Race Matters: Panelist 4

• In Event: 58.041 - Race Matters: Teaching Diversity Beyond the Margins

Abstract

Panelist Four is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Leadership and Counseling. Social justice, diversity and equity issues are interwoven in all of the courses in the program. Currently, Panelist Four teaches the counseling and student development courses, which educates student affairs professionals about dynamics of power and privilege that can influence students’ college experiences. Panelist Four will share her experiences teaching about various social justice issues in different educational contexts. Her reflections on how pedagogical decisions are influenced by whether the classroom is compose of a majority White students or a majority of students of color will be discussed. Additionally, Panelist Four will discuss her experiences teaching intergroup dialogue courses at the University of Michigan and assisting their Intergroup Dialogue program develop their first National Intergroup Dialogue Institute. In additional to personal experience, Panelist Four will share finding from her recent publications: Turning graduate school aspirations into enrollment: How Student Affairs Professionals can Help African Americans Students (New York Journal of Student Affairs), Deconstructing Mentorship in Graduate Education. Readings on Equal Education (Readings on Equal Education), and Empathy in Intergroup Dialogue (In Dialogue across Difference: Practice, Theory and Research on Intergroup Dialogue)

Identity in the Classroom. My identity as a women plays a larger role than my race as the majority of students in my class are African American. Sometimes the males students attempt to challenge me in inappropriate ways. My identity as Black women comes into play when discussing power and privilege. Although it is obvious that some of my White students do not buy into these concepts they are very hesitant to challenge a Black women on this issue. It is frustrating because if they were comfortable verbalizing their disbelief it would make for a very interesting discussion.

Author

• CARMEN Michele MCCALLUM, Eastern Michigan University