Leading the Pride features Darlene King (’90), Executive Director for the Michigan Diversity Council

March 7, 2019

Finlandia’s alumni podcast Leading the Pride is back this month with the Executive Director of the Michigan Diversity Council, Darlene King (’90). Having grown up downstate in a predominately black community with ambitions of attending a historically black college, King’s parents insisted she attend Suomi College in an effort to expose her to a different culture. King recalls begging to come home in the first few weeks of class, but ultimately dove into the lifestyle and found a love for culture and diversity. King graduated from Suomi College with an associates in Liberal Studies and went on to earn her bachelor’s degree in Marketing and Communication from Wayne State University. Her career experience spans the education, marketing, and entertainment fields. King’s story is even more remarkable as she lost her eyesight in the early 2010s due to a tumor on her optic nerve and was told she would never see again.

Listen to King’s story as she shares her experiences at Suomi College, what it was like producing concerts for Chaka Khan and Stevie Wonder, how she lost and regained her eyesight against all medical odds, and her thoughts on the need for diversity and inclusion in the workforce today.

For information about trainings and conferences offered by the Michigan Diversity Council, please visit michigandiversitycouncil.org.

Parting Word from King

“I would encourage any minority that has grown up in a predominately black community to take a step out of the box and take a look at a Finlandia University where they can be introduced to a world of opportunities and a world of new interests that will possibly one day shape their future and career as they move forward in life.”

STORY SUGGESTIONS

Know an amazing Suomi or Finlandia alum we should feature or even would like to be featured yourself? We’d love to have you!

Drop us a line at communications@finlandia.edu.

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Tags: Alumni, Alumni Relations, Darlene King, Leading the Pride, Liberal Studies, Podcasts