RACE, RELIGION AND SEXUALITY IN POLITICS WILL BE TOPIC AT NEXT DIVERSITY LECTURE SERIES AT CSUSB

The former mayor of Palm Springs, Ron Oden, will be the featured speaker at the quarterly Conversations on Diversity lecture series at Cal State San Bernardino on Thursday, Feb. 9.

The lecture, which will be held at the Santos Manuel Student Union Events Center

from noon-1:30 p.m., is free and open to the public. Parking on campus is $5. 

Oden will share his experiences about race, religion and sexuality as the first African American and openly gay man to be mayor of Palm Springs. Elected in 2003, he served until 2007.

With a long history of community and political involvement, Oden had previously served as a city council member in Palm Springs for nine years. His private sector experience has focused on education, social and humanitarian issues.

Since leaving office in 2007, Oden has been a municipal business consultant, helping cities to retain, expand and develop their business community and is in the process of becoming a certified mediator.

He has taught at College of the Desert as an adjunct sociology instructor, as well as at Desert Career College and Chapman University. Oden is also an ordained Seventh-Day Adventist minister and has served as pastoral care consultant at the Betty Ford Center.

Oden received a bachelor’s degree in history, sociology and theology from Oakwood University in Huntsville, Ala.; a master’s degree in theology from Andrews University in Berrien Springs, Mich.; and a second master’s in ethnic studies from State University in New York, Albany.

Sponsored by CSUSB’s University Diversity Committee, Oden’s presentation is part of the Conversations on Diversity lecture series held once per quarter since 2005. The series encourages dialogue among students, staff, faculty and the community about a variety of diverse issues.

For more information about the lecture or to request special accommodations, contact Twillea Evans-Carthen at (909) 537-5138 or Mary Texeira at(909) 537-5547.