Fri, 22 Sep 2023 12:00 PM - Fri, 8 Dec 2023 2:00 PM

Center for Faculty Innovation

The African, African American, and Diaspora (AAAD) / Center for Faculty Innovation (CFI) Critical Perspectives & Pedagogies Institute cultivates a space where participants will reflectively study and explore how to address systemic racism in our teaching. Specifically, over the course of eight sessions during the fall semester participants will dive deeply into the histories, philosophies, knowledges, methodologies, and pedagogies of experiences of people of African descent globally as well as the rich field of African, African American, and Diaspora Studies.

Participants will draw upon these knowledges to evaluate the places where implicit bias, colonial and/or racist thinking occur within their own field; discover AAAD scholarship and pedagogical resources in their discipline and determine its value for their own scholarly and pedagogical practice; and develop a plan for structural and systemic change within their unit. 

Guided by faculty facilitators from JMU’s African, African American, and Diaspora (AAAD) Studies program across a wide range of disciplines, participants will receive an introduction to the field, guidance on discussion about key readings and other resources, as well as mentorship and targeted feedback on their pedagogical projects. The institute will meet remotely via Zoom for the first seven sessions and in-person on campus for the final meeting on December 8.

This institute will meet on Fridays from 12-1:30 PM on the following dates

  • Online through Zoom (7 sessions): 9/22, 9/29, 10/6, 10/13, 10/27, 11/10 and 12/1
    • Zoom link info to be provided with registration and/or the reminder email
  • In-person on campus (1 session): 12/8 from 12-2pm

Facilitators

  • Dr. Kara Kavanagh (College of Education)
  • Dr. Delores Phillips (AAAD Center Director)
  • Dr. Kathryn Hobson (School of Communication Studies)
  • Daisy Breneman (College of Arts and Letters)
  • Dr. Donica Hadley (College of Education)
  • Dr. Hannah Sions (College of Visual and Performing Arts)
  • Dr. Santo Coleman (College of Health and Behavioral Studies)
  • Dr. Kayla Yurco (The College of Integrated Science and Engineering)
  • Dr. Gilpatrick Hornsby (Associate Vice Provost for Faculty Success)
  • Dr. Narketta Sparkman-Key (Vice Provost for Strategic Initiatives and Global Affairs)
  • Dr. Malika Carter-Hoyt (Vice President for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion)
  • Malia Willey (Libraries)
  • Brenna Matlock (Office of Research and Scholarship)

Partners

Faculty participants will make progress toward these program outcomes

  • Understand that AAAD is an interdisciplinary field with specific histories, philosophies, innovations, methodologies, and experts, and with an activist-intellectual core
  • Recognize that AAAD is a decolonial critique of all other disciplines that counters the long and ongoing tradition of white studies (which are typically framed as “objective”) by centering a critical frame of reference and non-eurocentric perspectives
  • Evaluate the places where implicit bias and colonial thinking occur within your own field, research, course design, and teaching materials
  • Discover AAAD scholarship and pedagogical resources in your own discipline and determine their value for your own pedagogical practice
  • Develop a plan for structural and systemic change within your discipline and your unit
  • Identifying factors that influence pedagogical choices
  • Articulating how current pedagogical choices reflect disciplinary norms

Attendance & Registration Information

Our programs are intended for JMU faculty or staff only! If you are a student or administrator and would like to attend please email cfi@jmu.edu with your request.

CREATE ACCOUNT/LOG IN: The registration link (below) will direct you to the CFI Program Registration site (this is a new process from last year - JMU DUO isn't required). If this is your first time visiting the registration page this semester, you will need to create a new account using your JMU email (@jmu.edu). Be sure to clear your browser cache/cookies upon each visit to the registration page.

REGISTRATION: 

  • The current programs should auto-populate on your screen after creating your account of the mandatory forms. However, to view the programs any time afterwards, when you log in click on "Add to Cart" from the bullet list under the Registration on the Dashboard. Anything already added to your cart appears under "MY CART."
    • Select the program and specific date you would like to attend 

REGISTER

Register by: Fri, Sept 15 @ 12 noon

Cancellations

If you find that you are unable to attend a scheduled event prior to the registration deadline, please return to your "CFI Program Account" and cancel your registration. If it is after the event registration deadline, please email cfi@jmu.edu as early as possible.

CFI programs will be canceled automatically if JMU is closed for inclement weather.

We want this program to be welcoming, accessible, and inclusive for all of our participants. Please describe any considerations or accommodations (e.g., dietary, disability, wellness, cultural, etc.) you want us to know about in your account profile. You may also reach out to us at cfi@jmu.edu or (540) 568-4846.

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