SALT LAKE CITY - The theme for Westminster University’s fall 2024 B.W. Bastian Foundation Diversity Lecture Series is "The Inclusive Nature of the Outdoors: The Earth Belongs to All," which will highlight the relationship between people and their natural environments. Happening on Wednesday, October 9, 2024, the lecture will focus on access, inclusion, and belonging, as well as how social and cultural backgrounds shape individual connections to the outdoors, emphasizing the importance of nature in promoting health and well-being.
Moderated by Kirsten Johanna Allen, Co-Executive Director, Publisher, and Co-Founder of Torrey House Press, panelists for the evening include:
- Stacie Denetsosie, Fiction Writer/Poet
- Maria Estrada, Ph.D., Vice President, Metropolitan Group | Diversity Equity Inclusion & Belonging
- Richard Ferguson, MD, MBA, Founder, Black Physicians of Utah
- Kellie Gerbers, Ph.D., Associate Professor, Outdoor Education and Leadership, Westminster University
Dr. Tamara Stevenson, Vice President of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion at Westminster University, underscored the importance of this year’s theme, stating, "The outdoors should be a space where everyone feels a sense of belonging. Through this lecture series, we aim to foster critical conversations around equity in the environmental sphere, ensuring that the outdoors remains inclusive and accessible to all."
The event will take place in the Emma Eccles Jones Recital Hall in Gillmor Hall, and will begin with a reception at 5:30 p.m., followed by a mini talk by Dr. Maria Estrada and a panel discussion with audience participation at 6:30 p.m. The event is expected to last until 8 p.m.
The B.W. Bastian Foundation sponsors this annual lecture series, which reflects Westminster University’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion, while addressing timely and relevant issues.
