Kettering College to Hold World Diversity Day Event

April 25, 2024 – For the second year, the Collegiate Life committee at Kettering College is presenting a World Diversity Day event. This year, the event will take place on Tuesday, May 21 from 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. in the college’s auditorium.

Dr. Tuta Ionescu, Radiologic Sciences and Imaging chair and member of the Collegiate Life committee, says, “This year, the emphasis will be on personal and professional journeys. Although we share the college as our higher learning institution, Dayton as our city, and Ohio as our state of residence, we each bring different perspectives and life experiences to everyday life.”

Dr. Ionescu credits Dave Price, Humanities associate professor, as the driving force behind the World Diversity Day event. Dave sits on the committee and knows that World Diversity Day is a United Nations-sanctioned observance day. He proposed to the committee an event on campus that would reflect this UN observance, with the added focus of celebrating diversity in a healthcare setting.

Dave says, “Healthcare has proven to be more effective when it mirrors the community that it serves. And as communities become more diverse in terms of age, gender identity, race, ethnicity, religious affiliation, socioeconomic status, and disability, our healthcare establishments need to be suitably responsive to these demographics.”

“Healthcare has proven to be more effective when it mirrors the community that it serves.”

-Dave Price, Humanities Associate Professor

The committee agreed the day’s speakers should include one Kettering College employee, one student, and one guest. This year’s speakers include Dr. Tuta Ionescu, faculty; Victor Elkine, student; and guest speaker Dr. Basel Yanes. The speakers will share their experiences of their time in other countries and how that has shaped who they are. The intent of sharing their stories is to grow awareness and understanding of differences. An additional goal of the day is to offer the audience insights and tools to use in their own lives, especially students who are working toward a healthcare career.

Dr. Ionescu explains the event will commence with a light lunch that will include foods that represent each speaker’s culture along with an open round-table discussion based on various topics from the day.

Dave Price says it’s important to hold this day, as it illuminates Kettering College’s Diversity Statement: As an institution of Christian higher education, Kettering College actively seeks and values individuals from diverse backgrounds and beliefs. He says, “Diversity among students, faculty, and staff greatly enriches the educational experience and produces graduates who are able to provide high-quality, whole-person care to the communities they serve.”

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