Dear WCU Community,
We are so pleased to announce the commencement of our “Culture in Conversation Series”. This is a collaborative initiative between The Office of Equal Opportunity and Diversity Programs, the Faculty Senate, the Staff Senate, and the Student Government Association. The aim of this Series is to inspire campus dialogue, community engagement, and civic education about the national narrative on diversity and inclusion. Speakers include thought leaders from WCU, national subject matter experts, and diversity professionals whose research, leadership, and scholarship will further WCU’s efforts to present diverse ideas, perspectives, and viewpoints. It is our hope that this Series will challenge your perspectives, engage you in critical thinking, and bring better understanding and appreciation for inclusive excellence.
For the Fall 2020 semester we will host three sessions. Each session is on a Tuesday from noon-1pm EST. To get these on your calendars, fall dates and topics are as follows: Session 1 – Sept. 22 – Athlete Activism & Social Justice; Session 2 – Oct. 20 – Women, Equity & Social Justice; and, Session 3 – Nov. 10 – The Cherokee: On Sacred Ground. Each session will be a webinar and will be recorded for further viewing/use. A link to register for each webinar will be sent as the date approaches. The first session is as follows:
Session 1 – Tuesday, September 22 from noon- 1pm EST – Conversations Around Athlete Activism & Social Justice
This session will feature two keynote speakers who will take turns asking one another questions and answering them to build an overarching conversation. Topics addressed will include: Race and racism, athlete activism, social/political change, organizational leadership, policy development, and more. With 15-20 minutes remaining, the floor will be open for the audience to ask questions.
Background on Keynote Speakers:
Dr. Anthony Weems
Dr. Weems is an assistant professor of sport management at WCU. His teaching and research interests revolve around social, ethical, and legal aspects of sport. Specifically, his research focuses on leadership and policy development with an emphasis on race, equity, and (in)justice. He has authored several peer-reviewed articles, book chapters, scholarly blogs, and has presented at national and international conferences. He is the founder of The Sporting Justice Collective which serves as a collaborative platform for anti-racist scholarship and activism in sport. He received his Ph.D. and M.S. in Sport Management from Texas A&M University and is currently in the process of writing his first book focused on team ownership, political economy, and the function of mediated sport in different contexts.
Dr. Billy Hawkins
Dr. Hawkins is a professor and interim chair at the University of Houston in the Department of Health and Human Performance. He is the author of several peer-reviewed articles and books including, The New Plantation: Black Athletes, College Sports, and Predominantly White NCAA Institutions; and co-author of Sport, Race, Activism, and Social Change: The Impact of Dr. Harry Edwards’ Scholarship and Service, The Athletic Experience at Historically Black Colleges and Universities: Past, Present, and Persistence, and Critical Race Theory: Black Athletic Sporting Experiences in the United States. He received the College of Liberal Arts and Social Sciences Distinguished Faculty Award at the University of Houston, is a North American Society for the Sociology of Sport (NASSS) Research Fellow and is a recipient of the Robert Maynard Hutchins Award for his research on intercollegiate athletics. He received his Ph.D. from the University of Iowa, M.S. from the University of Wisconsin at La Crosse, and B.S. in Business Administration from Webber International University.
REGISTER for Session 1 – Conversations Around Athlete Activism & Social Justice
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