The Penn Alumni
Diversity Alliance Speaker Series is designed to expose the Penn community
to the rich and varied accomplishments of our graduates.
Alumni representing one or more of the Diversity Alliance member
organizations return to campus for an interview-style discussion of
their career paths since graduating from Penn. Each topic
will cover a different area of professional expertise.
JANUARY 2009
"Out-of-Office Politics: Civic Engagement for Real People" A Conversation with ANDY TOY, C'80, G'81
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bio
Wednesday, January 28, 2009
6:30-7:30 pm The ARCH Crest (formerly The Palladium)
3601 Locust Walk
University of Pennsylvania
In the years and months leading up to the 2008 US Presidential election, many
Americans became politically active for the first time. What now? How can people
remain involved in the process while balancing work and family obligations? What
can they do at the local and state level to keep them connected to the issues
that drove them to vote in November? Is there a larger civic role for the University,
its students and alumni?
Join us for a conversation with Andy Toy, C'80, G'81,
to hear how he has cultivated a passion for civic involvement both inside and
outside of his career. By day, Mr. Toy assists small business owners as Director
of the Retail Resource Network at The Enterprise Center in Philadelphia. Over
and above this role, he is the newly appointed Commissioner of the Mayor's Commission
on Asian American Affairs in Philadelphia, and serves on the Boards of the United
Way of Southeastern PA, Americans for Democratic Action, and the Philadelphia
Chinatown Development Corporation. Though he did not ultimately win his run for
Philadelphia City Council in 2007, Mr. Toy was endorsed by both major city newspapers
as well as a long and diverse list of community organizations.
FEBRUARY 2009
"Acute Sensibility: Defying Gender-Based Career Expectations" A Conversation with MARTIN CAMACHO, MSN, ACNP-BC, GNU'03
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bio
Monday, February 23, 2009
6:00-7:30 pm Penn Humanities Forum
3619 Locust Walk
University of Pennsylvania
Would you be willing to challenge gender stereotypes to pursue your life and career goals? What is it really like to work in a field where one gender still comprises a considerable majority? As a man who has served in both the traditionally-male military and the traditionally-female field of nursing, Martin Camacho, MSN, ACNP-BC, GNU'03 can offer a unique perspective on this topic. Join us for a conversation with Mr. Camacho, who spent five years on active duty with the United States Navy, and is now an Acute Care Nurse Practitioner in the Department of Emergency Medicine at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania. He is also Clinical Faculty in the Biobehavioral Health Sciences Division of the Penn School of Nursing. The program will last for one hour. After Q&A, please feel free to remain and mingle with our special guest over light refreshments.
MARCH 2009
"From Survivor to Advocate: Influencing Health Policy and Research" A Conversation with SHERRY SALWAY BLACK, WG'82
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bio
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
6:00-7:30 pm E. Craig Sweeten Alumni House
3533 Locust Walk
University of Pennsylvania
Individuals have long been urged to take a more proactive role in their own health care. What does it take to expand that role and affect care on a larger scale? Can people outside of the health professions really influence national health care leaders and policy-makers? How can people work more effectively with the advocacy organizations that seek to serve their needs?
Join us for a conversation with Sherry Salway Black, WG'82, to hear how she turned her personal experience into an opportunity to put her professional skills to work in a new way. Ms. Black is an ovarian and endometrial cancer survivor, and the immediate past Executive Director of the Ovarian Cancer National Alliance. Her career includes more than 25 years working with American Indian and Alaska Native tribes in economic and community development, advocacy and policy reform, development finance, nonprofit management, health care administration, and philanthropy. The program will last for one hour. After Q&A, please feel free to remain and mingle with our special guest over light refreshments.
APRIL 2009
POSTPONED - This event will be rescheduled in the fall
Offenses and Defenses: Litigation in the New Millennium A Conversation with ANDREW CHIRLS, C'77
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bio
How can lawyers direct their professional energies towards social issues of personal significance despite the increasing responsibilities placed upon them in the modern day? How have the public's methods of exchanging and absorbing information in the online age affected their expectations of today's trial attorney? Join us for a conversation with Andrew Chirls, C'77, whose path took him from Law Clerk for a judge to Partner in a major firm to Chancellor of Pennsylvania's largest local bar association.
Mr. Chirls has been a partner in the Litigation Practice Group of Philadelphia firm WolfBlock LLP since 1989. He was elected to the Philadelphia Bar Association's board of governors in 1997 and served as its chairman in 2000. He served as Chancellor of the Philadelphia Bar Association in 2005, and was the first openly gay man in the nation to be elected to such a position.
The program will last for one hour. After Q&A, please feel free to remain and mingle with our special guest over light refreshments.
