Title: Deepening Racial Engagement Among White College Students

Date: Tuesday, February 6
Time: 11 am – 12:30 pm
Location: DH-117 (Libous Room)

Session description: Studies about intergroup dialogue programs consistently illustrate they lead to increased perspective-taking, changes attitudes towards social groups, increased understanding of structural oppression, increased self-reflection and understanding of their identities, increased desire to engage in allyship, and the development of conflict and communication skills. However, few studies have explored students’ conversations about social identity (particularly race) that take place outside of classroom dialogue settings. This session engages attendees with findings from two resent research studies: one that explored how white college students construct meaning about race and racism, and one that explored white college students’ conversations about race with white peers and family members. Following a brief presentation about the research studies and the problems they addressed, attendees will interact with vignettes from the studies to identify implications for deepening student learning about race.

Bio: Dr. Melvin Whitehead is an assistant professor of higher education and student affairs at Binghamton University. His research explores the legacies of racism in U.S. higher education, with a focus on whiteness and anti-blackness and how they are reproduced on college campuses. His current research explores how white college students construct their understandings about race and its connections to the marginalizing experiences of Black students at historically white institutions. Dr. Whitehead earned a Ph.D. in Education with an emphasis in College Student Affairs Administration from the University of Georgia. He holds an M.S. from the University of Michigan and a B.S. from Towson University.

Submitted by: Evan Bigam

SUNY Broome is committed to inclusion for all students, faculty and staff, and community members.

If you need accommodations to participate in this event, please contact the Accessibility Resources Office at aro@sunybroome.edu or 607-778-5150 to discuss your needs ASAP.

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