USF Nursing hosts generational diversity event for faculty and staff

University of South Florida College of Nursing held a generational diversity event for faculty and staff on June 26, 2012. The purpose of the event was to simply create awareness, and provide an understanding of different age groups with diverse work styles in the work place.

The event, hosted by College Nursing’s Diversity Committee, featured interactive training and group discussions as well as games and quizzes for attendees. Diversity Committee Chair, Kimberly Brown, said the event allowed them to address some of the generational stereotypes usually seen in the workplace, and discuss how to be better employees and better health care providers in the long run.

“We wanted to get an overall warm and fuzzy feeling with every age group,” Brown said. “We wanted everyone to know that working together whether it’s here in the college or in the health environment; you’re going to be faced with others who are younger or older.”

 

Joseph Anastasio, Consultant for USF’s Diversity and Equal Opportunity Office, was the guest speaker for the event. During his presentation, Anastasio stressed the importance of knowing the generational differences, values, and attitudes to better work with people in the work place.

“We invited Anastasio as our speaker because of his experience on the topic as well as his overall diversity and equal opportunity expertise,” Brown said. “He was great.”

Brown said, the event gave the College of Nursing’s employees the opportunity to learn about the different ways to see diversity. “The event was a great success,” Brown said. “I am just excited that we were able to remind people of the diverse ways we can talk about diversity.”

USF College of Nursing’s Doctoral/CRNA Recruiter Advisor, Jenny Gum, who attended the event found the generational diversity presentation to be very informative. “I think we all can benefit from the information provided by the College’s Diversity Committee as well as the diversity expert.”