Alumni Chair in Humanities
Critical Examination of Our Times: The State of Race on the University of Dayton Campus
The 2021 Global Voices Symposium was presented virtually March 1 through 4.
Critical Examination of our Times seeks to understand how and why the state of race at the University of Dayton campus has changed over time. It uses stories from students, staff, faculty, and alumni to accomplish that goal. In addition, it challenges each panel to come up with a list of recommendations of what the University should do to turn into reality its message of inclusivity.
Dr. Williams' research has been supported by a host of fellowships, grants and awards, including a Scholar-in-Residence Fellowship at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture in New York City, a Charlotte W. Newcombe Doctoral Fellowship in Religion and Ethics from the Woodrow Wilson National Foundation, an Albert J. Beveridge Grant from the American Historical Association, the Huggins-Quarles Award from the Organization of American Historians and the John Tracy Ellis Dissertation Award from the American Catholic Historical Association.
Her work has been published in the Journal of African American History, American Catholic Studies, America Magazine, the National Catholic Reporter, the Catholic News Service and Religion Dispatches.
The 2021 Global Voices Symposium was a virtual event. Sessions were free and open to the public. A downloadable PDF of our schedule is linked here. You are invited to watch recordings of our sessions below.
Our Sessions
Monday, March 1
Setting the Context, 3 to 5 p.m.
Panelists used stories to discuss their perspectives on the conversation on race on campus and set the context of the sessions they chair.
Tuesday, March 2
Student Voices, 10:10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Utilizing varying perspectives and stories, students provided answers to what it means to be Black on campus, addressing challenges, prospects, and turning points and concluding with recommendations for short- and long-term actions to create an anti-racist campus culture.
Alumni Voices, 3 to 5 p.m.
Alumni Voices featured an interactive panel of dedicated UD alumni from multiple decades, ages and degrees, centering on the narratives of Black alumni during a critical dialogue on race. Moderated by UD triple alumna, Dr. Daria Y. Jackson Graham, ’94, ’00, ’18.
Wednesday, March 3
Faculty and Staff Perspectives, 10:10 to 12 p.m.
In this session faculty and staff examined their experiences over time addressing peak and low moments, how they navigated different situations and concluded with a set of recommendations on how to make UD become a genuine “anti-racist” university.
Testimonials, 3 to 5 p.m.
Using audio stories submitted by current and former UD students, this session engaged in a critical conversation about how the Black experience on campus is incorporated into the broader UD narrative.
Keynote Address, 7 to 8:30 p.m.
Dr. Shannen Dee Williams presented the keynote address, "Why Black Catholic History Matters." Williams is the Albert Lepage Assistant Professor of History at Villanova University and a Distinguished Lecturer for the Organization of American Historians.
Thursday, March 4, 10:10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Our Path Forward, 10:10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
In this session symposium participants and observers alike revisited the major arguments as they crafted a way forward. They affirmed ways to keep the conversation alive on campus and beyond.