10th Annual Diversity Symposium Features Ivan Allen College Students and Faculty

Posted September 19, 2018

Faculty and students from the Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts had a strong presence at the Georgia Institute of Technology’s 10th Annual Diversity Symposium, which was held on Wednesday, September 5th. Events at the symposium explored both the progress made and the challenges that remain in the interrelated areas of academics, health and well-being, and student and community life.

Shatakshee Dhongde, associate professor at the School of Economics, participated in a panel on “Pedagogy and Inclusion in Higher Education.” The panel focused on positive pedagogical practices and procedures utilized in classrooms and pedagogical principles informing institutional practices.

Dhongde discussed recent steps taken by the Ivan Allen College in promoting professional development of graduate students and mentoring efforts of undergraduate students. Some of these steps include Student-led Listening Sessions with Ivan Allen College Dean Jacqueline Royster, new professional guidelines for graduate teaching assistants, and recommendations for including diversity statements in class syllabi.

Other participants on the panel included Jonathan Gayles, professor at Georgia State University, and Lauren Johnson, assistant professor at University of North Georgia. The panel was moderated by Aby Parsons, who serves as the director of Georgia Tech’s LGBTQIA Resource Center.

Two Ivan Allen College students also spoke at a panel entitled “The Path Forward Together: Student Perspectives on an Inclusive Campus Community.” Sinet Adous, an undergraduate student in the Sam Nunn School of International Affairs, and Renee Shelby, a fourth year Ph.D. student in the School of History and Sociology, shared examples of what defines inclusive excellence for the campus community.

Georgia Tech’s Vice Provost of Undergraduate Education Colin Potts moderated the panel, which also included discussions on the current work undertaken to enhance campus curricula, health, and community life as part of A Path Forward – Together.

The Schools of Economics, History and Sociology, and Sam Nunn School of International Affairs are units of the Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts.