We are many: engaging diversity in the classroom

The upcoming 2016 issue of Headwaters will include a special roundtable discussion on how we as a faculty engage the issue of diversity in the classroom. While each author may focus on different aspects of diversity (e.g. gender, race, ethnicity, religion, nationality, language, socio-economics), nearly all are concerned with how to teach their disciplines in ways directly and indirectly addressing the issue of diversity. Considering our evolving community, recent events on and off campus, and the new opportunities afforded us by the Mellon Foundation, the subject is timely. In this Thursday Forum, the CSB/SJU community will get a sneak-peek at the profound thinking and work that some of our faculty are engaged in and will contribute to the 2016 issue of Headwaters. In particular, this interactive panel discussion features the work of Patricia Bolanos (Hispanic Studies) and Sucharita Sinha Mukherjee (Economics), who discuss how cultural and gender diversity can be explored with a multi-step process that can help instructors to create a meaningful and effective engagement with it. In addition, Mara Faulkner (English) shares her understanding of the sometimes-hidden diversity of experience among our students. It is an understanding that has been enabled and enriched by the creative writing that students have entrusted to her throughout her career of teaching at CSB/SJU. And it shows that our students have experienced and in fact are much more than may meet our eyes. Please join us