OAKLAND COUNTY, Michigan – Allison McFadden-Keesling has been selected as Oakland Community College’s (OCC) 2017 Diversity Champion by the College’s Committee for Diversity and Inclusion. McFadden-Keesling, a librarian at OCC's Highland Lakes Campus in Waterford, received the award for her work on OCC's Human Library, a collection of diverse individuals who are on loan to readers.
"In this age of rapid globalization, the understanding and appreciation of others is an important foundation for personal and professional success," said OCC Chancellor Timothy Meyer.
The College's Diversity and Inclusion committee mission is to ensure that diversity, in all its forms, is respected and valued in an environment of inclusiveness and understanding. The committee offers college-wide programs and serves as an educational resource for OCC students, employees and the community with opportunities to provide input and diverse insight. Each year, the committee honors an individual who has helped promote its core values and goals.
Under the international Human Library guides, OCC's Human Library represents a multitude of diverse populations including economic, cultural, religion, race, and more, for open and sometimes difficult conversations that challenge stereotypes and prejudices through dialogue.
In addition to her work on OCC's Human Library, McFadden-Keesling created a special collection of documentary films about diversity and inclusion at the Highland Lakes campus library and moderates film viewings and discussions. For the last eight years, she organized OCC Highland Lakes' "African American Read-in."
McFadden-Keesling presents on the Human Library at state and local conferences and events including the Michigan Library Association Academic Libraries Conference and the Optimist Club of Central Detroit. She will be recognized May 4 at an annual event hosted by the Birmingham Race Relations and Diversity Task Force.
About OCC
With multi campus system throughout Oakland County, Oakland Community College is committed to providing academic and developmental experiences that allows each student to reach their full potential and enhance the diverse communities they serve. A fully accredited college, OCC offers degrees and certificates in approximately 100 career fields and university transfer degrees in business, science and the liberal arts. More than a million students have enrolled in the College since it opened in 1965.
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Media Contact: Bridget M. Kavanaugh | Marketing & Community Relations | (248) 341-2020 | bmkavana@oaklandcc.edu