This past week marked a first for Auburn University. The university held its first conference on diversity. I met with an attendee and co-coordinator of the conference just before it began last Wednesday. Nels Madsen of Auburn University's Engineering department is helping to influence diversity into the university. He is the over the National Society of Black Engineers. Madsen said he understands what it feels like to be the odd man out in a group of homogeneous people. He said he was excited for Auburn University to hold the diversity conference this year. He was also excited to hear the speakers at the conference and to see how diversity will change here at Auburn University.

Over his lifetime he has noticed different aspects of diversity and hopes to see Auburn take hold of what diversity means.