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As students turn to faculty and staff for support with their educational and career journeys, we also need support.

Through this highly interactive session, “The Time is Now: Building Inclusive Environments to Promote Personal and Professional Success” led by visionary speaker Professor Derek Greenfield, you will experience connection-building activities, and we will strengthen our abilities to provide inclusive environments on campus for students and each other.

Join us from 11:45 a.m. to 1:15 p.m. Wednesday, April 6, in the Todd Wehr Center Jockey Rooms A and B.

This powerful, interactive experience will support faculty and staff members in gaining a richer appreciation of the benefits of an inclusive excellence framework for strengthening community and enhancing student outcomes, particularly during these challenging times. Building community is critical for students’ exploration of purpose, sustained success at the College, and career success after graduation. The Aspire Center and Carthage Athletics are hosting these faculty/staff sessions as a complement to a student-focused session being provided for student-athletes.

Through concrete examples and experiential exercises, the presenter will model powerful practices that affirm students, incorporate their cultural backgrounds as tools for learning, and establish a healthy context for courageous and instructionally relevant conversations around social identity.

Special attention will be paid to delivering practical skills that can be utilized to build healthier relationships and classroom environments as well as foster a deeper sense of inclusion in our engagement with students. The presentation concludes with an exciting opportunity for participants to share openly and celebrate one another, offering a special moment for unifying the Carthage family in the mission of ensuring that everyone feels valued and can experience success.

About Professor Derek Greenfield

Prof. Derek Greenfield is a nationally recognized thought leader, speaker, and educator with an award-winning career in academia that has included successful stints as a full-time faculty member, vice president for student engagement and campus life, and two-time chief diversity officer. His interactive, powerful workshops and keynotes have inspired and informed audiences at over 250 colleges and universities as well as industry leaders such as CBS Sports, Visa, Progress Energy, and the NBA’s Milwaukee Bucks. In addition to publishing a lengthy list of peer-reviewed journal articles and chapters, Prof. Greenfield is co-editor of the book: “Exploring Issues of Diversity Within HBCUs.”

He earned his BA and MA in Sociology from Northwestern University as well as two doctoral degrees — a PhD in Cultural Studies from the University of Washington and an EdD from Cape Peninsula University of Technology in South Africa.

Sponsoring Department, Office, or Organization:

The Aspire Center, Carthage Athletics

For more information, contact:

aspire@carthage.edu