Dean's Equity Forum features two speakers this fall

UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Mildred Boveda kicks off the Dean's Equity Forum this semester with a presentation on "Developing Intersectional Competence: Are General and Special Education Preservice Teachers Prepared to Respond to Multiple Differences?" on Thursday, Nov. 12, via Zoom. The forum starts with the presentation at 4 p.m. and is followed by informal conversation from 5:15 to 6 p.m.

Boveda, assistant professor of special education and cultural and linguistic diversity at Arizona State University, draws from intersectionality as conceptualized by Black feminist theorists to (re)examine how “diversity” and “inclusion” are employed in special and inclusive education discourse, research and practice. In her presentation, she will describe ongoing efforts to validate tools designed to operationalize intersectionality in teacher education.

Her findings explain how preservice teachers and teacher educators in the Southeast, Midwest and Southwest regions of the United States articulate how pre-K-12 schooling is implicated in intersectional oppressions such as racism, ableism and sexism.

The second presentation in the series will feature Marcus Jenkins, assistant professor in the Department of Education Leadership and Policy at the University of Arizona, starting at 4 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 8.

Drawing from critical theories of race and social justice, this talk will explore how approaches to leadership are connected to community engagement for school reform. In particular, Jenkins will examine the praxis of Black leaders and how their practices not only foster community but work to disrupt structural antiblackness.

The forum starts with Jenkins' talk at 4 p.m. and will conclude with a discussion of the implications and future directions of this line of inquiry for training and supporting K-12 school leaders from 5:15 to 6 p.m.

For Zoom connection information for either talk, email edrelations@psu.edu.