Diversity Summit 2025

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New this Year! 
Please bring your College ID to scan your attendance at sessions.

The SUNY Geneseo Diversity Summit will take place on February 25, 2025. It is a full day of diversity-focused sessions hosted by students, faculty, staff, and other community members looking to share their perspectives and have meaningful conversations. Classes are not in session, and is free to attend.

This year’s Diversity Summit theme is “Chaos or Community: The Choice is Ours.” We’ve intentionally designed the entire day’s program to promote critical dialogue and inspire movement that will improve our community. This year's Summit Theme is inspired by the great Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s message from the book, "Where Do We Go from Here: Chaos or Community?".  This is Dr. King's last book before his assassination, in which he offers a message of hope and advocacy for human rights. 

Keynote Address & Featured Workshop

Program proposals look fantastic and the schedule will be available soon for you to begin planning your day. There will be more than 25 sessions to attend!

The day will begin again this year with Summit Sunrise Yoga led by Dr. Lee Pierce in the Multicultural Center at 8:00 a.m. This session will support a trauma-informed practice.

Our phenomenal keynote speaker, Danielle Ponder, will prompt us to consider, "What Do We Do Now?" in her address and performance.

This year’s featured workshop is a three part series, "Building a Beloved Community" offered by our own Chief Diversity Officer, Dr. Rodman King. 

The Diversity Summit will also offer one evening session at 4:00 p.m. in the College Union Hunt Room. A Film Screening of "Invisible Warriors: African American Women in World War II" will be hosted by  Dr. James Oigara with filmmaker Gregory Cooke. 

Visit the Diversity Summit page of the Geneseo Events Calendar for the full list of Summit sessions.  To save a session to your agenda, view the session and then click "add to calendar" (coming soon!).

Keynote Speaker

Danielle Ponder

2:30 p.m. - 3:45 p.m.
College Union Ballroom

What Do We Do Now?

Our phenomenal keynote speaker, Danielle Ponder, will prompt us to consider, "What Do We Do Now?" in her address and performance.

Danielle Ponder Bio

A once-in-a-generation talent, Danielle Ponder’s soulful and genre-defying sound and unique backstory are self-evident. Infused with a myriad of influences, from the gospel she grew up singing, to trip-hop, blues, pop, R&B and alt-rock, Ponder brings them together organically, effortlessly and powerfully.

At the tender age of 39, Ponder gave up a successful and rewarding career as a public defender in her hometown of Rochester, New York, to focus purely on her music, which up until then had been a passion on the back burner. By 2022, she signed her first record deal and became a trailblazer on her own unusual path to worldwide renown, developing a distinct style centered around her commanding voice.

Ponder’s debut album, Some Of Us Are Brave, immediately garnered critical praise, as well as dozens of major sync placements including the latest Apple campaign for the iPhone 16 Pro. Her live performances have included four major TV appearances and sold out shows across North America and Europe including festival appearances at Bonnaroo, Lollapalooza, Afropunk and Montreux Jazz Festival.

Defying all of the odds, Ponder is poised to continue her revolutionary path to success with her hotly anticipated sophomore album, due for release in 2025 via Secretly Canadian/Saddest Factory Records.

Featured Workshop Series

Dr. Rodmon King

Chief Diversity Officer, SUNY Geneseo

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Building a Beloved Community

In this three part series, Building a Beloved Community, Dr. Rodmon King will engage participants in the work. While each session builds upon the one preceding, participants can attend any or all and in any order.  

I. Get to Know the CDO - What is the Work?

The role of the Chief Diversity Officer (CDO) has become increasingly vital in organizations striving for equity, inclusion, and belonging. But what does this work truly entail? This session will provide an in-depth look at the responsibilities, challenges, and impact of the CDO. Participants will explore the strategic initiatives that drive organizational change, from policy development and cultural transformation to talent management and community engagement. Through interactive discussion and personal insights from Dr. King, we will demystify the role, examine key priorities, and highlight best practices for fostering sustainable diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) efforts. Whether you're new to DEI or looking to deepen your understanding, this session offers valuable insights into the work of the CDO and how it shapes a more inclusive future.

II. Advancing Equity Centered Mission in Challenging Times - Advancing the Work

Amid shifting societal and political landscapes, advancing an equity-centered mission requires sustained commitment, strategic adaptation, and bold leadership. Recent presidential executive orders have underscored both the urgency and complexity of fostering diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility (DEIA) in public institutions. This session will explore how organizations, particularly within higher education, can navigate these challenges while reinforcing their equity commitments.

Drawing from the mission of SUNY Geneseo, which seeks to center equity by honoring lived experiences and fostering a learning environment grounded in diversity, justice, and belonging, this discussion will provide insights into sustaining and operationalizing an inclusive institutional vision. Topics will include leveraging policy frameworks, embedding equity in academic and administrative practices, navigating resistance, and ensuring that DEIA remains integral to decision-making and institutional culture. Participants will leave with practical strategies to advance this work, even in the face of external pressures, and to uphold an equity-centered mission that is both aspirational and actionable.

III. Chaos or Community? The Choice is Ours. Where Do We Go from Here? - Relationships at Work

In an era of deep divisions and social unrest, the work of building and sustaining authentic community has never been more critical. Drawing from Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. 's conception of the Beloved Community as well as the principles and practices of cultural humility and restorative practices, this session will explore how relationships—rooted in mutual respect, accountability, and continuous learning—serve as the foundation for strong, inclusive communities.

Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. posed a defining question in Where Do We Go from Here: Chaos or Community?—a question that remains urgent today. This session will examine how we can move toward community by fostering genuine relationships, embracing discomfort as a catalyst for growth, and committing to shared responsibility for equity and justice. Participants will engage in discussions on repairing harm, addressing power imbalances, and creating spaces where all voices are valued. Through interactive dialogue and real-world applications, we will explore how we can navigate conflict, bridge divides, and co-create a future grounded in connection and collective well-being.

