Arts and Sciences

Arts and Sciences will host renown author, Colum McCann, for a keynote address on Thursday February 17 at 7:00pm. McCann will be the inaugural speaker for the annual Arts & Sciences Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Spring Speaker Series.

Irish-born international bestseller Colum McCann is among the world’s foremost storytellers, moving seamlessly from the Troubles in Ireland to the Romani camps of Eastern Europe to the dizzying heights of the World Trade Center. Known as a writer of style and substance, hailed by critics and readers alike, he is known as a poetic realist and a literary risk-taker, a writer who is known to tackle the dark in order to get through to the light—any sort of light, however compromised—on the far side.

McCann’s sixth novel, TransAtlantic, published in 2013, earned him comparisons to Michael Ondaatje and Toni Morrison.

Information from the Lyceum Agency

For millennia Native Americans successfully stewarded and shaped their landscapes, but centuries of colonization have disrupted their ability to maintain traditional land management practices. INHABITANTS follows five Native American Tribes across deserts, coastlines, forests, and prairies as they restore their traditional land management practices. As the climate crisis escalates these time-tested practices of North America's original inhabitants are becoming increasingly essential in a rapidly changing world.

Thursday, February 2, 5:00pm, Tucker 127A

William & Mary Law School

The Law School honored the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. by hosting a conversation with Stephanie Morales, JD '09. Attorney Morales was the first woman to be elected Commonwealth's Attorney in Portsmouth, Virginia. She has been committed to developing re-entry strategies in order to reduce recidivism and help formerly incarcerated citizens become productive community members.

The January 26 program was moderated by Helen Tariku, President of the W&M Black Law Students Association.

Accepting Nominations for Diversity Champions!

Do you know someone who has led creative and innovation programming in diversity and inclusion on campus? The Office of Diversity & Inclusion is accepting nominations for diversity related efforts and programs. Please complete the nomination form here.

Swem Library

Featured Exhibit

The Swem Library has several exhibits scheduled for the Spring Semester. One currently featured is entitled Charting Diverse Pathways. Located at the Swem Entrance Gallery, the exhibit explores the lives of the first three Asian ancestry women to attend William & Mary: Hatsuye Yamasaki Kajiwara ‘37, Margaret Lee Masters ‘45, and Beatrice Fujiwara Sakai ‘53. This exhibit will be showcased through April 16, 2023.

Book Talk

William & Mary is once again working with the Williamsburg Regional Library for the One Book, One Community program. This year's selection is author Micheline Aharonian Marcom's book, The New American, which recounts the epic journey of a young Guatemalan-American college student, a “dreamer,” who gets deported and decides to make his way back home to California. 

School of Education

Freedom with Felt

One of the goals for the School of Education (SOE) is to increase positive and inclusive messaging throughout the building and online. In support of this aim, the school hosted Freedom with Felt, a creative meaning-making event focused on attendees’ perceptions of what it means to be free within educational settings. The SOE’s Diversity Committee worked with Maria Emilia ’11, a felt and fabric artist, to help attendees imagine what freedom feels like in the classroom and how it might be experienced by students. Attendees then created an image to represent their perceptions of freedom in education and brought that image to life using felt, fabrics, and other craft materials on a felt square. Each square highlights a different take on freedom in education, from scales of justice to music. Felt squares include a tactile element, such as a square that uses puff balls to create Braille letters or others that used materials that leap towards viewers. Maria Emilia is helping the Diversity Committee to organize the 45 felt squares into a cohesive art piece that will hang in the student lounge area on the second floor of the School of Education. An online art gallery that provides a closer look and description of each square will be created as well. This event is the first of two messaging events, with the second occurring in Spring 2023 that is inspired by Cornel West’s quote, “Justice is what love looks like in public.”

Love in the Public will invite participants to capture photos and images from their daily lives of instances of love in the public, social justice, and educational equity. Photos will be used to create another art piece to be featured in the SOE, as well as a virtual art gallery. 

Submitted by: Leandra Parris, School of Education

Spring 2023 Lemon Project Genealogical Research Roundtable

February 16, 6:00 - 7:00pm

The Lemon Project Genealogical Research Roundtable is an extension of the Genealogy Show & Tell sessions started as part of our first Sankofa Summer Workshop Series. The roundtable is a collaboration of genealogists and family historians at all levels of expertise. The session will focus on slavery and post-emancipation eras. Of course, genealogical research leads us down many paths and places, but ties to Virginia are the focus of this group.

The Lemon Project Genealogy Initiative focuses on finding descendants of people enslaved by William & Mary. During these sessions, we hope to connect with people who have ties to W&M pre- and post-Emancipation.

