Bethlehem, Pa., September 17, 2015 –Moravian College will hold a panel discussion examining how diversity is valued in modern-day America. Faculty and staff members will join together on Tuesday, September 22 in the Haupert Union Building’s Prosser Auditorium at 11:45 a.m. for an hour long program. Admission is free of charge and the public is welcome to attend.  

Entitled “Voices of Diversity,” the panel will tackle important issues regarding diversity, personal identity, ethnicity, stereotyping, and how such distinctions define what it means to be an American. The panel will invite the Moravian College community to consider vital questions pertaining to how diversity is viewed and valued in our society and how such values fit into the daily lives of Americans whose ethnic origins differ from the white majority. How significant is your racial or ethnic background as part of your identity? How do you describe yourself in regard to being an “American?” How do you respond to such distinctions, or do they even matter?

Faculty and staff from across Moravian College’s campus will answer these questions, among many more. They will also share their own experiences and insights on diversity and what it means to value it. The panel participants will include Sandra Aguilar-Rodriguez, assistant professor of history; Faramarz Farbod, an adjunct faculty member in the political science department; Khristina Haddad, associate professor of political science; Yayoi Kato, assistant professor of political science; Akbar Keshodkar, assistant professor of history and anthropology; Liliana Madrid, assistant director of intercultural advancement; Claudia Mesa, associate professor of Spanish; and Kerry Sethi, director of international studies.

“Voices of Diversity” is one of the many events occurring this academic year in relation to Moravian College’s 2015-2016 IN FOCUS theme of Poverty and Inequality. The goal of IN FOCUS is to engage students of Moravian College and Moravian Theological Seminary  in the study of issues facing today’s society, as well as encouraging students to examine how such issues will affect the future. By examining such problems from various lenses, graduates of Moravian will be better equipped to contribute towards a fair and equal society.  

Moravian College encourages persons with disabilities to participate in its programs and activities. If you anticipate needing any type of accommodation or have questions about the physical access provided, please contact John Reynolds at reynoldsj@moravian.edu prior to the event.  

Moravian College is a private coeducational liberal arts college, offering undergraduate and graduate degrees, in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Tracing its founding to 1742, Moravian is recognized as America’s sixth-oldest college and the first to educate women. The College emphasizes the deliberate integration of a broad-based liberal arts curriculum with hands-on learning experience to prepare its 1,750 students, not just for jobs, but for successful careers. Visit the Web site at www.moravian.edu.