INSTITUTE, W.Va. – West Virginia State University (WVSU) is hosting a Community Conversation about Diversity, Equity and Inclusion on Tuesday, April 19. A reception will be at 5:30 p.m. with a panel discussion to follow at 6:30 p.m. in the James C. Wilson University Union.

The conversation is sponsored by West Virginia American Water and the West Virginia Higher Education Policy Commission. It is free and open to the public. 

“West Virginia American Water commends the team at West Virginia State University for continuing to support inclusion and diversity efforts,” Bradley Harris, senior external affairs specialist with West Virginia American Water, said. “We believe that as one of the largest business leaders in the state, it’s fundamental to support initiatives that further move the needle and make our communities across West Virginia more free and fair places to live, work, and do business.”

The panel discussion includes Harris; Kenyatta Coleman Grant, the community organizing coordinator with the West Virginia Coalition Against Domestic Violence; Patrick Liu, director of International Student Services at WVSU; and Maryam Rawash, a WVSU student. Michael Flowers, a member and director of diversity & inclusion with Steptoe & Johnson, PLLC, will facilitate the conversation. 

“Steptoe & Johnson knows that the highly skilled lawyers that will serve our clients in the future will come from an increasingly diverse pool of individuals,” Flowers said. “These individuals will come through the doors of our institutions of higher education. Consistent with our firm’s overall commitment to diversity and inclusion, our firm wants to do our part to make sure that the higher education door of opportunity is open as wide as possible so that we are able to welcome the next generation of talented and diverse individuals into the legal profession or into whatever career path they may choose.”  

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