Wednesday, October 16, 2024
10:00-11:00 a.m. CST

Dr. Frank Harris III
Professor and Co-Director, Community College Equity Assessment Lab,  San Diego State University

“Racelighting People of Color in the Community College: Implications for Future Scholarship on Race, Racism, and Racial Equity”

“Racelighting” is a concept that developed by Drs. J. Luke Wood and Frank Harris III to describe the emotional and psychological harm that occurs when Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC) are exposed to chronic racism and have their experiences questioned, second guessed, or challenged when they call for action and accountability. In community colleges and other postsecondary institutions, racelighting impacts the experiences, well-being, and success of BIPOC students, faculty, staff, administrators, executives, and trustees. During this keynote address, Dr. Harris unpacks the concept of racelighting, offers concrete examples of how racelighting often manifests in community college contexts, and discusses the implications of racelighting for future research on race, racism, and racial equity in community colleges.

About Dr. Frank Harris III

Dr. Frank Harris III is a professor of postsecondary education and co-director of the Community College Equity Assessment Lab at San Diego State University (SDSU). He has also served as SDSU’s faculty athletics representative since 2021. From 2022-2024 he served as associate dean of Diversity Equity and Inclusion in SDSU’s College of Education.

Dr. Harris is best known for his expertise in racial equity in postsecondary education and has made important contributions to knowledge about college student development and the social construction of gender and race in college contexts. His work prioritizes populations that have been historically underrepresented and underserved in education, and he has obtained extramural funding for his research including serving as PI or Co-PI on 34 grants and contracts totaling more than $2.5 million. Harris’s scholarship has been published in leading journals for higher education and student affairs research and practice, and his commentary has been sought by high-profile media outlets, including CNN, The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, and The Chronicle of Higher Education. Colleges and universities across the country consult Harris regularly for his expertise on student equity, student success, and institutional transformation, and he has worked with more than 100 postsecondary institutions, community organizations, and nonprofits on equity-related efforts. He has delivered thousands of academic and professional presentations throughout his career. During the Obama Administration, Harris was invited to The White House to share his knowledge and expertise on the status of boys and men of color in education.

Since 2023, Dr. Harris has ranked among Education Week’s top 200 university-based scholars who have shaped educational policy and practice in the United States. In 2024 he received the Council for the Study of Community Colleges’ senior scholar award. In 2022-2023, he received the SDSU Alumni Distinguished Faculty Award. He currently serves on the Every Learner Everywhere Equity Advisory Board and on the Partnership for College Completion board.

Harris’s career in higher education began in 1999. Before joining the faculty at San Diego State, he worked for nearly a decade as a student affairs educator and college administrator in student crisis support and advocacy, new student orientation programs, multicultural student affairs, academic advising, and enrollment services. He also served as an adjunct professor of speech communication at Los Angeles Trade Technical College. Harris earned a bachelor’s degree in communication studies at Loyola Marymount University, a master’s degree in speech communication at California State University, Northridge, and a doctorate in higher education from the Rossier School of Education at the University of Southern California.

Thursday, October 17, 2024
10:00-11:00 a.m. CST

Dr. Thomas J. Tobin
Founding Member, Center for Teaching, Learning, and Mentoring, University of Wisconsin-Madison

“Secrets of Universal Design for Learning for Community and Technical Colleges”

For learners in community and technical colleges to be successful and reach their potential, it is important they have access to quality and equitable education. This keynote presentation aims to strengthen the work of instructors, support staff, and administrators who are prepared to teach and support a diverse range of learners, especially the under-resourced students who come to us from a variety of socio-economic, cultural, and community backgrounds. The overarching goal of this interactive keynote is to welcome more under-resourced students to engage in course work, overcome barriers, and graduate from our institutions in career-focused and technical-educational fields. You will learn four ways to reach out to underserved learner populations, how to incorporate equitable and inclusive instructional methodologies in your courses and learner interactions, foster students’ sense of belonging, and create learning and support environments across campus that welcome learners across the ability and access spectrums. Finally, you’ll learn practical ways to balance learner and instructor empowerment—after all, inclusion and equity are collaborative efforts, and you have to have power, respect, agency, and security yourself in order to share it with your students. This keynote posits diversity in its most inclusive form: instead of relying solely on providing accommodation services to learners with disabilities—which is most often a last-minute, ad-hoc, reactive process—adopting UDL as part of an institution’s culture of course design, teaching practices, and support services allows all learners to benefit, regardless of their place on the ability spectrum.

