About Us

The conference, “American Dilemmas: Historical and Comparative Perspectives on Diversity, Health Disparities, and Issues of Substance Abuse,” has two broad purposes.

First, purpose of the conference will be to encourage conversation across the disciplines within the university community.

Second, equally important purpose will be to engage in a specific conversation on issues related to the nation’s historically diverse population.

The plenary speaker, Orlando Patterson, the John Cowles Professor of Sociology at Harvard University, will offer both theoretical and practical insights on the dilemmas many of us face in addressing and working with diverse population groups. Conference presentations will cover a broad range of diversity issues, ranging from the politics of the disabled body to Poospatuck Indian needs assessment.