Access and Student Success
Essentials for Diversity Programming and Recruitment Success
Union 227, 2:50-3:30pm (Session Period 2)
In 2003, the Kansas State University College of Agriculture instituted a diversity programs office to assist the college with the recruitment, retention, enrichment, graduation, and placement of underrepresented students. Because diversity is an invaluable element of education, the Kansas State University College of Agriculture Diversity Programs Office seeks to educate students, faculty, and staff in the areas of cultural competency. In order to attain this objective, the College of Agriculture Diversity Programs Office directs a variety of programs involved with the recruitment and retention of multicultural students within the field of food, agriculture, natural resources, and related sciences. This session will explore the academic hurdles involved with recruiting and retaining multicultural students. This session will also share direct examples of successes; present analyzed data of trainings to support success; and share best practices in recruitment and retention. The intended audience for this session includes faculty, staff, and students.
Presenters
Dr. Zelia Z. Wiley
Assistant Dean and Director, Diversity Programs Office, College of Agriculture
Dr. Zelia Wiley is a native Texan who works at Kansas State University. She is an Assistant Dean for Diversity in the College of Agriculture and KSRE (K-State Research and Extension). In her current role, she provides leadership in the area of inclusion and diversity for faculty, staff and students. She is the chief diversity officer for KSRE and the College with 25+ years’ experience in the work of inclusion and diversity. She is a certified IDI Administrator, as well as the KSRE Diversity Coach. Her presentation topics include Diversity in Agriculture, Food and Natural Sciences, Micro aggressions and implicit biases, and Exploring Multicultural Views, Cultural Competency, as well as, Diversity in the Workplace. Dr. Wiley holds a Bachelors and Masters of Science in Agricultural Education, Economics and Human Resources from Prairie View A&M University (TX) and completed her Ph.D. at the Pennsylvania State University in Agriculture and Extension Education. She is a 30+ member of the National Society of MANRRS, advisor to the K-State MANRRS chapter and has charted two MANRRS chapters; (1) University of Kentucky (1996) and Kansas State University (2003). She is currently the Graduate Chapter President for Alpha kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc., Graduate Advisor to Kappa Pi Chapter, 2017-19 MANRRS Legend and a member of the 2019 national MANRRS conference planning team.
Lonnie Hobbs, Jr.
Graduate Research Assistant, Diversity Programs Office, College of Agriculture
Lonnie Hobbs, Jr., a native of Clarksville, TX, is a second-year master's student in the Agricultural Economics program at Kansas State University. He is currently working as a graduate assistant in the College of Agriculture Diversity Program Office (DPO), and a graduate research assistant in the Department of Agricultural Economics analyzing the linkage between company marketing strategies and consumer product perceptions. In addition to his research duties, Lonnie serves the co-advisor for Kansas State’s Minorities in Agriculture Natural Resources and Related Sciences (MANRRS) chapter, 2018-19 Region IV Graduate Vice President for the National Society of MANRRS, academic advisor to the Kansas State College of AG - Project Impact students, and co-coordinator for the Kansas State Research and Extension (KSRE) Summer Research Program. In May of 2017, Lonnie received a Bachelor of Science Degree in Agribusiness from Prairie View A&M University (PVAMU) where he graduated with a 3.84 GPA and Magna Cum Laude honors.