About Dr. Thomas J. Tobin

Thomas J. Tobin is a founding member of the Center for Teaching, Learning, and Mentoring at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, as well as an internationally recognized scholar, author, and speaker on quality in technology-mediated education—especially copyright, evaluation of teaching practices, academic integrity, accessibility, and universal design for learning. He holds a master’s and Ph.D. in English literature, an information science master’s, a professional project management certification, a master online teacher certification, the Quality Matters reviewer certification, the Professional in Accessibility Core Competencies certification, and the Penn State Academic Leadership certification (he tells his nieces and nephews he is in 46th Grade). Tobin’s career has focused on extending higher education beyond traditional audiences. He advocates for the educational rights of people with disabilities and from disadvantaged backgrounds. He served five years as the Coordinator of Learning Technologies at Northeastern Illinois University, seven years on the Learning, Talent, and Communication team for Blue Cross and Blue Shield, and four years as the Program Area Director for Distance Teaching and Learning at UW-Madison. As a 2018 Fulbright Scholar, Tom helped Eötvös Loránd University in Budapest to develop its first faculty-development program and provided workshops and training to twelve other Hungarian colleges, universities, and military programs. He was named to Ed Tech Magazine’s 2020 “Dean’s List” of Educational Technology Influencers, was honored with the 2022 Wagner Award for Outstanding Leadership in Distance Learning Administration, and Eduflow named him in 2023 among the world’s Top 100 Learning Influencers. Tom serves on the editorial boards of Advances in Online Education, InSight: A Journal of Scholarly Teaching, the Online Journal of Distance Learning Administration, and the Oklahoma University Press Teaching, Engaging, and Thriving in Higher Ed series.

Friday, October 18, 2024
10:00-11:00 a.m. CST

Dr. Stephanie Duguid
Owner and Founder, Do Good Leadership

“Exponentially Elevate Your Impact: Taking Key Steps to Empower Lifelong Learners”

Dr. Duguid invites you to explore how to exponentially elevate your impact in education. Exponentially Elevate Your Impact cultivates a transformative experience for community college educators, positioning them as catalysts capable of profoundly enhancing each student’s college journey. Through a guided exploration of nine essential steps, learn how to emphasize the critical importance of recognizing students as individuals and fostering their innate love of learning. Growth is framed not as a sacrifice, but as a dynamic journey of evolution, progression, and innovation in teaching practices. Inspired by Neil deGrasse Tyson’s insights on curiosity and lifelong learning, Dr. Duguid challenges educators to step beyond their comfort zones, embrace change, and cultivate a supportive, collaborative academic environment. By exploring the continuum of education’s “then,” “now,” and “next,” this keynote address empowers you to forge a brighter, more inspiring future for all students.

About Dr. Stephanie Duguid

Dr. Stephanie Duguid, an expert in educational leadership, an internationally best-selling author, and a recognized leader among professional women, is the owner/founder of Do Good Leadership.

With over 100 conference invitations and numerous appearances at colleges and universities nationwide, Dr. Duguid is a renowned speaker known for her expertise in positive educational leadership and effective communication. Her sessions promise dynamic interactions, research-based content, thought-provoking engagement, and actionable takeaways. Dr. Stephanie’s unique abilities as a strategist and connector empower clients to create truly exceptional outcomes.

Dr. Duguid talks about real challenges through motivation, inspiration, and connection. Audiences are captivated by the value she brings, her relatability, and her deep understanding of their experiences as educators.

Furthermore, Dr. Duguid is a consistent advisor to educational leadership programs, leveraging her background as a former chief academic officer and state educational leader. Her educational contributions have earned her accolades, including the Excellence Award from the National Institute of Staff and Organizational Development.

Possessing a doctoral degree in educational leadership and a master’s in curriculum and instruction, Dr. Duguid has forged collaborations with esteemed institutions like Michigan State University and the University of West Alabama, creating pathways for students pursuing baccalaureate, master’s, and doctoral degree programs.

Beyond her professional endeavors, Dr. Duguid actively participates in leadership roles within educational organizations, including Delta Kappa Gamma. Her commitment to supporting students in education, nursing, and social work is evident through her local community college scholarship in memory of her mother.