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Antonio talks about how to let down your guard and engage in courageous dialogues that really matter. He addresses topics from diversity, exclusivity, to vulnerability. His examples as a parent and life learner remind us how we need to focus our attention on cultivating culture in our relationships. Antonio Farias joined the University of Florida in 2018 as its first chief diversity officer and senior advisor to the president. He oversees university-wide efforts to advance equity, diversity, and inclusion and to establish a new standard of inclusive excellence. He was previously vice president for equity and inclusion at Wesleyan University and, before that, the inaugural chief diversity officer for the U.S. Coast Guard Academy. He has also held positions at Mercy College, Hunter College, and Colgate University. Farias has bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of California, Berkeley, and a master of fine arts from the University of California, Riverside. He believes trail running, fly fishing, and big dogs soothe the soul.

This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. You can learn more here.