ARCHIVED EVENTS
Asian-American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month
2023
Dr. Ritu Sharma, Rhetoric and English Professor, School of General Education
Dr. Sharma will share the history of Indian Warrior Queen Laxmi Bai, the epitome of leadership and empowerment, who fought and sacrificed her life to protect her kingdom. Dr.Sharma will explain how this story of independence and empowerment can help raise awareness so we may maintain an open mindset, and encourage and empower our colleagues and students so they may succeed.
This year, we revisit her recipe and invite anyone who tries the recipe to share a picture or video of your creation on Padlet.
Feel free to share any reflections you may have regarding the recipe or any insights you may have learned from trying the dish.
Lucky Fish Guided Discussion
As a final activity and a bridge to Pride Month in June, OCIE will host a discussion of the critically acclaimed short film (8 minutes) Lucky Fish. The film is a queer coming of age romance and follows two Asian American teens as they navigate a relationship.
A guided discussion led by members of OCIE and Student Affairs will follow viewing of the film. Faculty, staff, and students are welcome to join the discussion as we explore various identity issues that are raised in the movie.
Resources
National Asian Pacific Islander American Heritage Month, Johns Hopkins Medicine
How One Woman's Story Led to the Creation of Asian Pacific American Heritage Month, Time Magazine
Black History Month
2023
Strange Medicine at the Bottom
Dr. André Lee, Faculty, School of Health Sciences
This presentation will highlight several stellar Black medical legends and illustrations of healthcare inequities and inequalities to minorities.
Dr. Ritu Sharma
The “self” discovery in Morrison's writings can be dangerous, the knowledge can be harsh and the light can be blinding, especially if the readers are used to functioning in the darkness. Encaged, they learn to love the cage and relate to it. Trimmed wings are not used to flying in a carefree manner. They can only flutter in desperation and frustration. An endeavor to fly can divorce them from their own world.
The unknown world, that is no matter how contenting, offers its own fears. Their quest of self remains unfulfilled, their thirst remains unquenched…even in the 21st century, even with writers like Toni Morrison who “gives voice to the voiceless.” Some Eastern readers end up rebelling, escaping, taking control of their lives, becoming gargantuan pariah, due to their fascination with reception and challenges, enchantment and disenchantment over Morrison’s writings.
Bridging Divides and Prioritizing the Duty of Self-Care through Emotional Intelligence
Shandrea P. Williams, J.D.
This interactive, audience-driven panel examines a broad range of issues, from navigating the intergenerational legal landscape to thriving/functioning in the pandemic-influenced workplace. Attendees will be prompted to identify strategies to celebrate similarities and embrace individual differences. Above all, attendees will be encouraged to develop a Self-Care Plan of Action (SCPOA).
Black Hair and Belonging Part 2
Nikki Williams, Guilene Williams, Dr. Kristi Pitts, Jericho Leftwich, Ismail Joseph
Hair discrimination has been an issue that African Americans have had to endure for years, and unfortunately, it still exists today. The CROWN Act was passed in several states and brought awareness of the need to protect people of color from hair discrimination. This panel presentation will offer perspectives on how hair and belonging affect African American employees and students at Purdue Global. Panelists will discuss their experiences with natural hair and belonging and discuss how acknowledging and accepting differences can prevent misconceptions and create an environment of cultural competence. This panel presentation is a continuation of the 2022 Black History presentation called Creating a Respectful World for Natural Hair: Black Hair and Belonging.
2022
Black Medical Pioneers: A Legacy of Leadership 2022 Edition
Dr. Andre Lee, Faculty, School of Health Sciences
This year, we welcome Dr. Andre Lee, a faculty member in the School of Health Sciences, for an encore of his Black Medical History interactive live poster session and virtual exhibit with an addition of a live presentation. The virtual exhibit was developed by Dr. Lee from the Leeway Foundation’s traveling historical exhibits, which have been on display across the country in many venues. Learn more about Dr. Lee's foundation.
Dr. Lee will host a live poster session where attendees will meet for a brief introduction and participate in breakouts to view posters on the topic of Black Medical Doctors. The session will conclude with a large group discussion with the opportunity to ask questions.
