The National Association for Multi-Ethnicity in Communications is hosting guest lecturer Nicol Turner-Lee at 6 tonight in the Carnegie Cinema.
Turner-Lee will be discussing a variety of topics, including her experience working in the media and the biggest obstacles minorities face in the workforce today.
Turner-Lee is the national president and CEO of NACIM and used to be the vice president and director for the Media and Technology Institute at the Joint Center for Political and Economic Studies, said Alysha Preston (senior-telecommunications), president of NACIM’s Penn State branch.
The lecture is open to all students of any major and is free.
While working with MTI, Turner-Lee created the first National Minority Broadband Adoption Study and has been named one of the Top 10 National Broadband Promoters by Broadband Properties Magazine, according to the national NAMIC website.
Preston said Tuner-Lee is a good advocate for diversity in communications. Her experience in the media industry will provide great insight and examples to students studying to do the same, Preston said.
“I want [students] to be aware of the issues prevalent in society when it comes to minorities in the telecommunications world,” Preston said.
NACIM, a national organization, serves to educate and advocate for diversity in the field of communications, Preston said. She follows a similar mission when guiding the Penn State chapter by bringing in guest speakers, like Tuner-Lee, and providing networking opportunities.
“We try building the overall, well-rounded student so that, when they graduate, they can have these experiences and have their resume done and be ready for the workforce,” Preston said.
The Penn State branch has about 15-20 members this semester, and Preston said it has been going well. It is made up of many different majors and ethnicities that only further helps the members get the most out of the club.
“Our members range from journalism to PR to telecommunications and to media studies, and we also have a wealth of people from different ethnic backgrounds,” Tariq Rashid (sophomore-telecommunications), a NACIM member, wrote in an email. “It makes for a great environment with really progressive thinking.”
Preston, and other members of NACIM, are excited to see what students will take away from listening to Turner-Lee.
“I hope that with Dr. Turner-Lee’s visit, [students] will gain knowledge, wisdom and be encouraged that their future can be bright as long they strive to succeed,” Nandi Smith (senior-broadcast communications), vice president of NACIM at Penn State, wrote in an email.
