National symposium at Lied to address diversity, inclusion

Leaders and representatives from major U.S. universities will gather at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln’s Lied Center for Performing Arts for a comprehensive discussion about diversity and inclusion. The three-day symposium, from Dec. 6-8, will feature opportunities for interaction with the public and university community.

The event is organized by the Major University Presenters, a 19-member national coalition of university performing-arts center executives. The group’s goal is to align education, research and public engagement missions.

The symposium will start a conversation on the role of the arts in the national dialogue on race, ethnicity, diversity and inclusion, said Bill Stephan, executive director of the Lied Center. Coalition members hope to increase their organizations’ understanding of their community impact, learn from one another and from national leaders on the topic, and create a collective call to action to serve students.

“We have an opportunity and responsibility to be part of the national conversation on diversity and inclusion,” Stephan said. “This symposium is an important first step.”

As part of that mission, an open forum will be 4:30 to 6 p.m. Dec. 8 in the Lied Commons. Free and open to the university community and the public, the interactive dialogue will feature a panel of student affairs, diversity and performing-arts center officials from national universities. Participants will discuss successes and challenges in diversity and inclusion at their universities. Lance Pérez, interim dean of Nebraska’s College of Engineering, and Jerry Yoshitomi of Major University Presenters will moderate.

In addition, actor LeLand Gantt will perform excerpts from his play “Rhapsody in Black” at 8 p.m. Dec. 6 in the Johnny Carson Theater. Gantt, who appeared in films such as “Presumed Innocent” and “Malcolm X” as well as a number of TV series, will share his journey to understand and eventually transcend racism in America. A question-and-answer session will follow. A limited number of tickets are available to students, faculty and staff by contacting the Lied Center ticket office at 402-472-4747.

For more information on the symposium, click here.