Frank W. Hale Jr. to participate in diversity lecture series

COLUMBUS -- Frank W. Hale Jr., vice provost emeritus at The Ohio State University, international women’s activist Mahnaz Afkhami, former Ohio State provost W. Ann Reynolds and actor Wilson Cruz are a few of the participants scheduled to appear autumn quarter in the Ohio State President and Provost’s 2003-04 Diversity Lecture Series. Hale will speak at 4 p.m. today (9/30) at the Hale Cultural Center, 153 W. 12th Ave. All lectures are free and open to the public.

Hale, for whom the cultural center is named and the coordinator of the lecture series, helped make Ohio State a national leader in graduate education for minority students during his 18 years as a university administrator and faculty member. He ended his retirement in 1999, returning to the Ohio State as a distinguished university representative and consultant. Editor of the recently released book, “What Makes Racial Diversity Work in Higher Education,” Hale’s lecture is titled “Diversity: So what?”

Hale said the lecture series is marking its fourth year and remains an important component of the university’s Diversity Action Plan.

“The goal of the lecture series is to compile a distinguished list of individuals who can bring international and national perspectives about diversity to our campus for an intellectual exchange of ideas and communications,” Hale said. “The dynamics of diversity go well beyond the ideals of racial harmony.”

The remainder of the diversity lecture series for autumn quarter follows.

Valerie Lee— “‘Talkin’ the Talk and ‘Walkin’ the Walk’: Making Diversity Work”
3 p.m., Oct. 8, Moritz College of Law, Drinko Hall Auditorium, 55 W. 12th Ave.
Valerie Lee is professor of English and women’s studies, and chair of the Department of English at Ohio State. Lee also holds appointments in the Department of African American and African Studies, the Department of Comparative Studies and the Center for Folklore Studies. Her publications are in the areas of American literature, feminist theory, African American Literature and critical race theory. Lee chairs the university’s Diversity Council.

Mahnaz Afkhami—“Culture, Religion, and Identity: Future Trends in Gender Equality Work”
3 p.m., Oct. 16, The Ohio Union, Stecker Lounge, 1739 N. High St.
Mahnaz Afkhami is president of the Women’s Learning Partnership. She formerly served as minister for Women’s Affairs in Iran and secretary general of the Women’s Organization of Iran. She is executive director of the Foundation for Iranian Studies and serves on advisory boards for a number of national and international organizations. She is also author of numerous publications on women’s rights and issues.

W. Ann Reynolds – “Learning Science Bridges an Urban University with Its City Schools”
4 p.m., Oct. 20, The Ohio Union, Main Lounge, 1739 N. High St.
W. Ann Reynolds, former provost of Ohio State (1979-82), is currently the director of the University of Alabama’s Center for Community Outreach Development. Prior to her current appointment, she served as president of the University of Alabama and chancellor of the City University of New York.

Edwin Nichols—“Creating Culturally Competent Leaders in Education”
4 p.m., Nov. 4, The Ohio Union, East Ballroom, 1739 N. High St.
Edwin Nichols is a clinical/industrial psychologist specializing in organizational development. He has served as a consultant and trainer of trainers to foreign governments, Fortune 500 companies and national government agencies. He is currently director of Nichols and Associates, Inc., an applied behavioral science firm.

Wilson Cruz—“My So-Called Life-Style”
4 p.m., Nov. 18, Moritz College of Law, Drinko Hall Auditorium, 55 W. 12th Ave.
Wilson Cruz is an actor acclaimed for his portrayal of a teenager searching for his true sexual identity and the deeper meanings of life and love in the 1994 television drama “My So-Called Life.”

Eric Liu—“How Asian Americans Will Change Racial Politics”
4 p.m. Nov. 25, The Ohio Union, Main Lounge, 1739 N. High St.
Eric Liu is founder of the “How We Teach Initiative,” a global multimedia project to develop a universal set of methods of effective, powerful teaching. The project ranges across professions, walks of life and cultures to distill the best practices of various vocations. He has served as President Clinton’s Deputy Domestic Policy Adviser during his second term where he helped lead the administration’s work on education, crime and other issues.

For a complete 2003-04 listing, visit the Ohio State diversity website at www.osu.edu/diversity or contact Frank Hale at (614) 688-4255 or Trina Phillips at (614) 688-4240.