center for student Diversity

Signature Programs

Set It Off

Each year the Center for Student Diversity and Campus Recreation hold an annual welcome back event for Towson students.  At this event, students make connections and have many exciting opportunities to get involved. Meet new people, join an intramural sports team or multicultural student organization, or compete for prizes while enjoying free food, fun, and music.

Diversity Speaker Series

Each semester, the CSD brings culturally relevant speakers, educators, activists and entertainers to campus. This program gives students access to some of the world's most influential minds of our time.  Past speakers have included Michael Eric Dyson, Angela Davis, Cleve Jones, Arun Ghandi, and Nobel Prize winner Rigoberta Menchu Tum.

Retreat for Social Justice

The Retreat for Social Justice is an annual weekend retreat sponsored by the CSD.  This retreat gives students who particpate an opportunity to explore their cultural identities and interact with people from diverse backgrounds.  The weekend is full of fun, interactive, and enlightening activities that help participants:

• Explore and understand their identities and how those identities influence their attitudes, beliefs, and behaviors,

• Create dialogue and conversations with their peers from different backgrounds, perspectives, lifestyles and experiences,

• Learn ways they can interrupt prejudice and advocate for social equity and justice, and

• Develop ways to create an inclusive and welcoming environment on campus and in their communities

Students must apply to participate in the retreat. The retreat is FREE for the students who are selected.

Martin Luther King Celebration

This celebration of the life of this legendary social justice advocate typically takes place in February because Towson University students usually do not return to campus in time to celebrate the national MLK Holiday in mid-January.

Students Achieving Goals Through Education

The SAGE program is one component of Towson University's cultural diversity and student retention plan. Program resources are used to foster academic achievement, personal development, and campus wide involvement among entering students from diverse backgrounds. The SAGE program's original mission continues and has expanded to include any entering freshmen who wishes to participate. SAGE program participants are assigned a peer mentor and participate in various activities that enhance academic, budget management, and decision-making skills. Participants also expand their knowledge of diverse cultural groups, career development strategies, and participate in networking opportunities.

Digital Storytelling

Digital Storytelling is the modern expression of the ancient art of storytelling. Digital Stories derive their power by weaving images, music, narrative & voice together, thereby giving deep dimension and vivid color to characters, situations, experiences, and insights.

Digital Storytelling is a relatively new educational tool. Digital Storytelling used in support of campus diversity is an even “newer” and more esoteric use of this emerging, learning model.

The Center for Student Diversity will undertake a special initiative utilizing this teaching/learning tool to share personal stories created by our students to learn more about identity, culture, and diversity. See the winners from 2012's contest here!