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MEDIA ADVISORY: MU to Host Speaker on Diversity, Belonging

August 25th, 2015

Story Contact: Nathan Hurst, 573-882-6217, hurstn@missouri.edu

By Amanda Narverud

WHAT: The University of Missouri will host Terrell Strayhorn for his lecture, The Building Blocks of Belonging and Success in College for Diverse Student Populations. Strayhorn is the director of the Center for Higher Education Enterprise and professor in the department of Educational Studies at The Ohio State University.

Sense of belonging is a basic human need that takes on heightened importance on college campuses.       Students who feel a sense of belonging are significantly more likely to adjust to higher education,           stay through the first year of college, engage in campus activities, perform well academically and           persist to graduation.

Strayhorn, author of College Students’ Sense of Belonging: A Key to Educational Success for All               Students, presents an operational definition of belonging and the core elements to his belonging               theory. He will use the balance of time to share insights and engage the audience in thinking about         how campuses, like Mizzou, can use belonging to increase success for all students.

The lecture is co-sponsored by the MU Office of the Provost and the MU Chancellor’s Diversity                 Initiative. The Chancellor’s Diversity Initiative is working to make Mizzou a more inclusive,                         creative and innovative research and learning environment that facilitates the competent functioning of students and employees in a diverse and competitive global society. The office of the Chancellor’s         Diversity Initiative evaluates the campus climate and develops new programs and strategic planning         efforts that foster a diverse and inclusive campus environment.

WHO: Open to all campus and community members

WHEN & WHERE:
Lecture: 7 p.m.
Q&A, reception and book signing: 8:30 p.m.
Monday, Aug. 24
Missouri Theatre, 203 S. Ninth Street

NOTE: If media wish to attend, please contact Nathan Hurst, 573-882-6217, hurstn@missouri.edu.

For information on the public lecture, please visit: http://diversity.missouri.edu/.       

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