The Office of the Vice- Principal (Culture, Equity, and Inclusion) has organized a five-part speaker series titled “Re-Imagining Academia.” The series is designed to highlight critical themes in Indigenization, Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, Accessibility, and Anti-Racism (I-EDIAA), focusing on their application in Canadian higher education. The series will explore issues such as decolonizing institutional practices, amplifying underrepresented voices, embedding anti-racist frameworks in research and leadership, and re-imagining accessibility across academia.
Speakers
Speaker
Dr. Carl James, Professor, Jean Augustine Chair in Education, Community & Diaspora, York University
Presentation
“Beyond Admission: The Need for Policies and Practices to Ensure Black Students’ Success at University.”
Date and Time
February 19, 2025 (2 - 3:30 pm EST)
Event Registration
Please register using . Once you are registered, a Zoom link will be sent to you.
Event Format
This session will include a 30-minute talk followed by a moderated 45-50-minute Q&A session with the audience.
Moderator
Dr. Alana Butler, Associate Professor of At-Risk Learners & Student Success, Faculty of Education, Queen’s University.
˴Ƭ the Event
Although access to higher education has improved, Black students often encounter structural inequities that impact their academic success, sense of belonging, and overall university experience. In this session, Dr. Carl James will highlight the need for institutions to move beyond symbolic diversity initiatives and implement comprehensive policies and practices that actively support Black students. Drawing on his extensive research, he will also examine how intersecting factors such as race, ethnicity, gender, and socioeconomic status contribute to the challenges faced by Black students in academic environments.
Participants will gain valuable insights into how universities can create inclusive and supportive environments for Black students. The discussion will focus on actionable strategies to address inequities and ensure equitable outcomes, highlighting the importance of culturally relevant pedagogy, mentorship programs, mental health support, and anti-racist institutional frameworks. This session also offers educators, administrators, students, and community members an opportunity to reflect on their roles in advancing equity in higher education and contribute to building more inclusive academic spaces.
˴Ƭ the Speaker
is the Jean Augustine Chair in Education, Community & Diaspora at York University, where he teaches in the Faculty of Education and in the Graduate Program in Sociology and Social & Political Thought. His research explores how race – intersecting with ethnicity, gender, sex, class, generational status, etc. – mediates the educational, employment, judicial, and career opportunities and achievements of racialized people. A particular interest is the ways in which institutional policies, programs and practices shape the academic performance and social outcomes of young people – particularly Black students.
Carl’s publications include: Colour Matters: Essays on the Experiences, Education, and Pursuits of Black Youth, and with Leanne Taylor, First-Generation Student Experiences in Higher Education; Counterstories. A Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada, he holds the 2022 Killam Prize in Social Sciences and the Canadian Sociological Association’s Outstanding Contribution Award, as well as Honorary Doctorates from McGill University and Uppsala University, Sweden, where he taught in the Teacher Training Department.
This five-part speaker series will continue throughout the year, so we encourage you to regularly check back as we announce new speakers.
Speaker
TBA
Date/Time
March 19, 2025 (12 - 1:30 pm)
Presentation
Exploring the integration of Indigenous knowledge systems, reconciliation efforts, and land-based education within Queen’s University.
Speaker
Dr. Jay Dolmage, Assistant Professor, University of Windsor
Presentation
Creating accessible spaces and learning environments that support students, staff, and faculty with disabilities.
Date and Time
April 16, 2025 (12 - 1:30 pm EST)
Speaker
TBA
Presentation
Highlighting intersectional approaches in research and pedagogy at Queen’s.
Date and Time
May 14, 2025 (12 - 1:30 pm EST)
Speaker
Dr. Andrew Campbell, Assistant Professor, OISIE, University of Toronto
Presentation
Exploring the incorporation of 2SLGBTQI+ perspectives into academic curricula, research methodologies, and institutional policies, fostering a more inclusive and equitable educational environment.
Date and Time
June 19, 2025 (12 - 1:30 pm EST)