Dr. Leo Parvis

Dr. Leo Parvis, a native of Iran who has traveled to countries all over the world, has worked tirelessly to promote cultural diversity in his workplace, his town and beyond. As an educator, author and entrepreneur, Parvis has been a model for those who want to be the impetus for social change in the world around them. For these efforts, Walden University awarded Parvis the 2007 Outstanding Alumni Award.

“Dealing with people from numerous cultures for many years, while working and teaching in the field of social and behavioral sciences in several parts of the world, gave me a solid understanding of diverse cultures and lifestyles,” Parvis says.

Although he earned a Ph.D. in Health Services at Walden in 1998, he took his career in a novel direction.

“I found my niche in the field of cultural diversity and social change. I believe that diversity is one of the most important issues facing Americans today, especially in North America, due to the unique multicultural environments of the United States and Canada,” he says.

Leading Diversity Initiatives
At Dunwoody College of Technology in Minneapolis, Minn., where he teaches Cultural Diversity and Managing Diversity, Parvis organized quarterly diversity forums for students, faculty and staff.

More than 40 distinguished speakers have presented on multiculturalism, human rights and international relations during his forums.

In recognition of Parvis’s contribution, Dunwoody awarded him the Dunwoody Observer Award for Excellence Beyond the Call of Duty in 2004.

Outside of the classroom, he has likewise been a leader in diversity education—particularly in the town of Chaska, Minn., where he lives. Parvis served on the Chaska Human Rights Commission for five years and has been writing a column on diversity and human rights for the Chaska Herald since September 2000. Today, his column, "Eye on Diversity," appears every month.

Parvis had a pivotal role in organizing Chaska’s “Dialogues on Race,” during which he facilitated discussions from Hispanic, Vietnamese, African-American and other multicultural representatives.

“Dr. Parvis has been instrumental in allowing the city of Chaska to become a forerunner in cities dealing with diversity issues,” the mayor of Chaska, Gary Van Eyll, wrote in a letter nominating Parvis for the Outstanding Alumni Award. “He has contributed greatly in helping Chaska remain an open and inviting community.” In August 2007, Money magazine named Chaska the eighth-best small town in America.

An Active Alumnus
Since graduating from Walden in 1998, Parvis has maintained his relationship with the Walden community, talking with new students and being an active alumnus.

He says: “Walden inspires students, alumni and staff to try to make positive societal changes and contributions, and Walden is an inspiration—by having a high rate of multicultural and diverse students, faculty and staff.”

A Diversity Entrepreneur
When he’s not teaching or involved in his community, Parvis devotes his time to www.diversitypromotions.com, as the president and diversity director, partnering with his wife and two close friends from Connecticut. Through diversitypromotions.com, they provide diversity-related consulting and training and sell diversity products featuring their “Embrace Diversity” logo.

“Thousands of organizations in corporate America have realized that acknowledging, respecting and valuing diversity will bring abundance to their organizations,” Parvis says.

“In doing diversity training and selling diversity products, we like to think we are doing work that would make Walden proud.”

About the Award
Read more about the Outstanding Alumni Award and past recipients.

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