2005-2006 Provost Lecture Series
The Changing Face of America
Thursday, January 19, 2006
3:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Hemisphere Room, Hale Library
Blane Harding
Academic Advisor Coordinator
Colorado State University
Sponsored in part by the National Institutes of Health
Abstract
Cultural competency is an important ingredient in successful academic advising and we are currently experiencing an increase in the number of diverse students on our campuses. This presentation covers the history of immigration, cultural understanding, and place/space in terms of advising multicultural students in a variety of majors. We will discuss various identity formation theories and how we as advisors can utilize this information to better serve our students. This will allow participants to better understand and relate to today's multicultural and diverse students and have a greater appreciation for advising the "total" student and not just the major.
Biographical Sketch
Blane Harding currently serves as the Director of Advising, Recruitment, and Retention for the College of Liberal Arts , the Prelaw Advisor, and as an adjunct faculty member for the Center for Applied Studies in American Ethnicity (CASAE) at Colorado State University . In addition, he serves as the Chair for the CASAE Advisory Board and as the faculty representative on the Alumni Association Board of Directors. He teaches courses on African American history and Black Studies. Mr. Harding also serves as a retention faculty member with the Council for Opportunity in Education which oversees the national TRio programs. He is involved in a variety of activities, workshops, and multicultural training sessions for area schools and organizations. He serves as the faculty advisor for several student organizations on campus which include the Ethiopian Student Organization and the Baptist Bible Study.
Mr. Harding is extensively involved with K-12 teacher training and was recognized in 2001 by Denver 's Channel 7 Television station as an "Everyday Hero". He most recently was involved in a three year Department of Education grant titled "Project TEACH" which included six public school districts in the state of Colorado . Mr. Harding is a lead scholar for this project which facilitates a more inclusive approach to the teaching of United States and Colorado history. He is the recipient of several honors and awards including: CSU Minority Distinguished Service Award, College of Liberal Arts Excellence in Teaching Award, CSU Alumni Association "Six Best" Teacher Award, History Department Phi Alpha Theta Outstanding Professor Award, Mortar Board "Rose", the Provost's Jack E. Cermak Advising Award, the Athletics Department Excellence in Education Award, the Blanche M. Hughes Distinguished Faculty/Staff Award, and has been inducted as an Honorary Member of Golden Key National Honor Society. Recently Mr. Harding received the 2005 NACADA Region 10 Conference "Best of Region" presentation.