Making Change that Matters: Teach-In for Racial Equity
Change is both an individual and collective responsibility, and teaching and learning about systemic racism in education, in our society, and in our digital infrastructures are critical steps in dismantling institutionalized systems. This teach-in is an opportunity to take stock of our current commitments and challenges as well as outline concrete actions and specific policies for working toward the desired change within GSE and the communities we serve. As an institution of higher education, we continue this work through the radical act of teaching and learning.
What is a Teach-In?
A Teach-In is an opportunity to promote dialogue about current political affairs outside the classroom and regular curriculum, but still within an academic setting. Teach-Ins are an occasion for scholars to demonstrate the academic relevance of social justice concerns by connecting social justice issues to the content and methods of their discipline.
Teach-Ins have their roots in the anti-war movement of the 1960s. The first teach-in was held on March 24, 1965 at the University of Michigan at Ann Arbor and addressed anti-war sentiments in relation to Vietnam. Two hundred faculty members participated by holding special anti-war seminars. Regular classes were canceled, and rallies and speeches dominated for 12 hours. On March 26, there was a similar teach-in at Columbia University in New York City; this form of protest eventually spread to many colleges and universities.
The purpose of a Teach-In is both educative and activist with a firm eye toward using collective knowledge to improve social conditions. Teach-Ins, by temporarily suspending typical coursework and office work, and dedicating one’s daily work and instructional time to a series of sessions on a specific topic, serves to signify the importance of the subject-matter under discussion.
Event Details
Friday, Sept. 22, 2023:
- All classes, instruction and professional services will pause at the Graduate School of Education to allow for focused participation.
- Attendance of GSE faculty, staff and students is required.
| Time | Activity |
|---|---|
8:30 a.m. | Doors open |
9:00 a.m. | Sherri Ann Charleston, JD, PhD, chief diversity and inclusion officer, Harvard University |
| 10:45 a.m. | Crystal Fleming, PhD, professor of sociology and Africana studies and associate faculty in the Department of Women's, Gender and Sexuality Studies, Stony Brook University |
12:15 p.m. | Lunch break |
| 2:00 p.m. | Anneliese Singh, PhD, professor and chief diversity officer and associate provost for diversity and faculty development, Tulane University |
| 3:30 p.m. | Town Hall with Suzanne Rosenblith, PhD, dean and professor, Graduate School of Education, University at Buffalo, and Raechele Pope, PhD, senior associate dean, professor and chief diversity officer, Graduate School of Education, University at Buffalo |
Check your email for registration details
All faculty, staff and students received an email to register from the Dean's Office on Sept. 6, 2023. If you did not receive this email, first check your spam folder, then contact Caroline Hurley at hurley4@buffalo.edu.
Sherri Ann Charleston, JD, PhD
Sherri Ann Charleston, JD, PhD, serves as the first chief diversity and inclusion officer (CDIO) at Harvard University. She is one of the nation’s leading experts in diversity and higher education, and assumed her role in August 2020.
Dr. Charleston is a historian trained in U.S. history with a focus on race, women, gender, citizenship and the law, and an attorney with a specialization in constitutional and employment law. Most recently, she served as the assistant vice provost for diversity, equity and inclusion, and chief affirmative action officer at the University of Wisconsin (UW)-Madison. She was responsible for evaluating progress toward the goals of a campus-wide strategic diversity plan. During her leadership, she also oversaw the Office of Employee Disability Resources and undergraduate scholarship programs focused on recruiting and retaining students from historically underrepresented communities.
As an academician and administrator, Dr. Charleston has expertise in affirmative action, Title IX and Americans with Disability Act enforcement and compliance. Her focus is on translating diversity and inclusion research into practice for students, staff, researchers, postdoctoral fellows and faculty of color. She also held faculty affiliations with the Departments of Gender and Women’s Studies, teaching courses on women, inequality and policy analysis at UW-Madison. In 2019, Diverse Issues in Higher Education magazine named her one of the “Top 35 Women in Higher Education.”
Dr. Charleston received a BA from Columbia University in history and African American studies, an MA and PhD in history from the University of Michigan, and JD from the University of Wisconsin Law School.
“Past as Prologue: The Future of Equity, Diversity, Justice, and Inclusion”
Crystal Fleming, PhD
Crystal Fleming, PhD, is professor of sociology and Africana studies and associate faculty in the Department of Women's, Gender & Sexuality Studies at SUNY Stony Brook. She is an author, public intellectual and expert on global racism and white supremacy. Her critically acclaimed primer, “How to Be Less Stupid About Race: On Racism, White Supremacy and the Racial Divide,” combines memoir, critical race theory, social commentary and satire to debunk common misconceptions about racism. The book earned a starred Kirkus review and has been widely praised as essential anti-racist reading. Her recent book, “RISE UP! How You Can Join the Fight Against White Supremacy,” is young adult nonfiction that explores the roots of racism and its modern-day legacies while empowering young people with actionable ways to create a more just and equitable world.
Visit Dr. Fleming’s page to learn more.
“The Light of Truth: Inspiring Change with Critical Race Theory”
Anneliese Singh, PhD, LPC
Anneliese Singh, PhD, LPC (she/they), is a professor and chief diversity officer/associate provost for diversity and faculty development at Tulane University. Her scholarship and community organizing explores the resilience, trauma and identity development experiences of queer and trans people, with a focus on young people and BIPOC people. Dr. Singh is the author of “The Racial Healing Handbook: Practical Activities to Help You Challenge Privilege, Confront Systemic Racism, and Engage in Collective Healing” and “The Queer and Trans Resilience Workbook.” Dr. Singh is co-founder of the Georgia Safe Schools Coalition and the Trans Resilience Project. Dr. Singh is @anneliesesingh on Twitter and Instagram, and her website is www.anneliesesingh.com.
“Racial Healing: Practical Activities to Help You Explore Racial Privilege, Confront Systemic Racism, and Engage in Collective Healing”
Suzanne Rosenblith
Dean and Professor
Raechele Pope
Senior Associate Dean for Faculty and Student Affairs, Chief Diversity Officer, and Professor