The College of Pharmacy held the first of four fall social sessions addressing cultural differences via Zoom Aug. 21.
The session, titled “Social Interactions: Exploring Cultural Differences,” was led by Nikki Dyer, EdD, NCC, assistant professor in Pediatric Dentistry and member of UTHSC Student Academic Support Services and Inclusion (SASSI). More than 150 students, faculty members, and staff members attended the session.
“I was very pleased with the number of individuals attending,” said Dean Marie Chisholm-Burns. “It was a wonderful session featuring Dr. Dyer, and I look forward to more programing in this area. I invite everyone in the college to keep attending, as learning and growing together to achieve goals is critical.”
This was the first of four fall social sessions coordinated by the College of Pharmacy’s Office of Student Affairs based on a charge from the newly created Equity, Inclusivity, and Diversity Advisory Board. The next session will focus on cultural foods, followed by a session on cultural experiences.
“This session opened us up to the idea of exploring cultural differences and gave us a foundation to work from in future sessions,” said Chasity Shelton, Assistant Dean for Student Success. “We discussed race, the social construct of race, and cultural differences, leading to a place of cultural humility.”
The social sessions will continue throughout the fall via Zoom, and will alternate with listening sessions coordinated by the advisory board.
