African-American community leaders from the Corridor will gather at Mount Mercy University on Feb. 11, from 5:30-7 p.m. to participate in a professional women’s panel: Black Women Symposium. The panel will take place in Flaherty Community Room, second floor of Basile Hall.
Associate Professor of Social Work April Dirks-Bihun, Ph.D. and the university’s multicultural affairs committee have organized the event in honor of Black History Month.
“Black women in America have learned to find humor in heartache, to see beauty in the midst of desperation,” said Dumayi Gutierrez, Mount Mercy graduate assistant for multicultural affairs. “The symposium panelists will discuss their professional journeys and the hurdles they’ve faced along the way.”
Panelists will include: Dr. Ruth White, director/president of The Academy for Scholastic and Personal Success; Evette Creighton, engineer at Rockwell; Carol Carter-Simmons, sorority advisor and business owner; Quinneka Lee, diversity trainer at Cornell College; Shawna Clemente, student success coordinator at Mount Mercy; Kendra Malone, Safe Zone at University of Iowa; Dominique Brooks, Ph.D., multicultural specialist at the University of Iowa; Shaweka Outlaw, facility buyer at Cedar River Mill; Sherree Wilson, Ph.D., associate dean, cultural affairs & diversity initiatives at University of Iowa; BaSheeba Mays, graduate assistant for residence life at Mount Mercy.
“It is hopeful that this program will continue to engage the campus and community in discussion of social justice,” said Gutierrez.