ROCK HILL, SOUTH CAROLINA – The fifth annual Day of Understanding on May 1 will take on a creative format this year as the cyanotype portraits of five Winthrop University administrators, faculty and staff members will be displayed and discussed at the 11 a.m. event in Richardson Ballroom. This year’s theme is “Stories Untold.”
Associate Professor of Fine Arts Myles Calvert took each participant’s photograph holding an item of significance to their culture and/or upbringing. Calvert then took the photographs and turned them into cyanotype portraits. The participants will discuss their portraits at the Day of Understanding event, which is sponsored by President Edward A. Serna ’02 and the university’s Diversity Council to celebrate PricewaterhouseCoopers’ (PwC) CEO Action for Diversity and Inclusion.
“We are excited to experience this new format this year. This year’s event will share the untold stories and experiences of some of our marginalized or underrepresented communities through cyanotype portraits that convey emotions, resilience and the power of individual narratives. We are looking forward to seeing what each participant selected as an item of significance and the story behind it,” said Zan Jones, association vice president of human resources, employee diversity and wellness, and chief diversity officer. Jones also leads the university’s Diversity Council, which is made up of faculty, staff and student members.
Portrait participants are:
Veronica Ahadzie – Assistant Professor of Sociology
April Mustian – Professor of Special Education and Special Education Program Director
Anna Rau – Residential Learning Coordinator
Edward Serna - President
Sebastian van Delden – Provost
During the event, each participant will discuss his or her portrait. After the discussions, attendees can walk around the space to ask each participant more specific questions. Refreshments will be provided.
For more information, contact Jones at jonesz@winthrop.edu.
