This empowering study on human diversity helps readers develop the ability to understand, respect, and value diversity–and demonstrates how opening one's mind to the views of other peoples and cultures is central for a quality education and successful career. Personalizing the learning experience by integrating a variety of real-life student experiences and perspectives, it discusses topics in a style that promotes self-reflection and dialogue that is inclusive and not condescending. Complete with self-reflective journal questions, case studies, and interactive exercises, it discusses diversity and workplace issues–such as teamwork, conflict management, leadership, racism, prejudice, and communication; and zeroes in on the relationship between an employee's success and his/her ability to develop flexible thinking to positively and effectively deal with a variety of diversity issues.
Dr. Richard Bucher is a Professor of Sociology at Baltimore City Community College (BCCC). He teaches a variety of courses, including Introductory Sociology, Cultural Diversity in the Workplace, and Race and Ethnic Relations. Recently, the National Institute for Staff and Organization Development honored him for teaching excellence.
From 1991 to 1996, he served as the first Director of BCCC's Institute for InterCultural Understanding (IIU). Under his leadership, the IIU gained national recognition as an innovative diversity education program.
In 2000, he was honored as the Maryland Professor of the Year by the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching and the Council for the Advancement and Support of Education (CASE).
Rich's interest in diversity issues began as an undergraduate student more than thirty years ago. He received his B.A. from Colgate University, M.A. from New York University, and Ph.D. from Howard University. At Howard, his field of specialization was race and ethnic relations, with a minor in education.
As a professor, Dr. Bucher has created and taught courses dealing with diversity, worked on national grants to infuse diversity into the curriculum, published numerous professional articles, served as an editorial consultant on diversity, and presented at national and international conferences.
Rich has always been actively involved in the community. Each year, he talks to hundreds of youth and adults about diversity and the role it has played in his personal and professional life. Rich describes himself as a family man and fitness enthusiast. He and his wife, Pat, and their three children live in Mt. Airy, Maryland. His oldest son, Jimmy, has autism and lives in nearby Ellicott City. He works full-time at Walmart. Rich's older daughter, Katie is enjoying being a full-time mother, giving a few hours a week to fitness instruction and telecommuting as a financial analyst for Booz Allen Hamilton. Suzy, the youngest, works in the field of public relations and event planning for a chemical education foundation in the DC area.
Read Dr. Bucher's Blog at: http://diversityconsciousness.com/blog
Rich's email: rdbucher@aol.com
