The Finance & Administration Alliance for Culture, Diversity & Inclusion at Stony Brook University has been active since the beginning of the year, organizing events to bring together the division's employees and celebrate their diverse cultural backgrounds.
In January, a cultural exploration event was held featuring film, lunch, and discussion. Associate Professor Zebulon Vance Miletsky led an interactive session linking the film "Judas and the Black Messiah" with themes of racial justice, political resistance, and state surveillance in 1960s America.
On February 12, a Global New Year’s Traditions lunch took place at the Charles B. Wang Center to mark the end of the Chinese New Year. This event offered traditional New Year’s foods from around the world and allowed staff to connect with colleagues in a relaxed setting.
Jed Shivers, Senior Vice President for Finance and Administration at Stony Brook, addressed attendees about the university's commitment to diversity. “One of the hallmarks of our university is celebrating what makes each member of our Seawolf community unique,” he stated. He emphasized that staff members come from varied cultural backgrounds and hold diverse roles across campus.
Alexandra Rose from Stony Brook's Office of Communications and Marketing shared her personal experiences regarding diversity initiatives. “Both of my parents are from Haiti,” she mentioned. She highlighted how these efforts have fostered meaningful relationships during her time at Stony Brook.
Looking ahead, the Alliance plans a women’s workwear clothing donation in March for Women’s History Month. The initiative will support a local Dress for Success chapter by collecting professional attire to help women advance their careers. Interested individuals can visit their website for more information.
Learn more at the Finance & Administration website.