YSU Students and Faculty Awarded at the Diversity Leadership Recognition Dinner

By Samantha Phillips

Students and faculty from Youngstown State University were honored for their leadership in diversity and inclusion efforts at YSU and the Youngstown community during the Diversity Leadership Recognition Dinner on March 24 at Stambaugh Auditorium. samantha phillips2

Bryan Bautista, a semifinalist on NBC’s “The Voice”, Season 10, warmed up the crowd with a quick speech and musical performances.

Sylvia Imler, associate vice president of Multicultural Affairs, said she saw Bautista perform on the show and decided to reach out to him and invite him to perform at this event.

“There was something that he shared about his culture. When he began to talk about his culture, that’s when I reached out to him,” she said.

Jaietta Jackson, a communication professor at YSU, and Karen Larwin, an associate professor in YSU’s Educational Foundations, Research, Technology and Leadership Department, were recognized for their campus leadership.

Jackson, who also works with the Minority Alumni Council at Cardinal Mooney, teaches multiculturalism and intercultural communication at the university. She said she is passionate about promoting cultural understanding and diversity and appreciates the acknowledgement, but she didn’t do it for the accolades.

Larwin works with the Ohio Commission on Minority Health and uses her experience from the commission to present real-world examples in her classes. She is working towards lowering the rate of infant mortality in Youngstown.

The Diversity Leadership Scholarship was given to YSU students Dia Scruggs, Ramona Kindell and Kaitlin McClendon for their campus involvement. The Division of Student Experience was awarded the Diversity Leadership Achievement Award.