2022 South Carolina State University Intersectional Studies Remote Conference
Cultural Crossroads in the Global Village
Friday, March 25, 20228:15 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. (US Eastern Standard Time) via ZoomRegistration is closed.
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See below for the online conference program.
2nd Annual
Intersectional Studies Remote ConferenceSouth Carolina State University
Friday, March 25, 2022
8:15 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. U.S. Eastern Standard Time
Conference Program
This year's theme is "Cultural Crossroads in the Global Village." The COVID-19 pandemic and other recent events have made apparent the divisiveness in communities, whether in the classroom; the polling place; the neighborhood; or other communal spaces. Global society has reached a crossroads where decisions and actions will define communities for years to come. Papers and panels will explore ways in which divisiveness exists in communities; the inequalities highlighted by recent events; ways communities are addressing societal inequities; diversity in the classroom; how cultural crossroads are depicted in literature and art; and other topics related to the theme.
8:15 a.m.- 8:30 a.m. Welcome
Greetings
Dr. Frederick Evans Acting Provost, South Carolina State University
Conference Overview and ISC Updates
Dr. Janice Hawes, Chair, English and Communications, South Carolina State University
8:35 a.m.-9:55 a.m. Concurrent Sessions 1 and 2
Session 1: Transnational Intersectionalities
Moderator: Karey Perkins, Assistant Professor, South Carolina State University
"Islam, Gender, and Self: Rethinking Transnational Belonging and Intersectional Experiences of Tamil Muslim Women in Singapore" Pavithra Nandanan Menon, Doctoral Candidate and Research Scholar National University of Singapore
"Desired and Desiring Bodies: Caste-Gender Intersectionalities" Natasha Negi, Research Scholar Indian Institute of Science Education and Research (IISER)
"The Women of Covidystopia: An Exploration of Gendered Impacts of Covid-19" Aayushi Kadyan, M. Phil. Student Debashree Sinha, Assistant Professor, Amity Institute of English Studies and Research Amity University, Noida, India
Session 2: Intersectionality in Literature and History
Moderator: Thomas Cassidy, Professor, South Carolina State University
"Global Modernity and Irish Pop Lit: Climate Change in Sally Rooney's Beautiful World, Where Are You" Sydney Leimbach, Master's Student in English Language and Literature University of South Carolina
"Identity, Roots and Mixed-Race Connections: Zadie Smith's Microcosm of 'Difference' in White Teeth" Manasvini Rai, Research Scholar Malaviya National Institute of Technology, Jaipur, India
"Tumultuous Hispanola: An Examination of the Relationship Between Haiti and the Dominican Republic" Margaret Morris, Associate Professor South Carolina State University
10:00 a.m.- 11:00 a.m. Keynote Address
H. Richard Milner IV Cornelius Vanderbilt Distinguished Professor of Education Professor of Education in the Department of Teaching and Learning at Peabody College Vanderbilt University
H. Richard Milner IV (also known as Rich) is Cornelius Vanderbilt Distinguished Professor of Education and Professor of Education in the Department of Teaching and Learning at Peabody College of Vanderbilt University. His research, teaching and policy interests concern urban education, teacher education, African American literature, and the social context of education. Professor Milner's research examines practices and policies that support teacher effectiveness in urban schools. Professor Milner is President-Elect of the American Educational Research Association, the largest educational research organization in the world. He is an elected member of the National Academy of Education and a Fellow of the American Educational Research Association. Professor Milner's work has appeared in numerous journals, and he has published seven books. His most recent are: Start where you are but don't stay there: Understanding diversity, opportunity gaps, and teaching in today's classrooms (Harvard Education Press, 2010 and 2020, Second Edition), Rac(e)ing to class: Confronting poverty and race in schools and classrooms (Harvard Education Press, 2015) and These kids are out of control: Why we must reimagine classroom management for equity (Corwin Press, 2018). He can be reached at rich.milner@vanderbilt.edu.
11:15 a.m.-12:45 p.m. Concurrent Sessions 3 and 4
Session 3: Global Identities
Moderator: Ms. Arah Pinson, Instructor, South Carolina State University
"Intersections: Unemployment, Disability, and the Musical Canon" Tekla Babyak, Disabled Independent Scholar
"Intersectionality in Gayl Jones's Corregidora" Marrietta Kosma University of Oxford
"Urban Bachata and Diasporic Community: Race and Rearticulation of Dominican Identity in New York" Maddie Kim, Independent Scholar Closter, New Jersey
Session 4: Identities in the Classroom
Moderator: Ms. Josalyn Woodruff-Lee, Instructor, South Carolina State University
"The Primary School Teachers' Experience during the Pandemic: Intersections of Professionalism, Gender, Region, and Digital Literacy" Harshita Sharma, Doctoral Researcher at National Institute of Educational Planning and Administration New Delhi, India.
