USM School of Media and Communication to Host Diversity Talks with Industry Leaders

Tue, 04/18/2023 - 06:43am | By: Ivonne Kawas

The School of Media and Communication at The University of Southern Mississippi (USM) will host Diversity Talks with four speakers who will address diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) and belonging at the workplace on April 20 at 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. in the Thad Cochran Center, Room 216 on the Hattiesburg Campus.

The talk will provide insights on career opportunities, racial harmony, inclusive diversity, and the power of communication. Associate Provost for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, Dr. Eddie Holloway, will give an introduction to kick off of the Diversity Talks. Industry leaders and panelists include: Bill Imada, Chairman of IW Group; Tony Waller, VP of Corporate Affairs at Walmart; Claudia Lin, SVP of Insurance Services at Hub International; and Kevin Bradley, VP of Diversity, Inclusion and Community at Hub International.

“The focus of the talk is to educate students and have them recognize the importance of DEI, and, most importantly, to learn from industry leaders as they share exemplary cases and discussion of current best practices,” said Dr. Jae-Hwa Shin, professor of public relations. 

“It will provide a space for participants to share their thoughts, views, and ideas on inclusive diversity, racial harmony, and fostering a culture of belonging through the lens of communication, including storytelling, story-doing and story-making. Additionally, students will be offered insights into career opportunities, as today’s society and corporate world embraces diversity,” added Shin.

This event in presented in partnership with the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, Office of Inclusion and Multicultural Engagement, and International Student and Scholar Services and other involved campus entities.  

This event is sponsored by the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, and presented in partnership with the Office of Inclusion and Multicultural Engagement, International Student and Scholar Services, and other involved campus entities.

Meet the Industry Leaders and Panelists

• Bill Imada is Chairman and Chief Connectivity Officer of IW Group, a fully integrated marketing communications agency specializing in the growing multicultural communities. For more than three decades, Imada and his team have played a critical role in reaching the growing Asian American, Native Hawaiian, Pacific Islander, Hispanic/Latinx, and LGBTQ+ communities. Imada and his agency represent clients such as AARP, Apple TV+, CDC, City of Hope, CVS Health, House of Suntory, Jack Daniels, Janssen, Lexus, McDonald’s, Northwestern Mutual, Sony Pictures Entertainment, Southern California Edison, Walmart, Walt Disney, Warner Bros, Wells Fargo, and many others.

• Tony Waller is the Vice President, Constituent Relations and Racial Equity for Walmart in Bentonville, AR. In his position he sets strategy for driving reputation, augmenting outreach opportunities, and maximizing social investments in diverse and multicultural communities. Waller is also tasked with being a critical “integrator” engaging across Corporate Affairs teams, with real depth in helping to shape public policy, communication strategy, federal and state government relations, and community relations through a racial equity lens. Additionally, Waller and his team help lead efforts to expand the company’s racial equity work across all the diverse and multicultural communities of focus. 
• Claudia Lin is currently the Senior Vice President at HUB International, the No. 1 middle-market insurance broker in N. America. She is also founder of Legacy Maker LLC, whose mission is to serve the community in philanthropy and advise entrepreneurs and HNW clients with strategic legacy planning. Lin came from 25 years of experience in a legal, insurance, and consulting background. Her main areas of expertise are in construction, real estate, financial institutions, hospitality, and financial planning. 
• Kevin Chan Bradley is the Vice President, DEI and Community for HUB International. Joining the organization in 2021, he oversees the company’s overarching DEI strategy and provides coaching and consultation to ensure the execution of the strategy on all levels or the organization. Bradley is a seasoned Diversity and Inclusion (D&I) practitioner with over 30 years in Human Resources. He has been a recruiter, business partner, EEO/AA Compliance leader and D&I leader. Bradley has worked in various industries including manufacturing, aerospace, fast food, and financial services. 

For questions about the Diversity Talks, email Dr. Jae-Hwa Shin.