In early Fall 2021, 19 NYU Silver faculty and doctoral students completed the second cohort of the School’s Faculty Antiracism Pedagogy Seminar, joining 54 who completed the first cohort as Silver Antiracism Pedagogy Champions.
Said Dean Neil B. Guterman, “On behalf of the entire NYU Silver community, I congratulate these new Antiracism Pedagogy Champions, who are dedicated to making our School a place where everyone feels valued, seen, and heard.”
Gwendolyn Bassett | Robert Berger | Laura Curran | Jane Fialko
Elizabeth Galderisi-Kohlmeier | Susan Gerbino | Ronnie Greenberg
Wen-Jui Han | Robert Judem-Cautin | Jennifer Manuel
Francine Mendelowitz | Hadiza Osuji | Olatunde Olusesi | Susan Resek
Aaron Rodwin | Allison Ross | Ava Schlesinger | Fran Silverman
Nancy Xenakis
The rigorous, ten-week training program was developed and led by Associate Professor Doris F. Chang and Master Teacher, Clinical Associate Professor, and DSW Program Director Linda Lausell Bryant, co-chairs of the School’s Action Against Racism Pedagogy Supports Work Group. It aims to bolster the capacity of faculty and doctoral students to navigate and address discussions on racism and other forms of bias and exclusion, and to facilitate self-reflection with regard to these issues in the classroom.
Drs. Chang and Lausell Bryant designed the seminar with the recognition that white and Black, Indiginous, People of Color (BIPOC) people have different lived experiences of race, thus the readings, tools, reflection questions, and accountability meetings that comprised the program were tailored to address each group’s unique training needs. At the end of the seminar, participants submitted a teaching and learning plan, in which they reflected on personal strengths and weaknesses in the domains of Critical Knowledge, Critical Awareness, Critical Analysis, and Critical Actions. They then outlined a concrete plan to continue their growth and development and to apply what they had learned in their classrooms and other professional environments.
Said Dr. Chang of the cohort, which began in July 2021, “Despite their busy schedules, caregiving responsibilities, family emergencies, summer teaching, and the lure of summer travel, they prioritized this important work and really came together as a learning community.” Added Dr. Lausell Byrant, “They met with their accountability groups, made time for reading and reflection, grappled with some challenging ideas, and deepened their commitment to antiracist praxis in their teaching, professional relationships, and service work.”
Each graduate of the seminar has been given a special “Antiracism Pedagogy Champion” logo to place on their syllabi, webpages, email signatures, etc. to signal to the wider community their commitment to antiracist pedagogy.
Drs. Chang and Lausell Bryant will be offering the seminar at least once each academic year, and faculty who began but did not finish the program previously will be able to register again and resubmit work they have already completed. Drs. Chang and Lausell Bryant also announced that they will be offering the following additional programming and resources to support faculty members’ and doctoral students’ ongoing professional development:
Monthly Virtual Antiracist Pedagogy Support Meetings for ongoing peer consultation, critical self-reflection, sharing of resources and in-class activities, and troubleshooting about challenging classroom dynamics.
Support in organizing ongoing Accountability Groups to provide support and community with like-minded professionals.
A Listserv which can be used to share resources, provide updates and announcements.
Associate Dean for Academic and Faculty Affairs and McSilver Associate Professor in Poverty Studies Robert L. Hawkins joined in congratulating the new cohort of Antiracism Pedagogy Champions. “One of my key goals in my new position is to continue to encourage, build, and implement diversity, equity, and inclusion in NYU Silver’s culture and curriculum. The seminar that Drs. Chang and Lausell Bryant developed and the 73 faculty and doctoral students who have now completed it are at the forefront of cultivating inclusive, anti-oppressive classrooms that reflect our profession’s core values.”