DT | Cottey College: Equip, Engage, Empower - Navigating Cultural Sensitivity in the Workplace - Noon

Have you ever wondered why racial conflicts garner so much attention in the media? What about cultural sensitivity training? Ever questioned its value or wondered what the fuss was all about? Do you believe that political correctness is “for the birds” and wish that people would just get on with it and quit being overly sensitive? Or perhaps you are wondering why you sweat bullets when you have to meet clients of a different race because you are afraid of asking the wrong questions or using the wrong terminologies? Do you avoid conversations on race or find that you would rather postpone actions on personnel issues that involve racial matters?

Well, you are not alone! This workshop is aimed at exploring these delicate issues and boosting your cross-cultural confidence. The session will focus on news headlines, jokes, cartoons, photographs, and real-life case studies to shed light on some of the unconscious ethnocentric biases and stereotypes that cause tensions or micro-aggressions (real or perceived) in the workplace. We will use an audience participatory method to address key issues in cultural sensitivity to ensure that participants, especially those in supervisory positions, are not only aware of, but are effectively addressing some of the cultural landmines that end up harming others or causing distractions, public relations nightmares, or career suicides. 

Dr. Chioma Ugochukwu is the Vice President for Academic Affairs at Cottey College.  Prior to Cottey, she worked as the Dean of the School of Social Sciences, Business and Education at Mount Mary University, and Assistant Dean in the College of Communication at Marquette University. Dr. Ugochukwu received her Ph.D. in Journalism and a doctoral portfolio in Women’s Studies from the University of Texas at Austin. Her research interests center on Race, Ethnicity and Gender issues. She has written papers and published a contribution in the book, Women, Men and News: Divided and Disconnected in the Media Landscape.
 
Dr. Ugochukwu is the recipient of numerous awards, including the Bank of America’s Excellence in Teaching and Advising Award. She was selected as the University of South Carolina Upstate’s nominee for the 2006 S.C. Governor’s Professor of the Year Award. Other honors include the University of Texas’ University Continuing Fellowship, the Ada Frances Miller Fellowship for Excellence in Journalism, and the Broadcast Education Association's Research in Progress Award.
 
Prior to her academic work, Dr. Ugochukwu was a professional journalist and worked as a political reporter and features editor. She is deeply committed to social justice and initiated an annual diversity conference at USC Upstate. The series attracted senators, policy makers, human rights activists, and industry experts who addressed critical issues in human rights and international affairs. Dr. Ugochukwu was an active member of College Media Advisers, where she served on the Diversity Committee and gave presentations on diversity-related issues. She received a “Diversity Advocate” award at USC Upstate and was honored with the Golden Roses Award, which honors women who support diversity and inclusivity at Marquette University