The meetings will be informal, and everyone will be able to contribute. The meetings will be held virtually via Zoom, with potential in-person research sessions in the future. Register here to participate. 

Africana Studies Zoom Speaker Series

at W&M October through May

Dr. Michael Mendez, UC Irvine 

“Climate Change from the Streets: How Conflict and Collaboration Strengthen the Environmental Justice Movement.”

February 3, 2023. 12:00 - 1:00pm. Register here

Studio for Teaching and Learning Innovation

For Spring 2023, the Studio for Teaching and Learning Innovation (STLI) continues to develop teaching resources and offers workshops on various topics of teaching and learning. Looking ahead, we will be hosting a Teaching & Learning Symposium, where scholars, instructors, and graduate students come together to share ideas and experiences and collaborate to advance teaching and learning. Details about the symposium (e.g. dates, and schedules) will be finalized soon and available on STLI’s website. 

Please continue to engage with us through stil.wm.edu and we are also available for individual course consultations.  

Black History at William & Mary Law

From our first Black graduate in 1954 through the appointment of our first Black dean in 2020, Black History at W&M Law recognizes and celebrates the pivotal moments in Black history at William & Mary Law School.

As we celebrate Black History Month, stop by to see the exhibit in person or visit the website for more details.

Undergraduate Admissions

Undergraduate admissions received a grant from the State Council of Higher Education for Virginia (SCHEV) to assist in producing a program that brings middle school students to campus to learn about W&M and interact with different areas on campus. The grant will help with the expense to bring the students and a chaperon to campus. The tentative date is Friday, May 12. The opportunity is open to middle school students who receive free or reduced lunch through their school system.

Gender & Single Occupancy Restrooms

As part of the university's efforts to provide an inclusive and respectful campus environment that is responsive to the needs of our community, at least one restroom in 90% of administration and academic buildings has been identified as All Gender.

A complete list can be found here.

Diversity & Inclusion Training

The Office of Diversity & Inclusion is able to offer professional development D&I workshops for your academic and administrative units based upon need. 

If you are looking to meet one of your Inclusive Excellence plan strategies under the Education and Training dimension, please visit this link and/or reach out directly to Thomas at talexander@wm.edu.

Center for Student Diversity

In honor of Black History Month, the Center for Student Diversity (CSD) or organizations affiliated with the CSD are producing the following programs:

Taste of Soul (2/2) – A collaboration between the Center for Student Diversity, African Cultural Society and Black Student Organization. A kick-off of Black History Month with “Taste of Soul,” an exploration and taste of food from various African diasporas. Located in Slice from 12:30 - 2:30pm.

Social Justice by Faith Trip (2/4) – Lead by the CSD. An exploration of Black history in the city of Baltimore. Students will tour museums and sites dedicated to African American history (National Great Blacks in Wax Museum and the Reginald F. Lewis Museum of Maryland African-American History and Culture) as well as Black owned businesses in the area.

Fourth Annual Black Expo (2/11) – Hosted by Black Student Organization in collaboration with the Center for Student Diversity and ESSENCE Women of Color. This cultural event is meant to highlight Black Owned Businesses in Virginia, and aspiring student entrepreneurs. This event will offer a day of community engagement, education, and culture in celebration of Black History Month! Located in the Tidewater Room from 1:00 - 3:00pm. 

Sixth Annual Sankofa Gala (2/25) – Hosted by Student Assembly. The Sankofa Gala is a special annual event in honor of and to create space for black students, faculty, and staff to come together in their best attire and enjoy an elegant evening celebrating the spirit of Sankofa. The Gala will have live entertainment including performances from students and student organizations. Located in Tidewater, 7:00 - 10:00 pm.

Office of Diversity & Inclusion

Lunch & Learn Series

Explaining Microaggressions, February 16, 12:00 - 1:30pm at the School of Education. This session will introduce participants to the intentional or accidental disparaging comments, insults, or slights called microaggressions. Attendees will learn its definition as well as discover the impact and harm that they cause. Tips on avoiding microaggressions will also be shared. Led By Thomas Alexander. Register here by February 8

The Convergence of Abrahamic Major Religious Holidays: A discussion of Interfaith and Religious Diversity, March 21, 12:00 - 1:30pm (location TBD). This session will introduce participants to various faith traditions that many possess, and how that aspect of their identity impacts their daily lives. Led by Dr. Janise Parker., 12-1:30pm. Register here by March 14

Finding Common Ground in Difficult Conversations, April 5, 12:00 - 1:30pm in the Sadler Center. Our community is a microcosm of society. Given that fact, it is not surprising that conversations on topics with varied opinions and positions are oftentimes difficult. Ideological gaps have only become wider across the globe. This session will provide tips and resources on how to approach these types of conversations and how to listen for understanding and as well as how to be heard. Led by Thomas Alexander. Register here by March 27

Lunch & Learn is a professional development series sponsored by the Office of Diversity & Inclusion. For more information about these programs, please contact Thomas Alexander

W&M Athletics

70 coaches and administrative staff recently participated in an anti-racism program titled, “A Long talk about the Uncomfortable Truth.” According to Jason Simms, Associate Athletic Director, "the program is transformative, and the most thought-provoking, strategic approach to addressing issues that we have experienced." 

