, as campus communities, we must recognize the steps that are necessary to dismantle systems of oppression that exist in higher education,” she said.

Piperato, a self-described “educator, social justice advocate and optimist,” will discuss how individual students can infuse social justice education into their day-to-day practices. Her guided discussion aims to equip participants with the awareness, knowledge and capability to take action to cultivate just and equitable campus communities.

At SUNY Cortland, Piperato received her bachelor of science in kinesiology with a concentration in sport studies. She also served as president of the Student Government Association.

Piperato has a master’s degree in student affairs in higher education from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. She has extensive higher education experience as a student affairs professional in the areas of multicultural education, LGBTQ services, Title IX education, leadership, career development and university housing.

After she graduated from SUNY Cortland, Piperato joined the SUNY Cortland Alumni Association Board of Directors. She has worked diligently to help the association engage younger alumni through a host of social, educational and career networking opportunities.

Led by student conference chair Shai’an Irving, the event intends to provide undergraduate and graduate students across the disciplines with an opportunity and a venue to share their academic research, build their resumes and network with other students across New York state around the core values of diversity, equity, inclusion and social justice. Organizers also include Lima Stafford, assistant director of multicultural life and diversity; and Christina Papaleo, residence hall director.

SUNY Cortland students who register by Friday, April 6, may attend free of charge, courtesy of Multicultural Life and Diversity. The registration fee to attend the complete conference is $32 for non-SUNY Cortland students as well as SUNY Cortland students who register after April 6; and $35 for faculty, staff, alumni and community members. The registration cost covers a breakfast buffet, lunch, giveaways and more. For additional details and to register, visit the conference website or contact the Multicultural Life and Diversity Office at 607-753-2336.