Dennard Clendenin has more than two decades of experience as a cross-cultural educator, facilitator, and presenter. Cultivating a passion for political and legal policies, Clendenin decided to pursue an undergraduate degree in political science from the University of California-San Diego (UCSD). It was at UCSD where Clendenin realized that people from culturally varying backgrounds have very different learning styles and modes of processing information and life experiences.

To learn more about these and other types of cultural differences, Clendenin decided to pursue a graduate degree from San Diego State University in Counseling Education. Clendenin not only focused his academic studies to the area of cultural diversity, he also practiced his passions as the Director of Affirmative Action at UCSD, served as a student counselor and member of the faculty for San Diego Mesa College, coordinated Mesa Academy's academic and personal support program for African American students, and served as a consultant for numerous agencies, including San Diego State University's Health Career Opportunities Program.

A native of Spanish Harlem and the Bronx and conversational in Spanish, Clendenin is acutely aware of the issues impacting African Americans and Latinos in a multicultural society. This background, combined with his vast and extensive knowledge regarding African American and Latino issues and his philosophy and firm belief that cultures are not static – but rather, continually evolving – makes Clendenin the ideal facilitator in a multicultural arena.

In his workshops, Clendenin attempts to include all cultures and promotes the definition of diversity to extend beyond the oversimplification of "black and white." One way that he does this is by creating a safe and inclusive environment where all participants feel supported and free from judgment. He also attempts to move his audiences beyond the concept of tolerance by teaching the participants concrete skills and strategies that will lead to measurable behavior modifications.

Clendenin provides lectures for various colleges, universities, and other educational institutions; offers coaching and mentoring to individuals, couples, and small groups; and provides training workshops for companies, nonprofit agencies, and entrepreneurs.

Diversity & Inclusion, Black Heritage, College, Inspirational, Hot Campus Topics, For Diversity Events, Diversity Topics, Culture