Athletics arranged an additional abbreviated program for our entire student athlete population on the evening of January 25th from 7:30 - 9:00pm in Kaplan Arena. The event had over 500 in attendance.

In addition to "A Long Talk" programming, Athletics also collaborated with campus partners from the President’s office to invite members from our local Native American Tribes to a Men’s Basketball games on January 5th or January 7th. We offered free tickets to the game, snacks and beverages, and held a pre-game reception in one of the meeting rooms in Kaplan Arena to welcome our special VIP guests to the W&M campus.

Chief Diversity Officer,

Dr. Chon Glover, has been an honorary coach as well as announcer at our Women's Basketball games. Pictured with the broadcast team of Andrew Phillips and Misha Jones '19.

The Lemon Project: A Journey of Reconciliation

Lemon's Legacies Porch Talk: The Search for Founding Black Mothers: Digital Storytelling as Reclamation

February 21, 

6:00 - 7:00pm via Zoom

Lemon's Legacies Porch Talks in Spring 2023 will focus on the theme of the 13th Annual Lemon Project Spring Symposium: "At the Root: Exploring Black Life, History, and Culture."

The Search for Founding Black Mothers is a Digital Humanities project that was born as an NEH Summer Institute held at Morgan State University, and continues to grow into a documentary film. The Search is a reclamation project for the erased and omitted stories of Founding Black Mothers. The project aims to tell the fuller narratives of Founding Black Mothers, while navigating and naming erasure, misrecognition, disfigurement, dismissal, and decoys. Panelists will talk about The Search as a storytelling praxis, highlight the power of digital storytelling to reclaim narratives amidst erasure, and share the project design, process, and outcomes for educators and communities.

Panelists:

Project Co-Directors Dr. Gretchen Rudham and Dr. Candice Logan-Washington from Morgan State University

Kendrick Kenney II, Assistant Dean of the School of Arts, Sciences, and Business at Notre Dame of Maryland University

Cortnie Belser, middle school English teacher and native of Baltimore, Maryland

Jerred Anderson, middle school Humanities teacher in Baltimore, Maryland

Nick Kennedy, English teacher at Arroyo Grande High School in California

More information and to register for the event click here.

13th Annual Lemon Project Symposium

The 2023 Spring Symposium will explore the following questions: What ways are African American communities taking charge and telling their stories? How are colleges and universities working with local African American communities to foster belonging? What methods are communities and scholars using to tell fuller narratives of African American life, history, and culture? In what ways are researchers contributing to the emancipatory aims of Black Studies through research collaboration with Black communities?

The symposium is multi-disciplinary and open to all. Registration for the event will open February 10.

For more information about the Symposium click here. 

Donning of the Kente 2023

The Lemon Project has opened registration for the Donning of the Kente 2023. All graduates (undergraduates, graduate, and professional) are welcome to participate in the ceremony and receive a free Kente stole.

Register now for Donning of the Kente 2023

Life in the Reservation Community

School of Education, Matoaka Room

February 4 at 3:00pm 

In collaboration with descendant families, The Village Initiative's Local Black Histories Project and its W&M partners, invite you to join us for a celebration as we unveil an exhibit illuminating the residents who built livelihoods, families, and communities before they were displaced by the U.S. government for the construction of the Naval Weapons Station in Yorktown. Enjoy entertainment, refreshments, and exhibits honoring ancestors and hands-on activities for the whole family.

Click here for registration information.

Sponsored by: School of Education and Department of Sociology

Zoom Webinar: Integrating TEK in

Hydropower Reform

Wednesday, February 22, 2023

4:00 - 5:30pm ET

In this panel, we will hear from riparian and fisheries experts representing several U.S. tribes on how traditional knowledge can be better incorporated into riparian conservation and hydropower decision-making.

Featuring Jeremy Takala, Elaine Harvey, Wendy Ferris George, and Brett Fessell.

Click here to register.

Sponsored by: W&M Institute for Integrative Conservation, Dept. of History, and the Hydropower Reform Coalition

Do you have news or an event that you would like us to share?

Send your information to the Office of Diversity & Inclusion (wmdiversity@wm.edu) 

by the 15th of each month.