READY OR NOT
Global Challenges, College Learning, and America’s Promise
Plenary Speakers
Opening Plenary
Thursday, January 22, 8:45-10:15 a.m.
 |
 |
Molly Corbett Broad |
Carol Geary Schneider |
Molly Corbett Broad and Carol Geary Schneider
Leadership in an Era of Urgency
Higher learning has never been more central to our nation’s prospects. The new press for innovation and creativity in the economy; the new urgency of our global, civic and sustainability challenges—all make the quality of student accomplishment a topic of intense public and policy concern. But as public debates roil, higher education has been more reactive than proactive on the question of how best to ensure that today’s students are fully prepared for a fast-paced future. As the heads of two major educational associations, Molly Broad and Carol Schneider will call on education leaders to vigorously “take the lead” in shaping educational priorities worthy of a great democracy.
Molly Corbett Broad, President, American Council on Education.
Carol Geary Schneider, President, Association of American Colleges and Universities
Closing Plenary
Saturday, January 24, 10:45-11:30 a.m.
 |
 |
Melissa Harris-Lacewell |
Eric Liu |
Melissa Harris-Lacewell and Eric Liu
Grass Roots and Patriotism:
Re-Centering Student Civic Engagement in Higher Education
It took a long time to marginalize civic responsibility as a goal for college; and it will take a long time to re-establish it at the center of undergraduate learning. Yet the challenges to participatory democracy in the US and around the globe will not wait. What have we accomplished to date in rebuilding the civic capacity in higher education and the broader society? What can we learn from patterns of student civic engagement? Two leading public intellectuals share their views on student political thought and action during the 2008 election cycle—and the implications for higher education.
Melissa Harris-Lacewell is Associate Professor of Politics and African American Studies at Princeton University and author of Barbershops, Bibles, and BET: Everyday Talk and Black Political Thought. She is currently at work on a new book: Sister Citizen: A Text For Colored Girls Who've Considered Politics When Being Strong Wasn't Enough.
Eric Liu teaches at the University of Washington's Evans School of Public Affairs. His most recent book, The True Patriot, co-authored with Nick Hanauer, is a pamphlet in the style of Thomas Paine that argues for a new progressive patriotism. He is also the author of Guiding Lights: How to Mentor and Find Life's Purpose, and The Accidental Asian: Notes of a Native Speaker. He served as a speechwriter for President Clinton in his first term and as Deputy Domestic Policy Adviser in the second.
ACAD Keynote Luncheon
Friday, January 23, 11:45 a.m.-1:15 pm.
Mimi Gardner Gates
|
|
Mimi Gardner Gates
Civic Engagement and the Arts: Seattle’s Olympic Sculpture Park
Mimi Gardner Gates, Director of the Seattle Art Museum since 1994, is a distinguished scholar of Asian art. She earned a B.A. from Stanford University in Asian History; an M.A. in Oriental and Chinese Studies from the University of Iowa; and a Ph.D. in Art History from Yale University. She began her tenure at Yale University Art Gallery in 1975, first in curatorial positions and then as director from 1987 to 1994. Gates has also served as President of the Association of Art Museum Directors, chaired the Federal Indemnity Panel (1999 – 2002) at the National Endowment, and currently sits on the boards of the Downtown Seattle Association, YWCA, and Yale University Art Gallery. In addition, she is a fellow of the Yale Corporation. In an illustrated talk, Dr. Gates will discuss the museum’s award-winning Olympic Sculpture Park, which opened January 2007. Why did the Seattle Art Museum create a sculpture park, which is not contiguous with the museum? Why is the Olympic Sculpture Park central to the life and growth of Seattle? What potential do the arts have in universities’ civic engagement?
Opening Night Forum
Wednesday, January 21, 7:00-8:30 p.m.
Chris Jordan
|
|
Chris Jordan, Photographer
Running the Numbers: An American Self-Portrait
Chris Jordan looks at contemporary American culture through the austere lens of statistics, with each image portraying a specific quantity of something – 426,000 cell phones discarded every day; 15 million sheets of office paper used every 5 minutes; 106,000 aluminum cans discarded every 30 second. His slideshow and commentary takes audiences through his beautiful and elucidating photographs, documenting such issues as the environment, global warming, and other social issues.
Networking Breakfast for Women Faculty and Administrators
Thursday, January 22, 7:00-8:30 a.m.
Judy Touchton
|
|
Judy Touchton
A Measure of Equity: How Are Women in the Academy Doing?
Judy Touchton, author of AAC&U’s new status report on women, A Measure of Equity, is founder of WomenLeadersMove.com, a coaching and research consulting service for women. She served 22 years in the Office of Women at the American Council on Education.
Networking Luncheon for Faculty and Administrators of Color
Thursday, January 22, 11:45 a.m.-1:15 p.m.s
Ronald Williams
|
|
Ronald Williams
Integrating Minority Males into the Higher Education Pipeline
Ronald Williams is a Vice President at the College Board where his area of responsibility is strengthening the relationship between the College Board and community colleges nationally. Williams served as president of Prince George’s Community College from 1999 until 2007 and is a member of AAC&U’s Board of Directors.
|
