Campus and Community Programming

 

Programming for Linguistic Diversity and Linguistic Justice

I’m one of the co-founders of Oakland University’s Linguistic Diversity Initiative, with Jason Overfelt, Kuniko Nielson, and Angela Super, among others, which you can read more about here. We are proud of our first major event, held in honor of International Mother Language Day, which included a student project showcase, a screening of Signing Black in America, and a guest lecture with Aris Clemons.

Intercultural Programming

I have directed all manner of intercultural programming, including campus social events like “World Hot Chocolate Night” or student field trips to food markets. I also put on community educational events at Gustavus, like our Linguistic Diversity Film Series, including expert panelists, with films like Talking Black in America and Dizhsa Nabani.  I have also run community connection programs, like student peer co-mentor programs and the International Friendship Family program at Gustavus, which connects international and multicultural students with local St. Peter families.

Student Success Initiatives

I have experience collaborating with the Center for Inclusive Excellence and the Academic Support Center on a bridge program for historically under-served students at Gustavus. I also headed a retention-focused committee, Achievement Allies, which reviews the successes and challenges of historically under-served students to coordinate outreach and encouragement to those students. I have offered multiple academic workshops for first generation, multilingual, and international students, on topics like thesis statements, research skills, group work, and so on.

Faculty Development

I have experience offering workshops, reading circles, and individual consultations to faculty to help them better support their international and multilingual students and students using historically oppressed varieties of English. I have consulted on inclusive classroom practices, exam design, and responding to student writing, among other issues. For example, I developed a phonetics workshop for faculty and staff to help them better learn to pronounce (or make a suitable English approximation of) the names of students who come from all over the world.