In “Romeo and Juliet,” Juliet muses, "What's in a name?” The simple answer is “everything.” Our names are the most basic building block of our identities. Our names are what represent us and are the means by which the world engages us.
Now imagine having a name that no one recognizes. Imagine the discomfort involved in having to explain this core of your identity to everyone you meet each and every day.
It is essential that we learn how to approach ethnic names in a way that respects the dignity of our colleagues and students. Chaim Shapiro, director of the Office for Student Success at Touro College, will discuss the challenges of living with a hard-to-pronounce ethnic name and present practical advice to empower career services and human resources professionals to approach ethnic names with sensitivity.
Following this program, you will be able to:
- Construct an effective and sensitive methodology to approaching first interactions with students and colleagues with ethnic names;
- Empower career services and human resources professionals to assist students with ethnic names to minimize professional and workplace challenges and achieve career success; and
- Facilitate discussions and dialogue to incorporate the challenges posed by ethnic names into college and employer diversity training programs.