Equity Summit Schedule

Using Design-Thinking to Close Equity Gaps

This workshop will introduce participants to design thinking, as a methodology, and participants will spend their time conducting a partial “design sprint.” Participants will utilize the core concepts from Dr. Pendakur’s keynote address to inform their equity-minded design process. Participants will leave the workshop with a new methodological toolbox, as well as a cache of new equity-design ideas that they can apply in their own work. Note: this is an experiential workshop, where participants will be introduced to design concepts and offered time to apply these concepts in a series of tabletop exercises with colleagues.

Dr. Vijay Pendakur serves as the Robert W. and Elizabeth C. Staley Dean of Students at Cornell University.  Prior to this appointment, he worked on campus-wide student success initiatives for underserved populations as an Associate Vice President for Student Affairs at California State University, Fullerton.  Before joining the team at Fullerton, Dr. Pendakur served as the Director for the Office of Multicultural Student Success at DePaul University in Chicago.  He is the editor of the recent book, “Closing the Opportunity Gap: Identity-Conscious Strategies for Retention and Student Success,” as well as numerous chapters on racial identity development, critical leadership pedagogy, and student affairs administration. Dr. Pendakur serves on the institute teaching faculty of the Center for Race and Equity at the University of Southern California and as a faculty member for the “High Impact Practices Institute” through the American Association of Colleges and Universities.  He currently serves on the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Working Group on Diversity, which advises the Director of the NIH on inclusion and equity strategy in the field of biomedical research. He holds a bachelor's degree in history and East Asian studies from the University of Wisconsin, Madison, a master's degree in U.S. history from the University of California, San Diego, and a doctorate in education from DePaul University.
 

We’re Woke! A Dialogue on Allyship

Being an ally is integral in creating inclusive and equitable communities. The purpose of this dialogue is:

• To increase understanding about the impact of ‘culture’ on the delivery of services to students and others;
• To expand knowledge on what is an ally, how to become an ally, and its relationship with supporting social justice and coalition building;
• To learn ways to navigate and change interpersonal and institutional cultural barriers in order to ensure equity for all.

 

Lea Webb is the Founder and Managing Principal of Webb Consulting. She works with non-profits, educational institutions, and businesses in creating culturally responsive organizations. She is the UDiversity Educational Institute Coordinator at Binghamton University. She provides diversity, equity and inclusion trainings and programs for faculty, staff, and students through the Division of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion at the University.

She is an award-winning activist who has successfully bridged the gap between the community and government agencies to bring about positive and lasting change in her community. She has 20 years of experience as a Community Organizer leading efforts on various social justice issues. She has also served on community boards and created task forces whose goals are to address cultural competency and anti-racism. She was recognized as one of tomorrow's leaders by Oprah magazine and the White House Project, and was honored with the President’s Award by the Broome-Tioga Branch of the NAACP for her significant contributions.

This session will  explore the linkages between SUNY expectations, Middle States Accreditation, and meeting local goals, expectations, and experiences measuring student success as well as achievement of outcomes aligned with the institutional missions.

Featured presenters will discuss examples of their experiences with accessibility, accountability, equity, inclusion, social justice, and student success, highlighting the need for further discussion, collaboration and intentional planning to implement promising practices that promote the equitable achievement of outcomes.

The program will also highlight active engagement and interdepartmental collaboration, allowing participants to examine and reflect on their current practices while exploring SUNY Initiatives and resources, as well as other potential opportunities to network and continue their work with others. Participants are encouraged to consider what the changing demographics of their institutions currently are, as methods for disaggregating assessment data are explored. Examples of work currently underway will be provided for participants to bring back to their institutions.