Dr. Lee will present about Dick Gregory, a Black comedian, and activist who developed the natural Bahamian Diet. Lee will share his experience working with Mr. Gregory on projects including hospice and other alternative natural attempts.
Creating a Respectful and Open World for Natural Hair: Black Hair and Belonging
Nikki Williams, MA, MFP, Academic Assistant Chair, Science Department School of General Education
For many decades, African Americans have faced many forms of hair discrimination, and unfortunately, it still exists today. Black women, in particular, encounter many problems with their hair being embraced in society. According to the Dove CROWN Research Study (2019), 80% of black women change their natural hair to fit in at work. As a result of the lack of inclusion and discrimination, several states have passed the CROWN Act to protect Black people from hair discrimination. This presentation will look at the history of black hair and how acknowledging and accepting differences can prevent misconceptions and create an environment of cultural competence.
2022 Virtual Exhibit and Inspirational Quotes
Black Medical History Virtual Exhibit with Dr. Andre Lee, Tracey Lee, MSA, and Allison Christie-Lee, MSA
Visit the Black Medical History video poster virtual exhibits at any time. Exhibition videos are narrated by Dr. Lee, Tracey Lee, MSA, adjunct faculty in the School of Health Sciences, and Allison Christie-Lee, MSA.
2021
Black Medical Pioneers: A Legacy of Leadership
Dr. André Lee, a faculty member in the School of Health Sciences, will present on Black Medical Pioneers, with a virtual field trip to video posters of his exhibition narrated by Dr. Lee, Tracey Lee, MSA, adjunct faculty in the School of Health Sciences, and Allison Christie-Lee, MSA. Learn more about Dr. Lee's foundation.
Virtual Field Trip Exhibits
Dr. Ritu Sharma, a faculty member in the Composition Department, will share her presentation about the youngest Poet Laureate Amanda Gorman. Besides hope, her poems offer multiple perspectives and complexities to the readers that enrich their understanding and response to poetry. It lends an invigorating outlook by chiseling greater empathetic heights as the characters undertake the journey of hope and healing.
The Diversity of Family Within a Family
Dr. Shonda McLaughlin
An understanding of inclusion regarding disability in the family is important to many. To address the importance, Dr. Shonda McLaughlin, a faculty member in the Human Services Department, will have a fun discussion on a children's book she is completing about being an aunt with a disability. The story reflects the intersectionality of disability, children, perceptions, ethnicity, and activity.
Diversity and Equity in Emergency Management
Dr. Tomicka Williams, Dr. Kristie Roberts-Lewis, and Shandrea P. Williams, JD
Dr. Tomicka Williams, assistant chair in the Criminal Justice department, Dr. Kristie Roberts-Lewis from Southern University, and Shandrea P. Williams, Concord Law School Professor, will present on the topic of Diversity and Equity in Emergency Management.
2020
Live Event: Toni Morrison Novels and Quest for Self
Ritu Sharma, Composition Faculty, will share her presentation about the novels of Toni Morrison and Quest for Self. Toni Morrison was the first African-American woman to win the Nobel Prize in Literature.
Live Event: Black History Month Presentation with André Lee
Andre Leé , Health Sciences faculty will present his work as an advocate and educator of black leaders and legends in healthcare. Attendees will learn how Dr.Leé's exhibits developed, where these have been presented, and about the children's books that accompany the exhibits with Q&A to follow.
Thesis: The Loss of Black Civilization and Finding it Again: The Re-visioning of African History in the Works of August Wilson by Misty Thompson, Adjunct Faculty, School of General Education.
Health Sciences’ André Lee continues to display exhibits recognizing African Americans in healthcare. February is Black History Month, which celebrates the achievements of African Americans in U.S. history, and André Lee, an adjunct faculty member from Purdue University Global’s School of Health Sciences, continues his work to educate the public through a series of exhibits with photos, books, and videos of African Americans in healthcare.
