Diversity Among Consumers: A Year of Study
"Diversity Among Consumers: A Year of Study" is a series of speakers and events hosted by the Department of Apparel, Housing, and Resource Management (AHRM) in cooperation with its faculty, staff, students, and guest speakers. The purpose of this year-long study is to enhance students' awareness and understanding of diversity among consumers and in the workplace, which is closely associated with the AHRM Department's mission to improve the quality of life of individuals, families, and the broader community through respect for multiple perspectives.
In AHRM, we prepare our students to be both consumers and employees in consumer-related businesses. All of the students from our three curricular areas - apparel, housing, and resource management - will face similar experiences related to diversity among their future co-workers and with the consumers their employers serve. Diverse market segments provide opportunities and challenges for these businesses and their employees. Thus, students who enter the workforce need an understanding of the varied needs of these consumers. The impact of this project will be to broaden the participants' understanding and awareness of diversity as it pertains to consumer behavior and needs in apparel, housing, and resource management.
"Diversity Among Consumers: A Year of Study" is designed to enhance and showcase instruction and scholarship in AHRM on issues pertaining to the diversity of consumers. The AHRM department will spend the 2009-2010 academic year exploring the needs and characteristics of diverse consumers in the U.S. market as they relate to our three program areas - apparel, housing, and resource management. The schedule of events for Fall semester is as follows:
| Topic | Speaker |
|---|---|
| A Time of Recalibration. Normal is Now - September 10th Fralin Auditorium 4:00pm reception 4:30pm program |
Sherry Qualls, President White, Good & Company PICTURE GALLERY |
| Diversity of Design: State of Art - October 6th Fralin Auditorium 4:30pm presentation |
Dr. Glenda Andes, CKD, CAPS Universal and Senior Design Consultant PICTURE GALLERY |
| Energy and Advocacy - October 21st Wallace Hall Atrium 5:00pm presentation |
Irene Leech, Ph.D. Virginia Tech PICTURE GALLERY |
| Multicultural Consumer Conversation - November 11th 412 Wallace Hall 4:30pm program |
Jessie Chen-Yu, Ph.D. |
Multicultural Exhibition Reception - December 11th | PICTURE GALLERY |
*Locations to be announced.
"Diversity Among Consumers: A Year of Study" is funded through a Department Diversity Grant from the College of Liberal Arts and Human Sciences at Virginia Tech.