Woodring College Diversity Initiatives

Woodring College of Education’s Professional Development Workshops

During the 2005-06 academic year, the Woodring Diversity Committee designed and delivered a three-part series of professional development workshops that taught college faculty and staff effective strategies and skills for handling difficult conversations related to issues of diversity. The goal of the workshops was to teach and practice interpersonal skills upon which faculty and staff could draw in their efforts to more effectively respond to prejudicial, discriminatory, insensitive, disrespectful, or hurtful comments, actions, and events in their offices and classrooms. The first workshop utilized small group processes to develop an understanding of the complexity of difficulty conversations and to establish a sense of empathy for all parties involved. The second workshop used dramatizations and directed role play to teach and practice the skills necessary for individuals to transform difficult conversations into constructive opportunities for influencing others. The third workshop used a diversity awards luncheon to celebrate the faculty and staff’s commitment as a community of learners to transform difficult conversations into positive educative moments.

Contact:
   William Harrison Lay, Lecturer, Special Education
Phone:
   (360) 650-3875