January 21, 2021

Conversation about COVID-19, its racial implications and the SIU System is Tuesday

Faculty, staff, students, alumni and community members from across the SIU System are invited to join a live virtual conversation next week about the COVID-19 pandemic, its racial implications and the impact on the SIU community. The panelists will also discuss testing and treatment, as well as related directions for faculty, staff and students for the spring 2021 semester. 

The discussion, “Racism, COVID-19 and the SIU System,” is from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 26. The meeting, part of “Conversations of Understanding,” will be available on the SIU System’s YouTube channel. 

The event will feature an SIU community panel sharing their experiences and stories, followed by a Q&A session through the YouTube comment section. Questions may be submitted before the event by email to pkeith@siu.edu. 

The participants include: 

  • Dan Mahony, SIU System president.
  • Lakesha Butler, SIU Edwardsville School of Pharmacy clinical professor and diversity and inclusion coordinator. She will also serve as moderator.
  • Dr. Melodi Ewing, SIU Carbondale Health Services primary care physician.
  • Riane Greenwalt, SIU Edwardsville Health Services director.
  • Dr. Jerry Kruse, SIU School of Medicine dean and provost.
  • Dr. Christopher Smyre, SIU School of Medicine, assistant professor.
  • Todd Bryson, SIU Carbondale interim associate chancellor for diversity. He will also serve as question monitor. 

This is the sixth in a series of virtual exchanges where students, alumni, faculty, staff and community members can share their experiences and thoughts on a variety of themes related to diversity, inclusion and equity. 

The SIU System President’s Office and the SIU System Diversity Advisory Council are discussion sponsors.