Mickelle Bisbee – Staff Writer
Within the University of Wyoming, research and scholarships are offered to students through its many disciplines.
To bring all these disciplines together for dialogue and discussion between graduate students, undergraduate students, professors and more, the School of Culture, Gender and Social Justice is hosting the Community Conversations Symposium today and Friday.
“I think a lot of times you generate a lot of ideas when you get to talk to people,” said Jacquelyn Bridgeman, director of the school.
The Symposium is presenting a broad spectrum of fields including subjects in the sciences, gender and sexuality, social justices and more. Bridgeman said for students to “open your mind to the possibilities that are out there.”
“[The Symposium] can be interesting if you’re interested in any of these topics,” Bridgeman said.
For students interested in research and/or social justice, this Symposium may be of interest, Bridgeman said.
Andrew B. Campbell, who has a doctorate in education leadership, policy and diversity and is an adjunct assistant professor at Queen’s University and the University of Toronto , will be presenting “Championing Equity and Inclusion through Courageous Conversations” at the Conversation Kickstarter Reception tonight at 6 p.m. in the Alice Hardie Stevens Center.
Reyna Grande, author of the bestselling memoir The Distance Between Us, will be presenting “Immigration and Transformation: Writing to Change the World” Friday at 5:30 p.m. in the Alice Hardie Stevens Center during the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Awards Dinner.
Bridgeman said she is excited for these keynote speakers in particular because of the differences they have to offer. She said Grande had a good story to tell, about writing and creative writing, and how she transformed her life through these, and Campbell has a good presentation of how to have difficult conversations.
This will be the second year hosting the Community Conversations Symposium, and Bridgeman said she plans to have more. The Symposium, along with its keynote speakers, will have many panels with different topics and speakers for the public to enjoy.
Some panels and paper presentations include “Phenomenal Women: Finding Solidarity to STEM the Tide of Bias in Science,” “Paper Presentations: Historical Perspectives on Social Justice” and “Panel: Beyond Visibility.”
