09/22/20
Opportunity for Engagement with UB Center for Diversity Innovation Distinguished Visiting Scholars
Posted by Tim on September 22, 2020 in Community Announcements, Event, Honors Experiences, Honors Program Announcements, Information Session, Networking
https://www.buffalo.edu/diversity-innovation/distinguished-visiting-scholars/cohort.html
Dear UB Students,
I hope that each of you are well and finding connection, support, and stimulation, in spite of the unprecedented circumstances affecting us all this fall. I have happy news to share.
The UB Center for Diversity Innovation Distinguished Visiting Scholars (DVS) faculty cohort has arrived in Buffalo for the 2020-21 academic year. Each member of the cohort will engage with UB’s students, faculty and throughout the fall and spring semesters. Programs with the Scholars, which will be open to all members of our community, will include public talks, art exhibitions, book clubs and film viewings, class visits, workshops, opportunities to chat on ZOOM, and various celebrations throughout the year. (Please check out www.buffalo.edu/cdi for ongoing posting of events and use the “contact us” form to add yourself to the email list for notifications.)
The breadth of the Scholars’ work and interests—anti-racist pedagogy; artistic depictions of migration; writing as a means to promote social justice; the empirical examination of different forms of racial inequity such as in health outcomes, policing and incarceration; contemporary Kenyan political history; women’s roles in historic rebellions; race and representation in romanticism; the influence of Black girls and women in shaping educational outcomes; the mapping of Indigenous communities and study of settler-colonialism—creates points of intersection with students, faculty and staff across all departments and units and the hope that members of the entire UB community will participate in Scholar events.
SPECIAL OPPORTUNITIES TO CONNECT with THE SCHOLARS through MENTORING CIRCLES:
In addition to all of these larger, university-wide and departmental/program-level opportunities to meet the Scholars via class visits or other activities, a special component of this visiting scholar program is that each Scholar will lead two mentoring circles—one for 10 graduate and another for 10 undergraduate students.
These circles will enable students to have meaningful, small group interaction with the Scholars (even if that interaction is via ZOOM in the near-term) and meet other students with whom friendships can be formed and academic, personal and professional support exchanged, and a sense of community developed. Importantly, students in the circles will play a key role in welcoming the Distinguished Visiting Scholars to UB and Buffalo.
The group activities within the mentoring circles will vary—selected by Scholars in conjunction with students in the circles—but will enable you to meet with other students as well as the Scholars to have discussions about your experiences, interests, and goals.
ALL UB undergraduate and graduate students are eligible to participate. Because the circles must be limited in size to permit these small group interactions, students must express interest through a brief survey and statement.
HOW TO EXPRESS YOUR INTEREST IN PARTICIPATING:
Using this link (https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/DVSMentoring), you will indicate which Scholar(s) you are interested in meeting with, some questions about your goals/interests, and also to share a short statement about yourself (that you can upload via the survey). You learn about each of the Scholars here: https://www.buffalo.edu/diversity-innovation/distinguished-visiting-scholars/cohort.html
The process is not time-consuming and this not a graded assignment. J The Scholars will be interested in learning about you in order to select students as part of their circles. And do remember that these circles will be only one of many means for you to “meet” and learn with the Scholars throughout the year. There will be many other opportunities.
I hope you will consider completing the survey and submitting a short statement indicating your interest. If you have questions, do not hesitate to consult a faculty member in your department/program (particularly the Director of Undergraduate or Graduate Studies) or others, as well as me: ub-cdi-scholars@buffalo.edu with your questions. (NOTE: The survey has been tested and does meet accessibility standards, but please reach out to accessibility services or to the Center, if you need assistance.)
DEADLINE TO SUBMIT YOUR INTEREST IN PARTICIPATING: Sunday, October 4th at 5 pm.
(Notification of selection by: October 11th.)
We all hope you will read about the Scholars on the Center website and consider being a part of this program which we think will greatly benefit you and be part of making each Scholar’s year at UB fun and memorable!
