IDEALS 2024

The 2024 Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Access and Leadership Summit on Friday, March 8, will create a space to celebrate all identities while fostering learning opportunities.

About the conference

IDEALS 2024: Reaffirming Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging
9 a.m.–3 p.m. Friday, March 8
Capitol Federal Hall
1654 Naismith Drive, Lawrence KS 66045

The KU School of Business is committed to fostering a culture of diversity by hosting IDEALS 2024 (Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Access and Leadership Summit), in partnership with KU partners and affiliates. There is no cost to attend.

Diversity has become increasingly complex, nuanced and more contested. IDEALS 2024 will aim to continue to create a space to celebrate all identities while fostering learning opportunities to share knowledge and experiences. The event will prepare attendees to effectively engage an increasingly diverse workforce, while contributing to student success and healthy and vibrant communities.

Breakfast and lunch will be provided. School of Business students will receive 20 ePoints for attending.

Target audience

KU Business and professional undergraduate students; students in KU's MSP Scholars Program in Business (MBSP)

Individuals with disabilities are encouraged to attend University of Kansas sponsored events. If you require a reasonable accommodation in order to participate in this event, please contact Morgan States by Feb. 23, 2024, at mstates@ku.edu.

Conference outcomes

Have an enhanced understanding of diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging through different lenses
Develop strategies to become better proponents of DEIB personally and professionally
Effectively network in professional settings to develop powerful relationships with an inclusive lens and a sense of belonging
Professionally navigate, engage, and thrive in an increasingly diverse, creative and collaborative world

Contact

Morgan States, Program Coordinator, Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging

2024 IDEALS schedule

Schedule for 2024 IDEALS
Time	Session/Activity	Location
8:15 a.m.	Check-in, Breakfast, Headshots	Capitol Federal Hall Atrium
9 a.m.	Welcome and Opening Remarks	Nancy Walthall Doane Lecture Hall, 1020 Capitol Federal Hall
9:20 a.m.	Keynote Address Paige Freeman (she/her) \| Director of Student Programs, KU Alumni Association Watch the presentation via Zoom \| Passcode: 775409	Nancy Walthall Doane Lecture Hall, 1020 Capitol Federal Hall
10 a.m.	Workshop Sessions
	Two-Hour Zine Workshop (through rounds 1&2) Monty Coash-Johnson (he/him & she/her) \| Zine Fellow, KU Emily Taylor Center for Women & Gender Equity	Tim Barton Colloquium, 1010 Capitol Federal Hall
	Business Diversity vs. Supplier Diversity Taylor Overton \| President and Owner, Black:30; Art Love Collective; Diverse Link	John & Brenda Dicus Classroom, 2056B Capitol Federal Hall
	Leveraging Traditional Education for Entrepreneurial Success Kasi Ross II (he/him) \| CEO, Wiz Kid Consulting	The J.W. Lettmann Family Classroom, 3056B Capitol Federal Hall
11 a.m.	Workshop Sessions
	Two-Hour Zine Workshop (cont.)	Tim Barton Colloquium, 1010 Capitol Federal Hall
	Inclusive Leadership Training Olivia Brice (she/her) \| Assistant Director of Student Belonging, Washburn University	Nancy Walthall Doane Lecture Hall, 1020 Capitol Federal Hall
	Create Your Own DEIB Strategy JP Ameryun (he/him) \| Client Partner, Spotlight	John & Brenda Dicus Classroom, 2056B Capitol Federal Hall
	Leveraging the Jayhawk Career Network for Career and Professional Development Howard Graham (he/him) \| Director, Jayhawk Career Network at KU Alumni Association	The J.W. Lettmann Family Classroom, 3056B Capitol Federal Hall
11:50 a.m.	Networking Lunch	Capitol Federal Hall Atrium
		Larry D. Horner "The Hive," 1057 Capitol Federal Hall
1 p.m.	Workshop Sessions
	A Space to Be You Kassandra Hegg (she/her) \| Senior HR Representative, PepsiCo	Tim Barton Colloquium, 1010 Capitol Federal Hall
	Crafting Your Digital Persona: Personal and Online Branding 101 for Workplace Success Alexus Scott, M.Ed. (she/her) \| Bridge + Grace Management Consulting	The Brandmeyer Family Classroom, 2056A Capitol Federal Hall
	Professionalism from a Nonbinary and Trans Perspective Moderated by Sam Azzaro (they/them) \| Program Coordinator, KU School of Business Office of DEIB Panelists Erin Duran, M.Ed., PHR (he/him) \| Assistant Vice Provost, KU Office of DEIB Alex Pang, M.A. (they/them) \| Program Coordinator, Undergraduate Academic Services, KU School of Engineering Maggie R Borders, M.A. (she/they) \| Student Success Coordinator, KU TRIO SES & STEM Nyx Moore (he/him/they/them) \| M.A. Student, KU Communication Studies	John & Brenda Dicus Classroom, 2056B Capitol Federal Hall
	Unlocking the Power of DEIB Vicki Webster (she/her) \| Director – DEIB, GEHA Health Jay Bohanon \| Senior DEIB Specialist, GEHA Health Micha Mims \| DEIB Specialist, GEHA Health	The J.W. Lettmann Family Classroom, 3056B Capitol Federal Hall
2 p.m.	DEIB IRL (In Real Life) Panel Moderated by Eve Bertoncino Alicia McDougal, MBA, PHR \| Employee Services Supervisor, Kiewit Kasi Ross II (he/him) \| CEO, Wiz Kid Consulting Siney Zavala (she/her) \| Assistant Director of Community Engagement Initiatives, KU Office of Admissions Breona Ward, M.A. (she/her) \| Director – College and Career Progression, DeLaSalle High School Watch the panel via Zoom \| Passcode: 775409	Nancy Walthall Doane Lecture Hall, 1020 Capitol Federal Hall

