Columbus State University’s seventh annual celebration of diversity and inclusion -- the 2017 Diversity Forum -- is set for next Thursday, March 30.

Presented by CSU’s Office of Diversity Programs and Services, the Diversity Forum is a day-long conference and evening banquet that showcases successes in inclusion on CSU’s campus and fosters discussions on a broad range of relevant issues -- immigration, race, religion, sexuality, disability, poverty, and cultural competence -- to discover best practices for a better future. Attendees will take part in inclusive active learning exercises that can be repeated in their own workplaces or with team or community group members.

“I am full of excitement and anticipation for CSU’s day of diversity,” said Johniqua Williams, development specialist for diversity programs at CSU. “We will have a full day of personal and professional development in the arena of inclusion and equity. We want participants to come ready to learn to work with diverse people and situations in the workplace or in the classroom.”

Judge Glenda Hatchett, a seasoned litigator with more than 30 years of experience as a judge, corporate lawyer, and corporate and nonprofit board member, is the evening’s keynote speaker. From 2000-2008, Hatchett presided over the two-time Emmy-nominated, nationally syndicated show, “Judge Hatchett.” In 2014, she founded The Hatchett Firm, a national law firm specializing in catastrophic accidents, wrongful deaths, medical malpractice, reputational and marketing risks, and product liability.

Hatchett is a graduate of Mt. Holyoke College and Emory University School of Law, where she was an Earl Warren Scholar. She completed a prestigious federal clerkship in the United States District Court, Northern District of Georgia. She spent nearly 10 years as a senior attorney at Delta Air Lines, where she was the airline’s highest-ranking woman of color worldwide. Hatchett also was the first African-American Chief Presiding Judge of a state court in Georgia (Fulton County).

Hatchett is speaking during the Legacy Celebration, the evening portion of the Diversity Forum, which begins at 6 p.m. in CSU’s Lumpkin Center. The Diversity Conference will be held in CSU’s Cunningham Conference Center from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m.

“The Diversity Committee has worked hard to ensure that this year’s Diversity Forum is packed with quality speakers and facilitators,” said Williams. “To cap the day, we will celebrate those who are drum majors for justice, equality and inclusion within the university and local community.”

Tickets are $30 and include admission to both the conference and the Legacy Celebration. Tables are available for $240. For more information about the 2017 Diversity Forum or to purchase tickets online, visit diversity.columbusstate.edu/diversityforum.php or contact Johniqua Williams at 706-5078594 or [email protected].