Student Diversity & Leadership Conference
About The Conference
The SUNY Oneonta Student Diversity & Leadership Conference is an event designed for individuals from diverse backgrounds, experiences, and perspectives to interact with student, administrator, and faculty presenters and exchange information to enhance multicultural comprehension, self-awareness, and leadership skills. Participants apply the acquired skills, tools, and insight to advance their personal development and be effective leaders both on campus and in the surrounding communities.
The 2025 Conference was held on Saturday March 29th, from 9 a.m. - 5 p.m. in SUNY Oneonta's Hunt Union. For the 14th year, the SUNY Oneonta Student DEI Council (SDEIC) and Office of Equity and Inclusion were proud to host this unique and inspiring opportunity for cultural exchange and community building. The 2025 conference followed this theme:
United in Diversity: The Spectrum of Us
In a world that can appear increasingly hostile and divisive, this conference seeks to bring together a series of panels, talks, artistic expressions, posters, and workshops that consider concepts of identity, unity, and justice on personal, community, or global levels. Some questions this conference considers:
- How do we come to understand ourselves and each other?
- Why does diversity matter?
- What role does intersectionality play in understanding ourselves and each other?
- How do people find a sense of unity across cultural, identity, and political differences?
- How can we move towards a more inclusive and just world?
Exploring the spectrum of our experiences creates a space for reflection on the power of the stories we tell.
Questions can be directed to Erin Francisco. Assistant Director of DEI Projects & Initiatives, Office of Equity & Inclusion, at Erin.Francisco@oneonta.edu.