Education at JMU’s Diversity Conference

The School of Professional & Continuing Education enthusiastically participated in this year’s JMU Diversity Conference, highlighting its commitment to fostering an inclusive and supportive learning environment. The SPCE session provided attendees with an in-depth understanding of our mission, values, and significant impact on the community.

Nick Swartz began the session with a brief over overview of SPCE, emphasizing SPCE’s dedication to diversity, equity, inclusion, accessibility, and belonging across all programs. This commitment is integral to our mission of providing accessible and high-quality educational opportunities to diverse audiences.

Following Swartz’s introduction, each program director presented an overview of their respective areas:

1. Youth Programs: Rae Vaughn, Youth Programs interim director, discussed the mission of engaging young learners in meaningful educational experiences. Emphasizing the importance of inclusivity, the program reaches out to diverse youth populations, ensuring equitable access to learning opportunities.
2. Lifelong Learning Institute: Barb Hetzel, LLI’s director, highlighted LLI’s dedication to offering enriching educational experiences for adults aged 50 and above. The program's commitment to DEIAB was underscored by its efforts to create a welcoming and inclusive environment for all participants, regardless of background.
3. Professional Development: Amanda Kellogg, director of Professional Development, presented on the variety of professional development opportunities available, focusing on how these programs support diverse professionals in enhancing their skills and advancing their careers.
4. Adult Degree Program: Daniel Robinson, ADP director and academic unit head, provided insights into the ADP’s mission of offering flexible and accessible pathways to higher education for adult learners. Emphasizing the program's focus on DEIAB, the director highlighted efforts to support adult students from diverse backgrounds in achieving their educational and career goals.

Throughout the session, the directors underscored SPCE’s unwavering commitment to creating educational environments where diversity is celebrated, equity is pursued, inclusion is practiced, accessibility is ensured, and a sense of belonging is fostered for all participants.

The participation of SPCE in the JMU Diversity Conference reflects our ongoing dedication to advancing DEIAB principles within our programs and the broader community, demonstrating our role as a leader in inclusive education at JMU.