Promoting diversity among ISU faculty and staff was the main theme in a lecture Tuesday.

Eveadean Myers, associate director of Affirmative Action, spoke to a small group about “Diversity in the Workforce.”

Myers displayed various statistics about Iowa State and its workforce from the ISU Fact Book to open the discussion, held in Room 236 of the Memorial Union.

“We try to recruit a diverse population of faculty and staff,” she said. “We just don’t have a lot of minorities in Iowa.”

The ISU Fact Book gathers these statistics around October of every year, Myers said. The total minority percentage has risen over the past year from 9.8 percent to 11 percent.

“The statistics are just a snapshot of what ISU looks like,” she said.

While continuing with her presentation, Myers acknowledged there has been more emphasis on recruitment of minorities.

Myers said print resources, the Office of Affirmative Action, Electronic Resources for Advertising Vacancies and Human Resources Services are all different possibilities for applicants to use.

She said she also works to recruit faculty to Iowa State.

“We help them adapt to their new situation and tell them what’s here,” Myers said.

Hispanic and African-American faculty and staff groups have been set up to help staff become more comfortable at Iowa State, she said.

“It is a great way for the new staff to meet people and see the events on campus,” she said. “They can let each other know when there are things going on.”

The program Breaking Down the Barriers has also started to help members of the Ames and ISU communities become more aware of concerns and programs, she said. Myers said it is a place where university officials, store owners, students and residents can all meet to discuss ideas and problems in the Ames community.

“I think people are taking more incentive to be more educated about racism,” said Nanette Allen, senior in communication studies. “It’s all about the person, not the color.