Mark DiOrio / Colgate University
T.J. Holmes, an American journalist and national television personality speaks to Colgate students in the Memorial Chapel during Mosaic Weekend Mar. 25, 2017 in Hamilton.
Colgate hosted its first Mosaic Weekend, March 24–25, featuring two full days of events for students and alumni of color and a keynote speech by ABCNews journalist T.J. Holmes.
Mosaic was launched this year to foster additional efforts toward diversity and inclusion at Colgate. Leading up to the weekend, multicultural students coordinated with alumni office and career services staff to design panel conversations around topics such as the transition into the workforce for graduates of color and industries with progressive hiring practices. They planned both formal and informal networking sessions — moments when they could discuss serious topics of diversity and inclusion and time simply to bond over shared Colgate experiences in a relaxed atmosphere.
The Mosaic Advisory Board — a committee of alumni, students, and university staff — also held its first meeting to hear reports on university efforts related to multicultural recruitment, orientation, student life, and alumni engagement. They will reconvene this summer to offer their thoughts on ways in which alumni of color can interact effectively with current students of color.