Media Room

If educators reframe how they think about differences in the classroom, they could increase creativity and productivity with a profound impact on Colorado students.

Francesca Galarraga, director of diversity for University of the Rockies, will discuss how to build a learning environment that discovers and celebrates diversity at the University of Denver Diversity Summit on Inclusive Excellence. Her session, titled “Reframing how we think about difference in the classroom” will be held on May 10, 2013.

The annual summit will be held May 9-11, 2013 at the University of Denver. Over the years, the event has grown to include more than 600 participants, including diversity and inclusion leaders from the Denver community.

Galarraga’s session will provide a platform for understanding the complexity of diversity as it relates to curriculum. She will explore why and how cultural identity markers are significant, but often misunderstood or misread.

“Broadening our sense of ‘difference’ to include fewer traditional issues such as personality, communication styles, approaches to problem-solving and life demands can help us to find common ground in ways that make inclusivity deliberate and effective in a learning environment,” explains Galarraga, who has a decade of experience in the diversity field. 

Galarraga joined University of the Rockies as its director of diversity in April. She has directed diversity efforts at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Iowa State University, Rockwell Collins and Walt Disney Parks and Resort.

About University of the Rockies

University of the Rockies is an advanced graduate institution for tomorrow’s thought leaders. The University provides an intimate and dynamic learning environment, offering highly specialized master’s and doctoral degree programs in the social and behavioral sciences, access to industry experts, campus clinical programs for practical experience, and research and publishing opportunities. University of the Rockies is accredited by The Higher Learning Commission and a member of the North Central Association (www.ncahlc.org). Small by design, University of the Rockies classes are presented in a progressive online format, at its Colorado Springs, Colorado, campus and at its Denver instructional site. For more information, please visit www.rockies.edu or call Shari Winet Rodriguez, vice president of Public Relations, at 866.621.0124 x2513.