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Day of Collective Action 2024

Join us to learn about the U's HBCU partnerships initiative and how these strategic partnerships can build bridges of talent and excellence.

MARCH 27, 2024

Day of Collective Action
March 27, 2024


The University of Utah's third annual Day of Collective Action is happening Wednesday, March 27, 2024, and we are excited to have you join us!

The University of Utah Day of Collective Action

Wednesday, March 27, 2024

8:30 am – 5:00 pm

Theme: Building Bridges of Talent and Excellence

OVERVIEW

This year's “Day of Collective Action” (DoCA) is designed to offer the University of Utah’s campus community an opportunity to learn, reflect and find ways that each of us can work to build bridges of understanding that aid in building a sense of belonging for all members of the U collective. The DoCA is a Presidential initiative, launched in 2022 by the Presidential Commission on Equity and Belonging.

This year, the DoCA will be rooted in the Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCU) partnerships initiative at the U, exploring how strategic partnerships can build bridges of talent and excellence and provide insight into the unique position of the University of Utah in the area of HBCU/Predominantly White Institutions (PWI) bridge building.

The keynote speaker will be Marybeth Gasman. She is the Samuel DeWitt Proctor Endowed Chair in Education and the associate dean for research in the Graduate School of Education at Rutgers University. A distinguished professor, she also serves as the executive director of the Samuel DeWitt Proctor Institute for Leadership, Equity & Justice and the executive director of the Rutgers Center for Minority Serving Institutions.

In addition to exploring the role and impact of HBCUs in American higher education, industry and community, this year’s DoCA will also engage conversations in learning sessions targeting health equity (health disparities and social determinants of health while bridging main campus with health sciences in the community), along with social responsibility and excellence through bridge building and strategic partnerships.

“I want to thank all of the Day of Collective Action committee members, organizers, and session leaders for their efforts to make the event possible.

Through the day's program activities, our campus community has the opportunity to learn, reflect and find ways that each of us can work to build bridges of understanding that will serve as an important step to getting everyone on campus involved.

It is my hope that we can all take this occasion to learn new skills to put into action in your own lives, workplaces and classrooms.

Thank you again for your participation. I hope the event will inspire you to continue your involvement in our community’s collective action to develop new ways of making a lasting impact.” -Taylor Randall, President University of Utah

Schedule for Day of Collective Action 2024 Events

The University of Utah Day of Collective Action

Wednesday, March 27, 2024

Building Bridges of Talent and Excellence” 

WATCH LIVE

9:00 am – 10:00 am / Presidential Welcome

Location: Gould Auditorium, JW Marriott Library

Rodney T. Cohen, senior manager, HBCU Partnership & Initiatives: Opening greeting

Mary Ann Villarreal, VP, Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion: Welcome remarks

President Taylor Randall: Occasion remarks

Registration link (breakfast)

 

10:30 am – 11:45 am / Panel Discussion on Health

Location: Gould Auditorium, JW Marriott Library

Topic: A panel discussing the state of health disparities and social determinants of health

Moderator: Sherrá McMillan Watkins, AVP, Student Health & Wellness

Panelists: Erica Baiden, attending physician Population Health Center, Intensive Outpatient Clinic, Vice President, Black Physicians of Utah

Brenda Heaton, associate dean, Research, associate professor, Epidemiology & Health Services Research, School of Dentistry

Heidi Iongi, director, Community Engagement and Clinical Integration, School of Dentistry

Gloria Slattum, research manager, Research Education Office, Department of Pediatrics

 

12:15 pm – 1:30 pm / Keynote Address and Luncheon

“Developing and Sustaining Partnerships with HBCUs”

Location: Gould Auditorium, JW Marriott Library

Rodney T. Cohen: Keynote introduction

Speaker: Marybeth Gasman, Rutgers University

Mary Ann Villarreal facilitates Q&A

Registration link (luncheon)

 