Inspiration: Concord Law School EJD student, Joshua Henze, shares about his mother-in-law, Dr. Edith Mitchell, as an inspiring African American in celebration of Black History Month. Read more here.
Juneteenth
2023
Juneteenth Overview and American Red Cross Information Session
Guilene Williams will provide a brief overview of Juneteenth's history and Juneteenth at Purdue Global. This will be followed by Dr. Patti Pelletier and Phyllis Rand, who will share about Sickle Cell Anemia and the Purdue Global student blood drive.
Guilene Williams
Director, Center for Career Advancement for the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences, and Concord Law School, Purdue Global
Dr. Patti Pelletier
Executive Director, Academic Administration and Chair of the Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging Committee, Purdue Global
Phyllis Rand
Government Operations Manager, EMA Team Leader, Community Engagement & Partnerships Lead, Blood Program Leader, Central and Mid Coast Maine Chapter
Student Life: Black Student Experiences in Higher Ed
In this session moderated by Tiffany Townsend, Montia Austin, a student from the Purdue Global Black Cultural Association, and Bryan Dildy, a Concord Law Student and member of the Student Advisory Board, will participate as panelists and share their experiences as black students in higher education as they work to complete their degrees from Purdue Global.
2022
In this presentation, Chancellor Frank Dooley and Provost Jon Harbor will open the festivities by discussing the importance of Juneteenth. Guilene Williams, DEIC committee member and Juneteenth Subcommmitee lead will explain the process of how Juneteenth became a University holiday at Purdue Global. Patti Pelletier and Mackenzie Goucher, Masters of Public Health student, will share about the American Red Cross Club's virtual blood drive in honor of Juneteenth.
Juneteenth: A Celebration For All Americans
In honor of Juneteenth, Guilene Williams, Director, Center for Career Advancement for the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences, Education and Communication, and Concord Law School; and Tricia Berry Health Sciences Associate Dean, Clinical and Practicum Programs will discuss the historical meaning of Juneteenth and as an American holiday why it should be celebrated by everyone.
For many decades, many Americans did not know about Juneteenth even though it had been celebrated primarily in Black communities for years. This fun, informal, and interactive session presented by Nikki Williams, Science Assistant Chair, and Julie Torres-Roman, Science Faculty, will allow participants to discuss the importance of the holiday, learn some interesting Juneteenth facts, and discover some ways to celebrate Juneteenth in the future. Participants will have a chance to share local events happening in their area.
Freedmen's Bureau – Contraband Care
In honor of Juneteenth, Dr. André Lee, Adjunct Faculty in the School of Health Sciences will discuss The Freedmen's Bureau Hospital which provided medical care to the newly freed black slaves.
Student Life: Black Student Experiences in Higher Ed
Moderator: Dr. Kristi Pitts, Criminal Justice Faculty
Student Panelists: Khysheeka Rowe, Christopher White, and Quantina White
In this session, students from the Purdue Global Black Cultural Association (BCA) and the Student Advisory Board (SAB), will participate as panelists and share their experiences as black students in higher education as they work to complete their degrees from Purdue Global and Concord Law.
Cultural Appropriation vs. Cultural Appreciation: How to Inclusively Celebrate Juneteenth
There is a fine line between cultural appropriation and cultural appreciation. In this presentation, Nicki Bond, M.S., Adjunct Faculty, Human Services, College of Social and Behavioral Sciences will explore the difference between appropriation and appreciation and how you should avoid one and celebrate the other. As Juneteenth has recently been acknowledged and declared a federal holiday for everyone, it is important to understand how to appropriately appreciate Juneteenth and not appropriate Juneteenth.
The Historical Effect of the Juneteenth Celebration on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Juneteenth is an American holiday celebrated annually that commemorates the end of slavery in the United States. Although the Emancipation Proclamation took effect in 1865, enslaved people in Texas were not free until two years later. Understanding the history of Juneteenth in our educational community is essential to understanding who we are as a nation. Learning about Juneteenth is part of a broader education of the practice, impact, and legacy of slavery that speaks to Black history in the United States—and therefore, American history at large. This presentation will explore the impact of Juneteenth on diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) practices in higher education.
Disability Awareness Month
Accessibility Mini-Series
The presentations share general accessibility opportunities, challenges, and the tools/resources available at Purdue Global.
Supporting Vulnerable Students: Maximizing Success for Students with Disabilities, Military Students, and Indigenous Students Through Inclusive Pedagogy
Barry Regan, Holley Linkous, and Allan Farina
The purpose of this interactive mini-workshop is to explore best practices for teaching students with disabilities, indigenous students, and military students. The presenters will utilize their experience working with these student population students to provide attendees with research-based and hands-on strategies to best support them in all aspects of the course. This presentation is from the 2023 General Education Conference.
2022
Learning and Engaging Together to Create Awareness and Allyship
Beth Lee, Full-Time Adjunct, School of General Education
Beth Lee will share the history of Asian and Pacific Islanders, define issues of representation and discrimination, and provide attendees with resources about equitable and inclusive environments.
Dr. Ritu Sharma, Full-Time Adjunct, School of General Education
Dr. Ritu Sharma's presentation will focus on the various holidays that are observed in India and the importance of observing these when it comes to a life-work balance, performance, and engagement of employees and students.
Native American Heritage Month
2023
THE HISTORY OF NATIVE AMERICAN BOARDING SCHOOLS & THEIR LEGACY OF GENERATIONAL TRAUMA
Deidre Whiteman
Director of Education & Research
National Native American Boarding House Healing Coalition
BOOK & MOVIE CLUB: KILLERS OF THE FLOWER MOON
Join Barry Regan from the Department of Writing & Rhetoric for a discussion of the book Killers of the Flower Moon: The Osage Murders and the Birth of the FBI by David Grann, and the recent movie of the same name starring Leonardo DiCaprio and directed by Martin Scorsese.
Pride Month
2023
BEYOND BINARIES: Identity and Sexuality
Robyn Ochs, Guest Speaker
How do we assign labels to our complex experiences of identity? In this interactive program, we explore the landscape of sexuality, conduct a thought-provoking anonymous survey of those present, and look together at the data. How do we identify, privately and publicly? Where do we locate ourselves on sexuality and gender continua? How old were we when we came to our identities? How a/sexual are we? How well do our friends/family members understand us? This program will change the way you think about labels and deconstruct binary systems of identity.
ALL THE LETTERS: Understanding LGBTQIA+ Identities and Experiences in 2023
Robyn Ochs, Guest Speaker
How are people using and experiencing sexual orientation and gender in 2023? And what do you need to know to be culturally competent in this area? Bring your questions, and an open mind.
All the Letters is accessible, welcoming, and provides helpful information to understand generational changes around our understanding of gender and sexuality. It is NOT a list of vocabulary. While it does help people expand their vocabulary, this program looks at the broader frame from which the new vocabulary is emerging. The presentation includes various opportunities for Q&A with Robyn, with time for conversation at the end.
National Coming Out Day
2023
Women's History Month
2023
Discovering Women's Voices: Using Local Library Archives to Find and Publish Women's Writing
In this presentation, Dr. Melinda Linscott will share her work using academic and local library archives to discover and publish women's writing that has been forgotten or ignored, outlining strategies that can be used by participants in their own communities and archives.
The Women's Rights Movement and the 100 Year Quest for the Equal Rights Amendment
In this presentation, Jane McElligot, JD, will discuss the century-long quest for the Equal Rights Amendment (ERA), first introduced to Congress in 1923, passed in 1972, and sent to the states for ratification.
Women in STEM: Societal Perceptions and Career Opportunities
This presentation will consider public policy, which has been signed into law, and statistics reflecting women’s progress in STEM career fields. Through this presentation, Jennifer Harrison, Professor, and Dr. Tyra Hall-Pogar, Assistant Chair, Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, will share cross-disciplinary strategies and resources which can be applied in the university classroom to create community and encourage learning.
