National leader to hold workshop on inclusivity, diversity on campus

On Friday, Nov. 13, the Student Affairs Staff Development Committee will welcome to campus Zeb Davenport, vice chancellor for Student Affairs at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis.

Davenport will lead a discussion on creating inclusive environments for diverse student populations. He is an expert in the areas of serving students in urban settings, student learning outcomes and assisting first generation college students.

Zeb Davenport, vice chancellor for student affairs at Indiana University-Purdue University Indianapolis.

“We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Davenport to our campus,” said Cathy Akens, associate vice president and dean of students. “We feel fortunate to work in a community that values diversity and understands that it adds value to our students’ education by creating a natural place for open discussion and understanding of others.

“In Student Affairs, we want to help create environments that are culturally responsive and engaging for our students. This workshop is a way for us to explore best practices and engage in dialogue about an issue that matters to us, and to our students.”

A nationally known speaker, Davenport has presented at workshops for several public agencies, educational institutions, state, regional and national conferences as well as to thousands of college students and professionals throughout his career and is currently serving on the Governing Board for the Association of College Personnel Administrators (ACPA).

During his tenure in higher education, he has served in many capacities including: vice president for Student Affairs, director of Financial Aid, director of Multicultural/International Student Services, and associate vice president for Student Affairs.

Among several other publications, Davenport co-authored a book titled First-Generation College Students – Understanding and Improving the Experience from Recruitment to Commencement.

According to Akens, Davenport’s visit has been one that the committee has planned for quite some time.

“The success of our students is our top priority,” she said. “We know we help shape the environment for our students, and that environment is important to how they experience our campus, which we know is directly related to their success.”

FIU is consistently recognized as a diverse institution, including:

• Ranked No. 1 in the nation for awarding bachelor’s and master’s degrees to Hispanic students by Diverse Issues in Higher Education & Hispanic Outlook
• FIU College of Business is ranked No. 1 in diversity by Bloomberg Business Week
• The Peace Corp ranks FIU among the Top 10 national Hispanic Serving Institutions
• Excelencia in Education ranked FIU second in the nation for producing Latino graduates in science, technology, engineering and math fields

Student Affairs departments, whether through leadership development programs, tutoring programs or mentorship, offer support to students to help them achieve both personal and academic success. Many studies in the field point to a student’s sense of belonging at an institution as being directly linked to a student’s academic success.

Each semester, the Student Affairs Staff Development Committee hosts a series of workshops and programs aimed at educating staff members about national best practices and trends in student development. All events are open to the FIU community.

Davenport’s workshop will take place from 9:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. at Modesto A. Maidique Campus and will be live streamed at Biscayne Bay Campus.

Space is limited. If you are interested in attending, please contact Cathy Akens at akensc@fiu.edu.