Oregon State University’s Portland Center hosts State of Black Affairs Summit

Oregon State University is hosting the second annual State of Black Affairs summit Thursday, May 25 in Portland. The summit is for faculty, administrators, advocates and community members from across Oregon to learn, network and discuss ideas to empower Black professionals, students and families in the state.

The event is organized by the President’s Commission on the Status of Black Faculty and Staff Affairs at Oregon State.

The summit will take place from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the OSU Portland Center and can be attended in person or virtually. Topics to be addressed include strategies to support Black rural students, Black entrepreneurship, advancing public health among Black Oregonians and creating inclusive spaces.

“Based on feedback from our inaugural summit last May, we’ve added more sessions, and have moved from hourlong sessions to 75 minutes to deepen conversations. We’ve placed an even stronger emphasis on educating the community,” said Tenisha Tevis, chair of the President’s Commission on the Status of Black Faculty and Staff and associate professor in the adult and higher education program at OSU’s College of Education. “Another highlight will be a fireside chat focused on policing and school shootings.”

Oregon State Representative Travis Nelson, Portland, will provide the keynote address. Nelson is the first Black LGBTQIA+ member of the Oregon Legislature. Other speakers include Nicole Morrisey O’Donnell, Multnomah County’s first female sheriff; Jayathi Y. Murthy, OSU president; Danny Jacobs, president of Oregon Health & Science University; and Robin Holmes-Sullivan, president of Lewis & Clark College. Other speakers will include professors, directors of diversity initiatives and business leaders.

Registration for the summit is required. It is $100 to attend in-person and $75 to attend virtually. The summit will include three concurrent sessions, as well as networking opportunities and a happy hour.