Guest Speakers and Workshops

January 31 - Group activity on Implicit Bias

Students were invited to take the Harvard Test on Implicit Biases. We then discussed the results of the test, questioned our own results to try to better understand how each of us behaves in society and why. We focused on Gender-Career, Gender-Science and Race topics. We closed the discussion with a TED Talk on implicit bias by Verna Myers.

March 23 - Panel Discussion on Mentoring

Campus Faculty, Staff and Students engaged in a panel discussion to share their experience on Mentoring. We focused on the importance of Mentoring, how to build a meaningful mentor-mentee relationship, and how it can make a big difference in the advancement of a career in STEM. 

Quotes and thoughts from our Panel Members:

"Mentorship is a rewarding, yet at times challenging, two-way street. Mentors see internal sparks of potential and push others to excel, while mentees must willingly step outside of their comfort zone and embrace advice with a open mind to grow." - Colleen Steward, Bio-Chemistry student.

"I think one thing that resonates with me is that mentors have the ability to see ahead, they see more talent and ability within you, than you may see in yourself, and they work towards bringing it out." - Alex Mrozek, Double major student in Chemistry and French.

"We offer a workshop on mentors every September. It is open to all students. We usually offer it twice in early September. Don't miss it!" - Dr. Thomas Matthews, GOLD Program

"The mentor-ship panel aims to recognize talent, provide guidance and support to students who aspire to excel in various academic and research fields. It is also the goal of this panel to give protégés the opportunity to “plant it forward” by being mentors to others." - Dr. Barnabas Gikonyo, CHEM.

"A good mentor is someone who will make you angry!" - Dr. Barnabas Gikonyo, CHEM.

"Mentoring, if done well can have an extraordinarily positive impact on the course of a person’s life. Given that college students are in a discovery period of their lives mentoring affects them most strongly.  Now, after a third of a century of mentoring I see the degree to which I have influenced others. The measure of my influence is apparent by their happiness and success. However, a word of caution, even though I can count my successes in the hundreds it is the few whom I have failed that remain surprisingly vivid in my memory. Good mentors must always act in the best interest of their mentees and recognize the gravitas of their advice to them. Failure to do so could sent a person down a path of poor choices." - Dr. Stephen Padalino, PHYS.

April 27+28 - Invited Speaker: Prof. Reginald Byron

Prof. Byron (Geneseo's class of 2000 in Psychology) is currently an Associate Professor of Sociology and Department Chair at Southwestern University. He specializes on Race, Gender, and Sexual Orientation Stratification, as well as Employment and Campus Climates, among others.

References from Prof. Byron's Talk: ProfByron_Refs.docx

Other On-Campus activities with Dr. Byron on Friday, April 28th:

  • Students meet face-to-face with Dr. Byron for breakfast/lunch (ISC 222 @ 11:30am; invitation only)
  • Dr. Byron meets with the SUNY Geneseo Diversity Commission and other Campus Diversity Groups (Fri, 2:00-3:30pm)
  • All Campus Faculty + Staff Mixer (Friday, 3:45pm, room Bailey 103)