CU Boulder announces 2021 commencement speaker
By Claire Cecere
The University of Colorado Boulder announced Dwinita “Nita” Mosby Tyler will address the class of 2021 in a virtual commencement address.
The founder of The Equity Project will be livestreamed at noon MST on Thursday, May 6. The Equity Project is a consulting firm working to provide comprehensive tools for businesses, local governments, nonprofits, and community organizations to explore equity ineffective and transformative ways.
Tyler is the former senior vice President and chief inclusion officer for Children’s Hospital Colorado and the first African American woman to hold the position in the organization’s history. Tyler has also worked with University of Colorado Hospital, the Aurora Police Department, Agency for Human Rights and Community Relations and the County of Denver to help in the development and delivery of leadership, equity, diversity, inclusiveness training and cultural responsiveness.
“She has dedicated her life to leadership, service and inspiring others to do the same,” said Angeline Mccarthy Lee, diversity and inclusion liaison of the Senior Class Council. “I could think of no better role model for the CU students to learn from as they embark on their future.”
Tyler is an accredited consultant by the Georgetown University National Center for Cultural Competence and has a strong academic presence in Colorado as a guest lecturer at The University of Denver, University of Colorado and Regis University.
Among various achievements, Tyler has received appointments by Mayor’s Wellington Webb and current Senator John Hickenlooper to serve on the Career Service Authority Board for the City and County of Denver.
In recent years, Tyler published the book, White People Really Love Salad: What My Childhood Taught Me About Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, in 2018. She uses her own childhood experiences to discuss the impression that social climates, race relations, stereotypes, education systems and parenting had in shaping the perspectives she has today.
CU Boulder will hold individual college, school and department virital ceremonies following Tyler’s speech. While the ceremony will be virtual, graduating students are invited to several in-person events before the virtual commencement as part of the Grad Appreciation Days.