Climate Change: Its Impacts on Women and Girls
In this presentation, a panel of speakers will address the varied impacts that climate change has not only on the planet but the inequitable impacts associated with gender. Topics will include a discussion of climate change from the perspective of multiple generations of women and their unique concerns. Presented by Dr. Celine Hall, Nikki Williams, Nancy Reck, Mary Bruce, and Annissa Furr.
2020
“Viewing the Work of Lillian M. Gilbreth through the Lens of Critical Biography”
Jack Deem, DBA, Academic Department Chair, School of Business and Information Technology collaborated on a paper covering the life and contributions of Lillian M. Gilbreth. Deem shared, “She was the first female Professor in the School of Mechanical Engineering at Purdue. On a wider scale, she is recognized as the "First Lady of Management" due to her work in the Scientific Management Movement in the early 1900s.” Read the paper via the Purdue Global Library.
“Indulge Endlessly with Oddness”: Shirley Jackson--Writer, Housewife, Neighbor
In honor of Women’s History Month, composition faculty member Mark Burlingame presented an appreciation of novelist and memoirist Shirley Jackson, author of “The Lottery,” The Haunting of Hill House, and Life Among the Savages. The presentation was held on March 25 at 2:00 PM ET. View the recording.
2020 marks the centennial anniversary of the ratification of the 19th Amendment, granting women the right to vote. The 19th Amendment Task Force is an interdisciplinary team at Purdue University Global planning exciting activities for staff, faculty, students, and alumni to commemorate this important milestone. Activities are designed around the PAST, PRESENT, and FUTURE.
Visit our PG Connect 19th Amendment site for details.
TED Talk: Chloe Robinson, Assistant Academic Department Chair, School of Social and Behavioral Sciences, posted in our G+ Community, "I'd like to share a TED Talk featuring my brilliant cousin, Allyson Hobbs. She is a history professor at Stanford University. As a black woman professor, her work and her strive for excellence really motivates me."
2019
From Voiceless to Vice President: Examining the Black Vote Through Women's Eyes
Presenters from the School of General Education: Kate Scarpena, Department Chair, Humanities and Social Sciences, and Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences; Stuart Collins, Jennifer Harrison, and Kevin Muir
Presenters from the School of General Education: Nikki Williams, Assistant Academic Chair, Science, and Faculty; Annissa Furr, Science, Mary Bruce, Math, and Christina Kamnikar, Science
The History and Future of Women in Baseball
Presenter Dr. Rebecca Herman, Faculty from the School of Business and Information Technology
In honor of Women’s History Month, enjoy a journey through the history of women in baseball starting in the late 1800s including the well-known All-American Girls, women who played in the Negro Leagues, and women playing and working in baseball today. Examine selected data from 15-years of the TIDES Racial and Gender Report Card for Major League Baseball. Explore the future of women in baseball through a look at today’s trailblazers and the initiatives that are currently underway.
Resources Celebrating Women
Black Women Icons in Medicine
Dr. André Lee, a faculty member in the School of Health Sciences, Black History Month presentation on Black Medical Pioneers in honor of Women’s History Month
2020 Virtual Literary Festival: Visions of Women and Literature
Purdue Global colleagues celebrated women in literature at the 8th annual Virtual Literary Festival: Visions of Women and Literature in June 2020. Check out the archives to get inspired and expand your literary knowledge.
Global Indigenous Peoples Day
2023
OCIE is pleased to welcome Savaliolefilemu (Val) Lehuanani To’omalatai LiHang Jacobo to Purdue Global to honor Indigenous People’s Day Monday, October 9, at 2:00PM ET. Her presentation will be followed by a discussion moderated by Beth Lee (Muskogee tribe), from MaPS.
Val, who is of Hawaiian and Samoan heritage, will present “The Mana (Power) of Indigenous References”, a discussion of leadership lessons learned from matriarchal weaving circles and how weaving represents a navigational and relational tool for Indigenous people to remember how to be and increase appreciation for their culture and identity.
2022
Serving Indigenous Communities
Dr. Ginger Cameron, School of Health Sciences Professor
A discussion on providing service to Indigenous communities. The presentation will overview work I did with a community in Australia as well as cultural considerations as one prepares to serve indigenous communities.
