Diversity in the College

The College of Arts and Sciences offers programming, scholarships and resources for students and faculty to foster, encourage and promote diversity. Led by our Diversity Committee, we take great care to help all students thrive and build a foundation to enter the professional world.

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Definition of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging

The Association of Public and Land Grant Universitieas (APLU) recognizes that diversity is complex and intersectional and includes a wide range of racial, ethnic, sexual, and gender identities, as well as economic and geographic backgrounds, physical abilities, life experiences, political, religious, and personal beliefs. To that end, APLU defines diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging as follows:

Diversity is the presence and representation of differences that enrich the community and
workplace. Differences include, but are not limited to identity, culture, background, abilities,
opinions, and experiences.

Equity, and equity-mindedness, is the action of ensuring access, resources, and opportunities
through removing systemic barriers, particularly for historically underrepresented groups.

Inclusion is the intentional action of valuing everyone, regardless of background, beliefs, or
identities. This includes creating a culture and community where everyone, especially those
from historically underrepresented groups, have access to resources, voices are heard, and
contributions are valued.

Belonging is the feeling individuals, particularly those from historically underrepresented groups who have experienced exclusion in the past, have in places that have intentionally actionized
diversity, equity, and inclusion to create a culture that supports the feeling of security,
acceptance, and value.

Understanding of Diversity

The College of Arts and Sciences seeks to foster diversity and is commited to recruiting, retaining and providing resources for members of populations that have been under-represented in university education in the U.S. This goes beyond increasing the numbers of under-represented students, faculty and staff. We are committed to providing substantial curricular offerings, resources and programming that foregrounds the knowledge, perspectives, cultures and histories of marginalized communities. A truly diverse college culture and structure benefits all members of the university community and better serves our students so they can excel in an increasingly global and multicultural world.

View the Recommendations for Action from the College of Arts and Sciences Diversity Committee.

Diversity Lecture Series

Dr. February with Dean Culbertson, Dean Choma and Dr. Jesse Nippert

The College of Arts and Sciences Diversity Lecture Series featured Dr. Edmund February on October 24, 2022. Dr. February is a prominent botanist, human rights advocate and mountain climber from Cape Town, South Africa. The lecture, "From Apartheid to diversity in South Africa," addressed February's experience with education, class and power during and after the Apartheid in South Africa.

Civil Rights Teach-In

In January, the College of Arts and Sciences and its partners host presentations that spark powerful discussions regarding teaching and research as it pertains to current social issues and the legacy of activism at K-State and beyond.

Professor Douglas K. Benson Award

The Professor Douglas K. Benson Award is a $500 to $1,000 student scholarship for the 2022-2023 academic year. Applicants must be enrolled full-time in the College of Arts and Sciences, have at least a 2.0 GPA, attend K-State as an undergraduate student during the 2022-2023 academic year and have made contributions to diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging (DEIB) on campus. To apply, students must submit: 1) a resume that includes contact information, degree pursued, cumulative GPA, year in school, and examples of scholarships, awards, activities, and work experience; 2) a form of expression (essay, picture, poem, drawing, dance, music, etc.) representing DEIB; and 3) a 150-200 word summary of their appreciation for DEIB in a global world. The application deadline is 4 p.m. Friday, March 17. To learn more, download Professor Benson's biography (pdf) and full application details (pdf).

Davids-Dunham Award

The College of Arts and Sciences Diversity Committee uses the Davids-Dunham Award to celebrate faculty members who identify with underrepresented groups for their excellence in scholarship, and who, through their scholastic efforts, support diversity at K-State. The Davids-Dunham Award is named for Sharice Davids and Ann Dunham, both of whom represent Kansas, have contributed to a discipline included in the College of Arts and Sciences, and have made tremendous contributions to our society. Their work embodies the spirit of this award.

Awardees

2022 Awardees

See the K-State Today article announcing Anuja Madan and Katie Olsen as the 2022 recipients of the Davids-Dunham Award.

2021 Awardees

Alex Wimmer, Ph.D is currently serving as the Assistant Director of Bands at Kansas State University. His duties include directing the Wind Symphony, Cat Band (basketball pep band), assisting in overseeing the Volleyball Band, Pub Crawl Band, and is the Assistant Marching Band Director for the Pride of Wildcat Land (KSUMB). He also is an instructor of undergraduate and graduate courses in conducting, arranging, and marching band techniques. During the summers Alex coordinates the K-State Summer Music Camp and K-State Leadership and Auxiliary Camp, as well as serves as one of the Assistant Directors of the Manhattan Municipal Band. He was recently voted president-elect of the Kansas Bandmasters Association, and co-chairs the New Band Director Bootcamp during the Kansas Bandmasters Association’s summer convention.

Alex is a member of MTD’s (School of Music, Theatre, and Dance) IDEall (Inclusion, Diversity, and Equity for All) committee. He assists with a variety of projects and efforts to promote IDEall throughout the school with faculty and staff. In the fall of 2021, Alex was part of the “How to Be an Antiracist Mastermind Experience,” leading and facilitating one of the experience’s small groups within the College of Arts and Sciences. He is passionate about celebrating and teaching diversity through music selection and programming, as well as through pedagogy related to music education.

Rachel Levitt

Levitt's nominators commended Levitt for being a "fierce advocate for LGBT Kansans" and an "extraordinarily thoughtful and perceptive scholar, educator, and mentor and a dedicated champion for furthering diversity, inclusion, equity, and justice." Learn more in the K-State Today article.

Colleen White

Dr. Colleen White joined Kansas State University as Assistant Professor of Flute in 2019. As a teaching artist, she has taught flute, chamber music, and entrepreneurship courses at Colorado State University, the Metropolitan State University of Denver, and the University of Colorado Boulder. Dr. White has performed in a wide variety of solo, orchestral, and chamber music settings across North America. She made her solo debut with the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra at age 16.

An energetic teacher, Dr. White has presented workshops and masterclasses across the U.S. on a variety of topics. She has performed and presented at the National Flute Association Convention, flute fairs across the U.S., and abroad. She earned degrees from the University of Colorado Boulder (DMA), The Hartt School (MM), and the University of Wisconsin Madison (BM).

She has been an Artist in Residence for Off the Hook Arts (Fort Collins, CO) and the Atlantic Music Festival (Maine) and performed with the Boulder Bach Festival and Colorado MahlerFest orchestras in the 2018-2019 season. Dr. White was named a semifinalist in the prestigious Myrna Brown Artist Competition and can be heard in solo and orchestral performances on Wyoming Public Radio and KGNU Boulder Radio.

Contact Us

The Diversity Committee wants to hear your comments or suggestions as we work towards achieving our goals. If you see a broken link, know of an additional resource or want more information about us, do not hesitate to contact us.

E-mail: cas-diversity@k-state.edu

College of Arts and Sciences
107 Calvin Hall
Manhattan, KS 66502-1005

Phone: 785-532-6904
Fax: 785-532-7004

Diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging