SUNY Potsdam 2024 DEI Symposium

Gender and Sexuality: Creating Inclusive and Affirming Environments for all

Presented by: The ACR Health Q Center

Join the ACR Health Q Center for a conversation and discussion on creating an inclusive and affirming environments for all students, particularly our LGBTQIA+ students. 
 

Hot Topics in Higher Education- The Legal Landscape and Campus Impact

Presented by: Mishka Thomas, Esq. SUNY Legal 

The Office of General Counsel will be joining us to discuss critical legal issues impacting SUNY campuses systemwide and the importance of ensuring that SUNY’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) remain at the forefront of campus policies, procedures, and practices. 

Gender and Sexuality: Creating Inclusive and Affirming Environments for all (Repeat)

Presented by: The ACR Health Q Center

Join the ACR Health Q Center for a conversation and discussion on creating an inclusive and affirming environments for all students, particularly our LGBTQIA+ students. 
 

Hot Topics in Higher Education- The Legal Landscape and Campus Impact (Repeat)

Presented by: Mishka Thomas, Esq. SUNY Legal

The Office of General Counsel will be joining us to discuss critical legal issues impacting SUNY campuses systemwide and the importance of ensuring that SUNY’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) remain at the forefront of campus policies, procedures, and practices. 
 

The Traumatic Impact of our Legacy: Understanding Race Based Traumatic Stress 
(Individual Learner’s Journey and Clinical Wellness Perspective)

Presented by: Josh Brown, College Counseling Center

This workshop was born from the desire to teach participants about the causes, symptoms, and interventions to address and support individuals experiencing Race-Based Traumatic Stress. Along the path of creation, it became clearer to the presenter, RBTS cannot be fully understood without revisiting the history of white supremacy and its present-day manifestations. This is not an expert’s roadmap to activism, but an invitation to share in the presenter’s beginning journey of understanding. It is hoped that through sharing this will encourage participants to begin their own. 

Standing Together: Countering, Confronting and Expelling Islamophobia

Presented by: Dr. Usama M. Shaikh, EdD (he/him/his), Assistant Chief Diversity Officer, Stony Brook University

This interactive session will offer evidence-based information on nurturing a safe space for Muslim employees and students on college campuses. This session will blend research insights with practical strategies. The session will equip participants with a comprehensive understanding of Islamophobia and its root causes. Participants will learn practical strategies for creating inclusive spaces, promoting allyship, and dismantling Islamophobia to create a more equitable campus for Muslims through education and coalition-oriented strategies. 
 

Tools for Fostering Inclusivity: Building Belonging Through Self-Reflective Practices

Presented by: Tamara Jolly, MAT. Adirondack Diversity Initiative 

Understanding ourselves is crucial to connecting with others, particularly those who experience the world differently than we do. In this session, we will explore practices that help us examine our own perspectives and behaviors, focusing on how dominant systems have influenced our thinking. By reflecting on the factors that have shaped our personal journeys, we can uncover practical ways to foster understanding and build trust within broader communities. This session will integrate concepts from Trompenaars & Hampden-Turner's 7 Cultural Dimensions and SURJ (Showing Up for Racial Justice). Participants will engage in reflective activities and sharing, with the goal of leaving inspired and empowered to drive change. They will also gain new insights into how their views have been shaped and how this awareness can help build safer, more inclusive communities. 

Freedom of Expression, Academic Freedom, and the First Amendment in Public Universities

Presented by: Allen Groves, Syracuse University

This workshop will focus on the First Amendment’s requirements, including what is protected and what is not protected speech.  Will explain the difference between “hate speech” and “hate crimes,” often misunderstood.  Academic freedom is another topic I can cover in the talk/discussion, particularly the role of social media and other outside-the-classroom expression. 
 

The Hidden Connection: An Introduction to the Link Between Executive Function and Student Behavior 

Presented by: Rick Bryck, Ph.D., Senior Director of the Landmark College Institute for Research and Training

The modern post-secondary student body is more diverse than ever, and many staff and educators are eager to understand how to support a wide variety of students on their path to independence and success as self-driven and self-motivated young adults. While awareness is increasing around various neurodivergent diagnoses, executive function difficulties are often at the heart of observed faculty and staff concerns regardless of any type of formal diagnosis. This workshop will explore executive function as a lens to foster expert learner behaviors both inside and outside the classroom by exploring how the executive function building blocks show us the “WAI” to success. Content will cover a combination of theory, behavioral connection, and strategies. 
 

Understanding Jewish Identity and Antisemitism

Presented by: Sophia Salguero McGee, Senior Facilitator and Coach, Project Shema

Most don’t fully understand what it means to be Jewish, what antisemitism is, and how it works. Without this context, it’s difficult for allies to recognize and address anti-Jewish ideas. This program explores the complex history of antisemitism as a systemic bigotry and the pattern of anti-Jewish harm over thousands of years. With a better understanding of historic anti-Jewish themes and how Jews experience harm, participants walk away with a better understanding of what antisemitism is, the risks Jews face, and why pushing back on antisemitism is so necessary. Half the session is dedicated to a brave space conversation and Q&A.

Standing Together: Countering, Confronting and Expelling Islamophobia (Repeat) 

Presented by: Dr. Usama M. Shaikh, EdD (he/him/his), Assistant Chief Diversity Officer, Stony Brook University

This interactive session will offer evidence-based information on nurturing a safe space for Muslim employees and students on college campuses. This session will blend research insights with practical strategies. The session will equip participants with a comprehensive understanding of Islamophobia and its root causes. Participants will learn practical strategies for creating inclusive spaces, promoting allyship, and dismantling Islamophobia to create a more equitable campus for Muslims through education and coalition-oriented strategies. 
 

Tools for Fostering Inclusivity: Building Belonging Through Self-Reflective Practices (Repeat)

Presented by: Tamara Jolly, MAT.  Adirondack Diversity Initiative

Understanding ourselves is crucial to connecting with others, particularly those who experience the world differently than we do. In this session, we will explore practices that help us examine our own perspectives and behaviors, focusing on how dominant systems have influenced our thinking. By reflecting on the factors that have shaped our personal journeys, we can uncover practical ways to foster understanding and build trust within broader communities. This session will integrate concepts from Trompenaars & Hampden-Turner's 7 Cultural Dimensions and SURJ (Showing Up for Racial Justice). Participants will engage in reflective activities and sharing, with the goal of leaving inspired and empowered to drive change. They will also gain new insights into how their views have been shaped and how this awareness can help build safer, more inclusive communities. 
 

Creating Inclusive Campuses through Universal Design for Learning

Presented by: Rick Bryck, Ph.D., Senior Director of the Landmark College Institute for Research and Training

The modern classroom is more diverse than ever before, and educators are more invested than ever in understanding how to support students with highly differing preferences and needs. This workshop will serve as an introduction to the solution of meeting all students in both their zone of preference and need by covering the three pillars of Universal Design for Learning that are the hallmarks of the new “ERA” of teaching. Attendees will also learn about the overlap between strong universal design and legal requirements for digital accessibility. Attendees of Workshop 1 will make the additional connection between UDL and desired student behavior associated with executive function. Content will cover a combination of theory and suggestions, as well as leave time for application.

Civic Education and Engagement and Civil Discourse Panel Presentation

Represented on Panel: SUNY Cortland (John Suarez), SUNY Plattsburgh (Dan Lake), SUNY Geneseo (Michael Ogberg), Alfred State (Angela Graves), SUNY Farmingdale (Yetunde Odugbesan)

In March of 2024, SUNY announced the inaugural Civic Education and Engagement and Civil Discourse Fellows representing 10 faculty and staff from SUNY campuses. This initiative will inform on civic engagement strategic planning, seek to gather and disseminate civic engagement resources, provide professional learning opportunities, amplify impact and diversity of engagement initiatives across various SUNY campuses, including resources and examples for developing content to meet general education requirements.  This workshop will include a panel of fellows, civic center leaders, and educators who will share their experiences in civic education, engagement, and civil discourse on their college campuses. This presentation will include the opportunity to share ideas, join in critical dialogue and Q& A 

*Coffee and Refreshments to be served