Stetson to Host Collegiate Pride Conference

Logo for Florida Collegiate Pride Coalition Conference

Stetson University will become the first private liberal arts institution to host the annual Florida Collegiate Pride Coalition Conference this spring and focus on empowering participants to become leaders and advocates.

About 150 people from around the state are expected to attend the conference on the DeLand campus from March 31 to April 2, 2017, said Luis F. Paredes, Ph.D., Stetson’s director of Diversity and Inclusion.

Logo for Florida Collegiate Pride Coalition Conference
Stetson University will host the annual Florida Collegiate Pride Coalition Conference from March 31 to April 2, 2017.

The collegiate conference was started in 2003 with a mission to connect the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer community, educate others and celebrate diversity. This year it will emphasize the counseling profession and try to educate those in the mental health profession about the LGBTQ+ community, according to the conference website.

“It is a big commitment,” Paredes said. “We will be hosting approximately 150 attendees, including graduate and undergraduate students from across the state. By hosting the Conference, we will continue our conversations about creating policies for the LGBTQ+ community on campus. We will continue our efforts to elevate our programming and services.”

Stetson’s values include personal growth, intellectual development and global citizenship. Because of that, the university is dedicated to providing opportunities for its diverse community. “Once again, Stetson University will be at the center of cutting-edge opportunities for students, faculty, staff and the community at large,” Paredes said.

Joining Paredes in the committee that will host the conference is Lindsey Graves, assistant director of Interfaith Initiatives; Kat Thomas, assistant director of Student Governance and Organizations; Lamerial Jacobson McRae, Ph.D., Brown visiting teacher-scholar fellow; Cecil Chik, Residential Life Coordinator; Medorie Petersen-Woodburn, ’18, chair of the state committee for the Florida Collegiate Pride Coalition; and student Bek Luke ’17. Paredes said the committee is “diligently working to make this conference the highlight of our Spring 2017 semester.”

A call for academic papers, posters and workshop presentations was launched on Oct. 1. The committee welcomes academic papers from graduate students and workshop proposals from undergraduate students on various topics and themes relating to the LGBTQ+  community. Committee members are interested in student experiences and perspectives that emphasize and highlight the representations, identities and culture of the LGBTQ+ community.

“I am very optimistic for the opportunity to become the example for other institutions to follow,” says Paredes.

For more information about FCPC, visit its Facebook page.

-Nicole Melchionda