Diversity Summit Schedule & Program

PDF Downloadable version: 

PDF Downloadable version: 

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Diversity Summit Schedule

The first activity of the Diversity Summit is Summit Sunrise Yoga at 8:00 a.m. in the Multicultural Center. Sessions officially begin at 9:00 a.m. All sessions between 9:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. take place on the first and second levels of Bailey Hall. There is an intentional 10 minute break between each session block. Most sessions are 60 minutes in length. There is a 30 minute series of six sessions for those looking for meaningful content in a shorter timeframe. There is a 40 minute break in sessions beginning at 12:20 p.m. Sessions resume at 1:00 p.m. The keynote address begins at 2:30 p.m. in the College Union Ballroom. The final session of the day will be hosted in the MacVittie College Union Hunt Room at 4:00 p.m.

8:00 a.m. - 8:30 a.m.

30 minutes
Multicultural Center (MCC)
Join fan favorite, Dr. Lee Pierce, for an invigorating start to the Diversity Summit. Summit Sunrise Yoga is hosted in the Multicultural Center. Come as you are and bring your yoga mat, towel, or blanket.

8:30 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Diversity Summit Information Table open. Stop by to learn more about the summit schedule, grab a sticker and cup of coffee, and just say, “Hey!” Welcome to the seventh annual Diversity Summit!

Session I:  9:00 a.m. (60 minutes)

Bailey 103 - Reimagining a STEM Culture in which Belonging is Fundamental 

Bailey 104 - Promoting the Respectful Workplace 

Bailey 202 - Building a Beloved Community: Get to Know the CDO - What is the Work? 

Bailey 203 - Part I: Speaking Truth to Identity: Using Spoken Word Literature to Honor Intersectionality (30 min)

Session II: 10:10 a.m. (60 minutes)

Bailey 101 - Building a Beloved Community: Advancing Equity Centered Missionin Challenging Times - Advancing the Work 

Bailey 103 - Identity At Home and Abroad Student Panel 

Bailey 104 - Stigma Free Baking Therapy 

Bailey 203 - Understanding Identities & Creating Community with Athletics DEI Committee 

Bailey 246 - Equity in Action: Crafting DEIB Together 

Session III:  11:20 a.m. (60 minutes)

Bailey 101 - The Hair Monologues 

Bailey 103 - How Policies, Practices, and Places Impact Collective Campus Wellbeing 

Bailey 104 - The First Generation Experience 

Bailey 202 - Banning Children’s Books: Resisting Attacks on Diversity and Community 

Bailey 203 - Confronting Islamophobia: A Training for SUNY Geneseo 

Summit Break:  12:20 p.m.

Bailey 101 - No Race, Only Human (39 min) A student-led interactive session on race and humanity. 

Session IV: 1:00 p.m. (60 minutes)

Bailey 101 - Building a Beloved Community: Where Do We Go from Here? - Relationships at Work 

Bailey 103 - Fostering LGBTQ+ Community and Solidarity in Divisive Times 

Bailey 104 - How Do Requests for Reasonable Accommodations Work? 

Bailey 203 - Part II: Speaking Truth to Identity: Using Spoken Word Literature to Honor Intersectionality 

Bailey 246 - Power of the People: How Unions Build Power Through Community 

Keynote Address: 2:30 p.m. (60 minutes)

College Union Ballroom - Our phenomenal keynote speaker, Danielle Ponder, will prompt us to consider, "What Do We Do Now?" in her address and performance.

Session V: 4:00 p.m. (150 minutes)

College Union Hunt Room - Film Screening: "Invisible Warriors: African American Women in World War II" 

30 Minute Series

Most sessions are 60 minutes in length. There is a 30 minute series of six sessions for those looking for meaningful content in a shorter timeframe. All sessions will be held in Bailey 201.

9:00 a.m.

Broadening the Geneseo Experience

9:40 a.m.

Disability Inclusivity

10:20 a.m.

Navigating Identity Formation: Multicultural Students in a Dual-Cultural World

11:00 a.m.

Navigating the Waters of Chaos: A Fishbowl Dialogue on Building Community

11:40 a.m.

Feedback to Results: Buildings and Menus that Reflect Community

1:00 p.m.

Lo que paso en Hawaii (A Deep Dive)

Be Part of the Diversity Summit!

sign-up to VolunteerVolunteer at the Diversity Summit! Behind the scenes, there are plenty of opportunities to help the day run smoothly. From serving as a session room host to greeting attendees at the information table, our volunteers are integral in making the Diversity Summit a success. Opportunities are scheduled based on your availability.

Accessibility Statement 

If you require accommodations for equal access to this event, please contact the Office of Accessibility Services via email at access@geneseo.edu, or call 585-245-5112 at least one week prior to this event.

Event Parking 

We are grateful to the University Police Department for providing on campus parking for Diversity Summit attendants. There will be no ticketing in campus parking lots with the exception of handicapped parking spaces, load zones, and reserved lots O, LL, W, and G on February 25, 2025 for the duration of Summit events.

What happens after the Diversity Summit?

We will be sharing a google form that gathers feedback on this year’s summit. This allows us to hear ideas related to the focus of next year’s Diversity Summit. If you're interested in browsing the content of past Diversity Summits, visit the Summit archive. Any questions can be directed to the Diversity Summit Committee (diversitysummit@geneseo.edu).

The Diversity Summit Planning Committee includes representatives from the Office of Diversity & Equity, the President’s Commission on Diversity and Community, Division of Student & Campus Life, and members of our campus community.