“Who has the access C.O.D.E. (Careers, Opportunities and Diversity through Education)?”
That was the question posed to educators and business leaders during the American Conference on Diversity on Friday, November 16, hosted by Saint Peter’s University. The program, which explored the topic of “Positioning a Generation for the Best Careers, Opportunities and Diversity through Education,” brought together professionals for a day of panel discussions and workshops designed to interactively communicate ways to educate and empower the next generation of leaders, enhance New Jersey workplaces and help create inclusive communities.
“Who has the access C.O.D.E.? We have the access C.O.D.E.,” said Prosecutor Camelia M. Valdes Esq., keynote speaker for the conference. As the first Latina county prosecutor in the state and the first woman prosecutor in Passaic County, Valdes is a shining example of career success through education. Valdes is currently the youngest sitting county prosecutor in New Jersey.
“If you believe, like I do, that your background contributes to how you see the world, then the benefit of having a diverse workforce or educational institution is obvious,” said Valdes, who was raised in Newark and attended the public school system. She earned her undergraduate degree from Seton Hall University, her law degree from Rutgers Law School-Newark and her LL.M. in trial advocacy from Temple University.
During her address, Valdes stressed the importance of inspiring students through messages of hope, promise, opportunity and resilience – a mission not just for educators, but for any individual who can encourage greatness in others. Valdes used personal examples to strengthen this conviction, saying the inspiration she garnered from teachers provided the motivation she needed to pursue an education in law.
“I can tell you that right now, you are making the difference – whether you feel like it or not – in the lives of people that come by you, by your own example,” Valdes told the audience. “Keep lighting those fires, keep inspiring other people and continuing to speak possibility in the lives of other people.”
Valdes’ address was followed by a keynote response panel consisting of Valdes; Hon. Rochelle Hendricks, first secretary of higher education for the State of New Jersey; Joseph V. Doria Jr., Ed.D. ’68, director of the School of Education at Saint Peter’s University; Donnie W. Evans, Ed.D., superintendent of the Paterson school district; and Ebony Thomas, director of campus and diversity recruiting at Prudential. The panelists discussed their roles in education and culture and diversity within different school districts.
“One has to be authentic and one needs to be mission driven, operating around a set of principles that guide your life,” Secretary Hendricks said in agreement with the points made by Valdes. “You have to care as much about the significance of what you do as you do about your personal success. It’s not just about having a job or a title, but making sure that your life – who you are – matters.”
She added, “As individuals, our reach is beyond what we can see or touch. As educators, in particular, we have the ability to touch the future.”
During the afternoon session of the conference, several workshops were held that focused on topics ranging from diversity in the workplace to digital access. One such seminar was “The Value of a General Liberal Arts Education and the Practical Application of Professional Studies: Keys for Access and Professional Success,” led by Saint Peter’s University panelists Marylou Yam, Ph.D., provost and vice president for academic affairs, and Rev. Mark DeStephano, S.J., chair of the modern and classical languages and literatures department, as well as Sandra Bloomberg, Ph.D., dean of professional studies at New Jersey City University. The presentation explored the values of both a liberal arts and professional studies education, and how these disciplines prepare students for successful entry into the global marketplace and for the complexities of living and thriving in a diverse environment.
“The purposes of a liberal arts education are well documented in literature – to develop critical thinking and analytical skills, creativity, communication and reflection, as well as promote ethical judgment, civic responsibility and leadership,” Dr. Yam said during the workshop. “The editor of Peer Review, Shelley Carey, stated that all students need the knowledge and skills – and I would personally add values – that are developed by a liberal arts education. If their education is narrowly pursued, they are not going to be adequately prepared for careers, she mentioned, and I would add for life.”
In addition to the panel discussion and workshops, the Pursuit of Excellence in Higher Education Award was presented to Edward Bullock, vice president of diversity and inclusion at L’Oreal, during the conference.
The American Conference on Diversity is a nonprofit organization that promotes initiatives and programs throughout New Jersey that foster inclusion, respect and understanding for all, recognizing the value of diversity. Throughout its history, the organization has developed, hosted and led a series of initiatives focused on promoting greater inclusion and understanding in schools, businesses, institutions and communities through its state-wide programs and the efforts of its eight local chapters throughout New Jersey. Through its leadership development, training and education-based programs, the organization works with businesses, educational institutions and communities to create successful organizational cultures that enhance diversity initiatives, foster dialogue and build positive, inspirational values.
Organizations in attendance at the American Conference on Diversity included individuals from institutions such as Saint Peter’s University, Montclair State University, PSE&G and Prudential.
“At Saint Peter’s, we’re blessed with a remarkably diverse undergraduate and graduate student body,” said Eugene J. Cornacchia, Ph.D., president of Saint Peter’s University. “Our students find here an institution that is a beautiful mosaic of creeds and cultures, of perspectives and beliefs, and – most importantly – of tolerance. We work very deliberately to ensure that this culture carries on, and programs such as this conference help us to do just that.”