For more than 20 years, the UW–Madison campus has held an annual all-campus and community Diversity Forum to discuss, share and learn about contemporary issues of equity, diversity, inclusion, and belonging.
The annual Diversity Forum is the premier training and working session for diversity and inclusion topics, building on more than 50 years of UW initiatives designed to make the university more inclusive. Hosted by the Division of Diversity, Equity & Educational Achievement, the Diversity Forum features engaging speakers, presentations and panel discussions on topics ranging from best practices for fostering inclusive, equitable and accessible classrooms to expanding and deepening our understanding of American and world history.
Past Keynote Speakers
Danielle Allen (2023)
Dr. Danielle Allen is a professor of public policy, politics, and ethics at Harvard University, Director of the Allen Lab for Renovating Democracy at the Harvard Kennedy School’s Ash Center and James Bryant Conant University Professor, one of Harvard’s highest honors.
José Olivarez (2023)
The son of formerly undocumented Mexican immigrants, award-winning poet José Olivarez writes poems that use the lenses of immigration, in-betweeness, gender, class and family to examine and praise the world.
Tiya Miles (2022)
The Michael Garvey Professor of History and Radcliffe Alumnae Professor at Harvard University, where she offers courses on African American women, Native American women, abolitionist women and “Black Indian” histories and identities, Tiya Miles provided the keynote address at the 2022 Diversity Forum.
Russel Jeung (2021)
A professor of Asian American Studies at San Francisco State University and co-founder of the Stop AAPI Hate reporting center, Russell Jeung provided the keynote address at the 2021 UW–Madison Diversity Forum.
Steven Canals (2021)
Steven Canals, a screenwriter and producer best known for co-creating and executive-producing the FX television show Pose, will provide the Day 2 keynote address at the 2021 UW-Madison Diversity Forum.
Robin DiAngelo (2020)
As the keynote speaker for the Diversity Forum’s first day, Robin DiAngelo, who is white, spoke pointedly to white people about systemic racism. She is the author of the bestseller “White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism.”
Austin Channing Brown (2020)
Best-selling author Austin Channing Brown opened her UW–Madison-sponsored talk Wednesday by saying she learned early on that white people have a tendency to think their experiences are universal and normal.
John Quiñones (2019)
Host of the hidden-camera television series “What Would You Do?” and veteran ABC News correspondent John Quiñones provided the keynote address at the 2019 Diversity Forum.
Talithia Williams (2018)
A professor of Mathematics at Harvey Mudd College who came into national prominence with her TEDTalk “Own Your Body’s Data," Dr. Talithia Williams provided the 2018 Diversity Forum keynote address.
Walter Echo-Hawk (2017)
An attorney, tribal judge, author, activist, and law professor who has advocated for Native American rights since the early '70s, Pawnee Nation member Walter Echo-Hawk provided the keynote address at the 2017 Diversity Forum.
Rabia Chaudry (2016)
A Pakistani American attorney, advocate, podcast host, and author of the New York Times bestselling book "Adnan’s Story," Rabia Chaudry provided the keynote address at the 2016 Diversity Forum.
Clarence Page (2015)
A Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, syndicated columnist, and member of the Chicago Tribune editorial board, Clarence Page provided the keynote address at the 2015 Diversity Forum.