The Forgotten Ones: The Ongoing Legacy of Missing White Woman Syndrome
Dr. Peg Hohensee, School of General Education, Department Chair
During 2019, nearly 6,000 indigenous Americans went missing (List, 2022), and yet very little, if any, news coverage was provided in those cases. In this presentation, participants will explore how the disparity in the news coverage not only misinforms the public, but how this difference could actually be putting indigenous peoples in danger. The presenter will also suggest ways this content can be included in courses at PG to highlight the problem and remediation opportunities.
Revisiting the Trail of Tears: From Forced Removal to Land Acknowledgement
Beth Lee, School of General Education, Composition Faculty
The Trail of Tears, which took place in the Southern United States in the 1830s, was the forced relocation of the 5 Civilized Tribes: Cherokee, Creek, Chickasaw, Chocktaw, and Seminole from their homelands to a designated U.S. territory West of the Mississippi (Britannica, 2022). During this over 5,000-mile treacherous journey, thousands of lives were lost, and history and culture were forcibly changed forever. Purdue University’s College of Agriculture details the land statement acknowledging the land that was lost and now where the campus sits by stating, “We honor and appreciate the Bodéwadmik (Potawatomi), Lenape (Delaware), Myaamia (Miami), and Shawnee People who are the original Indigenous caretakers of this land” (Purdue University, 2022). Land acknowledgment honors the history and land forcibly taken away from the Native Peoples of America. This presentation will take everyone on this journey's reality and the political and historical background. We will draw connections on a global scale with Indigenous People worldwide to highlight the importance of authentically retaining Indigenous peoples' history, land, and culture. Finally, we will explore what some of our Purdue Campuses are doing to acknowledge the original homelands of the Indigenous peoples of the United States.
World AIDS Day
2022
This panel discussion will be moderated by Stephen Velky, Multimedia Designer, who will honor those impacted by the AIDS epidemic and faculty HIV experts will discuss contemporary topics. The discussion will be followed by a Q&A.
2022
The First Englishwoman Sonneteer and What She Teaches Us About Feelings
Melinda Linscott, PhD., Team Lead, Learning for Success Center
Lady Mary Wroth (c.1587 - c.1651) wrote the first sonnet sequence in English by a woman, publishing Pamphilia to Amphilanthus at the end of her prose romance, The Countess of Montgomeries Urania in 1621. In these poetic reworkings of what had long been a male-dominated tradition, Wroth reimagines Petrachan metaphor, pulls on the power of conceptual metaphor, and relates her emotions and emotional experience for readers in a language that is both unique and universal. Discover more about Wroth’s poetry, the way she used metaphor to depict her emotional experience, and personal applications for using metaphor in the processing and writing of one's own experiences.
Women’s History STEM Collaborative
Tyra Hall-Pogar, Catherine Rice, and Jennifer Harrison
Women’s History Month is a time to celebrate the accomplishments of women past, present, and future. This proposal highlights the women who have contributed to science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) and our society. Join us as we celebrate their success and achievements. We will also examine the benefits of women in the STEM workforce, how to encourage girls to pursue STEM fields of study, and what the future holds in terms of opportunities, salary, and public policy. This presentation will consider public policy which has been signed into law, such as STEM-related amendments to existing education legislation, such as the 2019 Building Blocks of STEM Act, as well as statistics regarding the increased interest in STEM-related legislation in the last several years.
Nikki Williams, Annissa Furr, and Mary Bruce
Since the onset of the pandemic in early 2020, societies continue to struggle with unfamiliar challenges presented by COVID-19 and its variants. The novelty of the virus prompted a barrage of research, and the resistance has pushed early patterns to etch a deeper groove in all facets of daily life. This presentation will provide the opportunity to reflect specifically on how the pandemic has affected women's lives. Speakers will discuss some of the women who have played a vital role in COVID-19 research. An integrated discussion will then address the physical, social, and economical effects that women have sustained, and a cautionary glance at future implications will be proposed. Participants will be engaged in the interactive discussion as the sharing of experiences is encouraged.