Panel discusses Diversity in the Workplace
Professor Joseph Morrissey moderated a panel discussion on Diversity in the Workplace on Stetson’s Gulfport campus on March 4.
(Foreground L-R): Ramil Kaminsky, Jason Liu, Professor Joseph Morrissey, Brittany Maxey and David Brunell.
Attorneys in the region David J. Brunell ’11, Ramil Kaminsky ’13, Jason Liu and Brittany Maxey ’07 discussed their personal experiences facing challenges to an inclusive workplace.
The panel and dinner for students was sponsored by the Stetson chapter of the Student Bar Association, Florida Association for Women Lawyers, Asian American Law Student Association, International Law Society, Hispanic Bar Association, Business Law Society, Black Law Students Association, and the Lambda Legal Society.
“Discrimination comes in so many more forms than just what we put labels on,” Brunell said.
Brunell married his partner in 2013, but could not add him to his health insurance policy until 2014 because the state did not recognize the marriage.
“It’s how you conduct yourself that defuses the situation,” said Liu.
Kaminsky stressed that it is important to humble oneself. “We’re all in the legal profession together,” he said. “Sometimes you just need to educate people if they ask.”
Maxey discussed the imbalance between male and female attorney salaries in the state. “If you don’t ask, you won’t get,” said Maxey.
Brunell encouraged the students in the audience to ask questions when confronted by bias in the workplace.
“To be inclusive, you also have to include their viewpoint,” said Brunell.
Post date: March 16, 2015
Media contact: Kate Bradshaw
[email protected] | 727-430-1580