"First-Generation College Students and Diversity in the Classroom" Florencia Cornet, TRIO-OSP Faculty for Intercultural Inclusion & Diversity Learning University of South Carolina
12:45 p.m. -1:45 p.m. Lunch
The next session will begin at 2:00 p.m.
2:00 p.m. -2:15 p.m. Perspectives on Intersectionality
Professor Ursula Robinson Professor of Drama, South Carolina State University
Ursula O. Robinson is the Drama Program Coordinator and a Tenured Professor of Drama at South Carolina State University where she cultivates and molds young dreamers into accomplished artists. This award-winning playwright is also the Artistic Director of Ursula O. Robinson Productions (UORP), a comprehensive artistic company that creates tailor-made works of art that heal, entertain, educate, and even set the mind free! This accomplished artist is known for her one-woman shows, her hilarious comedy acts, and her prowess as a writer of personalized monologues. Ms. Robinson holds a BA in English, a BA in Theater Arts, and an M.F.A. in Acting. Blessed with the gifts of playwriting, performance, and practically anything artistic, Ms. Robinson believes that the arts have the ability to change people's lives for the better.
2:30 p.m. - 3:30 p.m. SC State Student Perspectives
Moderator: Mr. Muhammad Mashreque, Instructor, South Carolina State University
Panelists: South Carolina State University Undergraduates
Mark Talford "Changing The Narrative of African American Males"
April Thomas "Family, Power, and Strong Women"
3:45: p.m.- 5:00 p.m. Discussion Panel
Culturally Relevant Pedagogy This panel is in honor of Ms. Carlana Kohn-Davis, Instructor of English, and her dedication to culturally relevant pedagogy. She will always be in the hearts of her colleagues of SC State.
Moderators: Dr. Reginald Williams Professor of Early Childhood Education South Carolina State University
Ms. Cathi Mack Assistant to the Dean/Coordinator of Technical Services/Instructor Miller F. Whittaker Library, South Carolina State University
Panelists: Dr. Sarah Washington-Favors Professor of English Education, Coordinator of English Education South Carolina State University
Dr. Rosetta Dingle Associate Professor of Music Education, Coordinator of Music Programs South Carolina State University
Dr. Florencia Cornet TRIO-OSP Faculty for Intercultural Inclusion & Diversity Learning University of South Carolina
Dr. Kimberly Eison Simmons Associate Professor, Anthropology and African American Studies Pearce Faculty Fellow, South Carolina Honors College Co-Director, Institute for African American Studies and Research University of South Carolina
Acknowledgments
A special thank you to our keynote speaker, Dr. Rich Milner.
Thank you also to Professor Ursula Robinson, our "Perspectives on Intersectionality" presenter.
Thank you to all of our presenters and moderators for helping to create a wonderful program.
The Department of English and Communications and the ISC Committee also wishes to thank the following members of the SC State campus community for their support and assistance:
Mr. Alexander Conyers, lnterim President, South Carolina State University
Dr. Frederick Evans, Acting Provost, South Carolina State University
Dr. Evelyn Fields, Acting Dean, College of Education, Humanities, and Social Sciences, South Carolina State University
Ms. Rosalind Hanson, Administrative Assistant, Department of English and Communications
2022 Intersectional Studies Conference Committee
Dr. Janice Hawes, Chair of English and Communications, SC State
Dr. Thomas Cassidy, Professor of English, SC State
Mr. Dante Mozie, Instructor of Journalism, SC State
Mr. Muhammad Mashreque, Instructor of Speech and English, SC State
Ms. Arah Pinson, Instructor of English, SC State
Finally, thank you to everyone who attended. We hope to see you again in March 2023!
Remembering Ms. Carlana Kohn-Davis, Instructor of English
As we in the SC State Community collaborate with others as members of the global community, we remember Ms. Carlana Kohn-Davis, her dedication to students, and her desire for a society where everyone has access to opportunities. Ms. Kohn-Davis was in the midst of her advanced studies in education, with a focus on culturally relevant pedagogies, when she passed in 2019. Her colleagues will always be inspired by her example. We dedicate this conference to her memory.