Culturs Global Multicultural Magazine sponsored a “hidden diversity” track to the 15th annual Diversity Symposium at Colorado State University. 

Fauna Hodel was on campus at Colorado State University at the beginning of September as part of the Beyond Color exhibit at the Curfman Gallery, and returned to wrap up the Symposium on Friday, Sept. 25, 2015 at noon in the LSC North Ballroom. She is one of an exclusive list of people who grew up identifying as Black only to discover later in life that she is Caucasian. Hodel’s unique cross-cultural perspective has spawned magazine articles, books, and a motion picture starring Hollywood A-listers. She’s devoted her life to furthering the cause of diversity through the universal “color of love.” Hodel’s appearance is co-sponsored by Culturs.guru.

About the Diversity Symposium

In 2001, a one-day, off-campus summit on “Undergraduate Student Retention and Diversity” was held for a select number of invited CSU deans, department heads and directors. In 2002 the Summit opened its doors to the entire CSU and Fort Collins communities; the 2004 Summit marked the first all-inclusive diversity conference with faculty, students, Front Range Community College, Aims Community College, University of Northern Colorado, Colorado State University Athletics and Police Department, Poudre Valley Health Systems, Fort Collins Area Chamber, Northern Colorado Mortgage Company, and a state representative presenting workshops or participating in events. As the evident need for discussion about diversity at Colorado State University grew, the one-day summit evolved into the three-day conference that it is today.

Over the years, conference themes have changed with the times to spark discussion about diversity. Specially selected presenters lead workshops or host panels to create a safe place for conference attendees to explore issues surrounding race, color, gender, disability, religion, national origin, economical standing, sexual orientation. Each conference hosts inspirational and provocative guest speakers that address each theme.

In the past, invited guests have included poet N. Scott Momaday; actor and activist Edward James Olmos; actor John Amos; Mae Jemison, the first African American woman in space; and Henry Cisneros, former Secretary of the Department of Housing and Urban Development.