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C. Gita Bosch, an academic consultant with more than 20 years of experience focused on helping make organizations more diverse and preparing underrepresented students for success, will host two seminars on campus on Oct. 21 and 22.

The seminars, which are organized by the College of Natural Sciences, are the inaugural events that are part of its new $4.9 million five-year U.S. Department of Education grant, “PATHS: Proactive Approaches for Training Hispanics in STEM.”

The grant was designed to increase the number of Hispanic and low-income students graduating with degrees in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields, said college dean Sastry G. Pantula.

“Dr. Bosch will bring to campus her extensive experience and deep knowledge about advocating for underrepresented students and the value of diverse faculty,” said Pantula. “I am excited about the opportunity she will help create for our faculty, our students, and our supporters to learn more about these extremely vital topics. Our college is committed to helping our students and faculty excel and succeed, and Dr. Bosch’s presentations are aligned perfectly with these mission-critical goals.”

The first seminar, “Individual Development Plan (IDP) for Undergraduate Students,” which is largely geared for faculty, students and academic advisors, will focus on practical tools students and their advisors can use to stay on a path to success. In particular, it will cover individual development plans (IDPs), which are tools that can be customized to help individual students outline a vision for their education journey, set personal career goals, and learn how to reach their full potential. The presentation will be Thursday, Oct. 21 from noon to 1 p.m. in the Center for Global Innovation, Room 210.

“The IDP is a living document, a roadmap for students to navigate their way, and keep their destination in sight at all times, despite encounters with life’s detours,” Bosch said. “The seminar encourages and excites faculty and advisors about the IDP process and invites them to partner with students on their journeys.”

Prospective attendees, whether they are attending in person or virtually, should register for this event using the “Dr. C. Gita Bosch Oct. 21 IDP Seminar” Qualtrics registration link.

Those who wish to attend virtually can use the following Zoom link: https://csusb.zoom.us/j/86181533732?pwd=c0tlaTA4Yjh6eUZVQnZUSWk0aDZjQT09. The passcode is: 498430.

The second seminar, “Diversifying the Faculty,” will focus on best practices for diversifying faculty and how to move from a mindset of recruitment and retention to one of attraction and success. The seminar will review the hiring process, from job posting to onboarding; the functioning of the search committee; and the work environment in which the diverse faculty will thrive. The seminar will be from 3 to 4 p.m., also in CGI-210.

Prospective attendees, whether they are attending in person or virtually, should register for this event using the “Dr. C. Gita Bosch Oct. 21 Diversifying Faculty Seminar” Qualtrics registration link.

Those who wish to attend virtually can use the following Zoom link: https://csusb.zoom.us/j/89061287266?pwd=aktiZzlJenBvT1hPMFhTTHBXY2pBdz09. The passcode is 200155.

To attend either seminar in person, face masks must be worn inside at all times.

Bosch’s extensive experiences include serving as the underrepresented student advocate while she was associate dean at both the Mount Sinai School of Medicine and the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center for more than 20 years. She also has seven years of laboratory biomedical research experience and served on the American Association of Medical Colleges Advisory Group to address diversity and health disparities in the nation.

For more information about the seminars, contact Yolanda Thomas at YThomas@csusb.edu.