Organizations represented at IDEALS 2024

Venue details

School of Business

Capitol Federal Hall

1654 Naismith Drive

Lawrence , Kansas 66045

IDEALS 2023

IDEALS 2023 was held April 7 and focused on preparing KU students to effectively engage in an increasingly diverse workforce.

Promote one’s confidence in the ability to identify DEIB practices in professional settings and effectively apply their experiential education
Professionally navigate, engage and thrive in an increasingly diverse, creative and collaborative world
Effectively network in professional settings to develop powerful relationships with an inclusive lens and a sense of belonging

9 a.m. — Check-in, Breakfast and Headshots

9:30 a.m. — Welcome

9:35 a.m. — Keynote Address

Nicole Hodges Persley (she/her) | Vice Provost of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, & Belonging

10 a.m. — DEIB in Action Sessions:

Serving Diverse and Marginalized Communities
- Antoinette Redmond (she/her) | DEI Program Manager, Dairy Farmers of America
Create Your Own DEIB Strategy
- JP Ameryun (he/him) | Client Partner, Spotlight
- Joi Smith (she/her) | Marketing Professional, Spotlight
Navigating Spaces That Aren’t Always Meant For You
- Michael Chavez | Associate Director for Diversity and Access Initiatives, KU Admission

11 a.m. — Practical Application Sessions:

How to Package and Present Yourself
- Averiel McKenzie (he/him) | Director of Diversity Sales and Recruiting, E. & J. Gallo Winery
Create Your Own DEIB Strategy
- JP Ameryun (he/him) | Client Partner, Spotlight
- Joi Smith (she/her) | Marketing Professional, Spotlight
Inclusive Leadership Training
- Amanda Rivera (she/her) | Senior Manager–Consulting, EY

11:50 a.m. — Networking Lunch

1 p.m. — DEIB in Action Sessions (In Case You Missed Them):

How to Package and Present Yourself
- Averiel McKenzie (he/him) | Director of Diversity Sales and Recruiting, E. & J. Gallo Winery
Navigating Spaces That Aren’t Always Meant For You
- Michael Chavez | Associate Director for Diversity and Access Initiatives, KU Admission
Inclusive Leadership Training
- Amanda Rivera (she/her) | Senior Manager–Consulting, EY

2 p.m. — DEIB IRL (In Real Life) Panel

Panelists:
- Edgar Damian (he/him) | SVP. Director of Finance & Analytics, Academy Bank
- Katasha Kumar (she/her) | Director of Global Sales Operations, C2FO
- Jasmine Moore (she/her) | IT Project Manager | Flint Hills Resources, Koch Industries
- Natasha Patel (she/her) | Business Partner, People Operations | mySidewalk
Moderator: Howard Graham, KU Alumni Association