2:00 pm – 2:40 pm / PART I: Impact of Historically Black Colleges & Universities (HBCUs)   and Tribal Colleges & Universities (TCUs) in America as a model.
 A discussion around partnerships and social responsibility in the community and beyond

Location: JW Marriott Gould auditorium

Moderator: Samantha Eldridge, director, American Indian Resource Center

Panelists: Tiffany Baffour, associate dean, Graduate Equity, Diversity & Inclusion, The Graduate School; associate professor, College of Social Work

Jarrel T. Johnson, assistant professor, Higher Education

Bryan Hubain, AVP, Student Development and Inclusion, Student Affairs

P. Brandon Johnson, senior associate dean, Student Success and Transformative Experiences, Office of Undergraduate Studies

Karen Francis-Begay, independent scholar, Indigenous Higher Education Consultant

Ronee Wopsock Pawwinnee, education director, Ute Indian Tribe Education Department

 

2:40 pm – 3:15 pm / PART II:The HBCU Experience and Why
A roundtable discussion with HBCU alums                                                                                        

Facilitator: Emma E. Houston, AVP, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion

Co-facilitator: Simone Lawrence, HBCU IMPACT Program Manager

Cynthia Harris, Spelman College; E. Jerome Battle, Morris Brown College; Frances P. Battle, Morris Brown College; Morgan Russel Williams, Spelman University; Betty Sawyer, Morgan State University; Reverend France A. Davis, Tuskegee Institute; Tiffany Baffour, Howard University; Jarrel Johnson, Shaw University; Bryan Hubain, Coppin State University; P. Brandon Johnson, North Carolina A&T State University

3:45 pm – 4:50 pm / Closing Talk & 1 on 1 Q&A with author Marybeth Gasman

“Everything you wanted to know about HBCUs in America"

Location: Law School Moot Court Room

Facilitators: Rodney T. Cohen

 

5:00 pm / Presidential Closing Reception

Location: Law School, 6th floor Moot Court common area

Registration link

Presenters


 

Tiffany Baffour
Tiffany Baffour
Erica Baiden
Erica Baiden
E. Jerome Battle
E. Jerome Battle
Frances P. Battle
Frances P. Battle
France Davis
France Davis
Karen Francis-Begay
Karen Francis-Begay
Cynthia Harris
Cynthia Harris
Brenda Heaton
Brenda Heaton
Bryan Hubain
Bryan Hubain
Jarrel Johnson
Jarrel Johnson
P. Brandon Johnson
P. Brandon Johnson
Heidi Longi
Heidi Longi
Taylor Randall
Taylor Randall
Betty Sawyer
Betty Sawyer
Gloria Slattum
Gloria Slattum
Sherrá Watkins
Sherrá Watkins
Morgan Williams
Morgan Williams
Ronee Wopsock Pawwinnee
Ronee Wopsock Pawwinnee

Committee Members

 


Rodney T. Cohen (chair), senior manager, HBCU Partnership & Initiatives
Emma E. Houston (co-chair), AVP for Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion
Tricia Sugiyama, director, EDI Projects, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion
Tiffany Baffour, associate dean for Graduate Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion
Allyson Mower, librarian, Academic Senate policy liaison
Samantha Eldridge, director, American Indian Resource Center, University of Utah Tribal Liaison
Amy Fulton, director, New Leadership Academy Lindsay Browning, administrative coordinator, Department of Pediatrics
Megan Medina, associate director, Curricular Development, Bennion Community Engagement Center
Pamela Bishop, senior director, marketing and communications, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion
Miko Nielson, marketing and communications coordinator, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion
Portia Anderson, assistant dean, Equity, Diversity, Inclusion & Belonging, College of Architecture + Planning
Paméla Cappas-Toro, operations director, Higher Education in Prison
Donna Rae Eldridge, director, Office of Health Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion, School of Medicine
Jasen Lee, public relations and communications manager, University Marketing and Communications
Alexis Matthews, senior events coordinator, U of U President’s Office
Azra Helm, presidential intern, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion