March 29, 2021

Conversation on mitigating intersectional discrimination is Tuesday

Faculty, staff, students, alumni and community members from across the SIU System are invited to join a live, virtual conversation on Tuesday, March 30, on intersectional discrimination and how the university community can mitigate this form of bias. 

The discussion, “Intersectional Discrimination Race, Disability, Gender, LGBTQIA” is from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 30. The meeting, part of “Conversations of Understanding,” will be available on the SIU System’s YouTube channel.  

In addition to discussing how to handle bias, the program will also address attacks around the country targeting individuals of Asian descent, Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders, the impact of the attacks and how to be an ally for this and other communities. 

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.
  • Wes McNeese, SIU System executive director for diversity initiatives.
  • Anthony Cheeseboro, SIU Edwardsville, associate professor, history.
  • Vivian Hardison, SIU Carbondale, assistant director, disability support services, who will also serve as moderator.
  • Zebadiah Hall, Cornell University, director, student disability support services, and Association on Higher Education and Disability (AHEAD) board of directors and equity officer.
  • Christine Todd, SIU School of Medicine, associate professor of clinical internal medicine, medical humanities chair and chief wellness advocate for the Center for Human and Organizational Potential.
  • Alexander Worix, SIU School of Medicine, medical doctorate candidate.
  • Dianah McGreehan, SIU Carbondale, graduate assistant, communication studies, will serve as question monitor. 

This is the eighth 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.