Sociology Professor Honored at CSU Diversity Conference

April 3, 2014

COLUMBUS, Ga. — Florence Wakoko, an associate professor of sociology at Columbus State University, was presented with the inaugural Diversity Award during the recent third annual Conference on Diversity co-sponsored by CSU and the Columbus Mayor's Commission on Unity, Diversity and Prosperity.

As outgoing chair of CSU’s Faculty Senate Committee on Diversity, Wakoko has watched the diversity conference grow steadily over the past three years, and she’s chiefly responsible for that, other organizers said.

"In the past ten years, CSU has made reasonable progress in recruiting minority students and notably African American students,” Wakoko said after the March 20 conference at CSU’s Cunningham Center. “Diversity initiatives and other scholarly endeavors that the university has taken on are great initiatives contributing to the success of these students.”

The theme of this year’s conference was “The Dream Lives: A Wake-Up Call; Perpetuating the Dream in a Climate of Haves and Have Nots.” Attended by more than 150 students, faculty and community leaders, the conference explored issues and obstacles facing Americans seeking equality in such areas as education and the justice system in pursuit of the American dream.

Among highlights were remarks by David Lewis, the new Muscogee County School District superintendent, who focused on poverty, equal opportunity and schooling, and his plans for revitalizing the Muscogee County school system.

Francys Johnson, president of the Georgia NAACP, spoke about stemming the increase in gun violence and legal reforms needed to resist the undermining of equal access to voting. He said efforts need to be stepped up to reduce high rates of minority incarceration, beginning with the problems associated with in-school suspension — particularly for African-American males.

Also participating in the event were historian Judy Purnell, a retired CSU professor; Nick Easton, CSU assistant professor of political science; Paula Adams, associate professor and head of user services for CSU Libraries, as well as chairman-elect of CSU’s Senate Committee on Diversity; attorney Barry Debrow; and Columbus Mayor Teresa Tomlinson.

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