In what could be the first event of its kind on an Ivy League campus, Cornell University is continuing a tradition of striving for diversity with a landmark conference, "Cornell Mosaic: Celebrating Diversity and Advancing Inclusion." The event will take place April 29 to May 1 on the Cornell campus.

Sponsored by Cornells Minority Alumni Initiatives Implementation Committee, the conference will bring together African-American, Asian, Latino and Native American alumni, students and faculty to discuss issues of concern to their communities.

The conference not only will offer alumni an inside look at Cornell today but also will provide opportunities to explore current ideas and trends with top faculty, establish alumni-student connections, extend professional networks and learn about alumni leadership roles.

"Mosaic strives to convey the importance of lifelong engagement with the university, as active alumni leaders play a critical role in enhancing the Cornell experience for current and future students," says Deniqua Crichlow, director of Minority Alumni Programs. "Thus the diversity of the student body must be reflected in alumni leadership."

Together, the conference and a preconference symposium, April 29 at Cornells Africana Studies and Research Center, will draw more than 50 speakers, all distinguished in their fields. Among them are law professors Charles Ogletree, Harvard, and Derek Bell, New York University; Sheryl Hilliard Tucker, executive editor of Money magazine; entertainment attorney L. Londell McMillan; Jane Hyun, executive coach and author of the forthcoming book "Breaking the Bamboo Ceiling"; painter and installation artist Yasmin Hernandez; Chief Judge Emeritus Harry Edwards, U.S. Court of Appeals, D.C. Circuit; and Cornell President Jeffrey S. Lehman.

Some of the important national-level issues to be discussed in conference panels include workforce diversity, racism, immigration and law. With regard to careers, panels will offer insights into academic diversity/postdoctoral fellows, careers in entertainment and career transitions. Some of the panel topics will include personal finance, creative writing and health and wellness.

More than 500 Cornell alumni as well as current students of color, faculty members, administrators and members of the Cornell Board of Trustees will participate in the three-day conference, which will provide opportunities for networking, mentoring and a reconnection with the university.

For a full conference schedule, visit this Web site: http://alumni.cornell.edu/mosaic .