Renowned student success scholar to present public talk

KALAMAZOO, Mich.—A highly acclaimed public speaker and thought leader who is renowned as a student success scholar will speak at Western Michigan University this month.

Dr. Terrell Strayhorn, professor of educational studies and director of the Center for Higher Education Enterprise at Ohio State University, will speak on "Success in College and Beyond" from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 19, in the Bernhard Center Ballroom.

The free, public event is being sponsored by the WMU Office of Diversity and Inclusion as part of its Real Talk Diversity Series. For more information about the series, visit wmich.edu/diversity.

About the visit

Sense of belonging is critical to the success of college students, and the Oct. 19 evening event will serve as a forum for exploring what belonging and inclusion mean at WMU.

In his presentation and interactive discussion, Strayhorn will engage participants in what it means to navigate a college campus landscape as part of the numerical minority and as part of the majority, and how each person can contribute to an environment that cultivates purpose and success for themselves and their peers.

Earlier on Oct. 19, Strayhorn will be the keynote speaker for WMU's 2016 Student Success Summit. This event is open to WMU faculty and staff members. RSVPs are required at bit.ly/2dKYJc8. The summit is being sponsored by WMU's Broncos FIRST and Center for Research on Instructional Change in Postsecondary Education.

Terrell Strayhorn

Strayhorn is one of the nation's "Top 12 Diversity Scholars," as identified by Diverse Issues in Higher Education, and became the youngest full professor in OSU history in 2014.

He conducts research on student success and achievement, equity, diversity and the impact of college on students. He is the author of "College Students' Sense of Belonging" and nine other books, some 50 book chapters, and more than 200 journal articles and other scholarly writings.

In addition, Strayhorn has presented more than 300 keynote talks and invited lectures across the globe, including a TED Talk in 2011. He has been quoted in the Huffington Post, Business First, Chronicle of Higher Education, Ebony and other news and views publications, generating more than 5,000 citations worldwide.

For more news, arts and events, visit wmich.edu/news.