University of Tennessee, Knoxville
College of Communication and Information
Diversity & Inclusion Week
September 25 – 28, 2017
CCI Diversity and Inclusion Week is targeted at all members of the CCI community with specific focus on our 1,200 undergraduate majors. The 4-day event offers participants an opportunity to gain diversity skills and knowledge along with a chance to dialogue about diversity and inclusion issues and to share best practices by bringing together leaders and experts from inside and outside the college and university. This year’s theme is “Diversity and Inclusion: R-E-S-P-E-C-T.” Two keynote speeches, an open forum, eight panels and a diversity festival will provide our students, faculty, staff and the UT Knoxville community with an inspirational and informative week designed to advance their understanding of and appreciation for diversity and inclusion.
2017 CCI Diversity and Inclusion Week Planning Committee: Alice Bowling Wirth (Chair), Sara Akalu, Jacob Albright, Moonhee Cho, Beth Cole, Justin Crawford, Maria Fontenot, Mark Geller, John Haas, Johnesha Harris, Diane Kelly, Cindy Lancaster, Catherine Luther, Mike Martinez, John McNair, Bharat Mehra, Lisa Oliver, Leslie Poynter, Tala Shatara, Maureen Taylor, Chelsea Trott, Natalie Ward, Cindy Welch, Mike Wirth, Julian Wright and Lauren Ziegler
2017 CCI Diversity Festival Committee: Alice Bowling Wirth (Chair), Justin Crawford, Faith French, Nina Szymaszek, Johnesha Harris, Chelsea Trott, Jordan Vines, Natalie Ward, Ariel Williams
The schedule for CCI Diversity and Inclusion Week is as follows. All sessions are free and open to the public and will be streamed online. Download Schedule (PDF)
Monday, September 25
Morning Session
Topic: “Mental Health and Media Effects”
Moderators:
- Catherine Luther, Professor & Director, UT School of Journalism and Electronic Media
- Tala Shatara, UT student
Panelist:
- Erik Fisher, Psychologist, Media Analyst, CNN Contributor
Location: Scripps Convergence Lab (Com 402)
Time: 9:00-10:00 a.m.
Afternoon Session
Topic: “Being Comfortable in Your Own Skin”
Moderators:
- Lisa Oliver, UT student
- Alice Wirth, UT Communication Studies Lecturer & Director, CCI Diversity Student Leaders Society
Panelists:
- Justin Crawford, UT student
- Ronnie Little, UT student
- Kayla Parker, UT student
- Michelle Rodriguez, UT student
- Crue Smith, UT student
Location: Scripps Convergence Lab (Com 402)
Time: 2:25-3:25 p.m.
CCI Diversity and Inclusion Week Keynote 1
Keynote Speaker: UT Chancellor Beverly Davenport
Location: Patrick Auditorium, 321 Communication Building
Keynote Reception: 4:30 p.m.
Keynote Talk: 5:00 – 6:00 p.m.
Tuesday, September 26
Morning Session
Topic: “Social Media and Trolling”
Moderator:
- Laura Mansfield, Lecturer, UT School of Advertising and Public Relations
Panelists:
- Brandon Boatwright, Adam Brown Social Media Command Center & CCI Doctoral Student
- Jakob Johnson, UT student
- Kelley S. Kain, Corporal, UT Police Department
- Tala Shatara, UT student
Location: Scripps Convergence Lab (Com 402)
Time: 9:40-10:55 a.m.
Afternoon Session
Topic: “Immigration and Respect for the America Dream”
Moderator:
- Maureen Taylor, Director, UT School of Advertising and Public Relations
Panelists:
- Sara Akalu, UT student
- Claudia Caballero, Executive Director, Centro Hispano
- Nick Geidner, Associate Professor, UT School of Journalism and Electronic Media
- Drocella Mugorewera, Executive Director, Bridge Refugee Services
Location: Scripps Convergence Lab (Com 402)
Time: 2:10-3:25 p.m.
Evening Session
Topic: “CCI Diversity Student Leaders Society Open Forum on Diversity and Inclusion”
Organizers: CCI Diversity Student Leaders Society
Moderators:
- Justin Crawford, Co-President, CCI Diversity Student Leaders Society
- Chelsea Trott, Co-President, CCI Diversity Student Leaders Society
Location: Scripps Convergence Lab (Com 402)
Time: 7:00-8:00 p.m.
Wednesday, September 27
Morning Session
Topic: “Respect for Religion”
Moderator:
- Bharat Mehra, Associate Professor, UT School of Information Sciences
Panelists:
- Jaime Marquis, UT student, President, UT Hillel Jewish Student Organization
- Keith McGee, UT student, President, UT Collegiate Black Christians
- Lisa Oliver, UT student
Location: Scripps Convergence Lab (Com 402)
Time: 10:05-11:05 a.m.
Afternoon Session
Topic: “Free Speech and Politics”
Moderator:
- Mike Martinez, Assistant Professor, School of Journalism and Electronic Media
Panelists:
- Deborah Fisher, Executive Director, Coalition for Open Government
- Jack McElroy, Editor, Knoxville News Sentinel
- Carole Myers, Associate Professor, UT College of Nursing
- Theotis Robinson, Retired UT Vice President of Equity and Diversity, former Knoxville City Councilman, and Knoxville News Sentinel Columnist
Location: Scripps Convergence Lab (Com 402)
Time: 12:15-1:15 p.m.
CCI Diversity and Inclusion Week Keynote 2
Keynote Speaker: Knoxville Mayor Madeline Rogero
Location: Patrick Auditorium, Com 321
Keynote Reception: 4:30 p.m.
Keynote Talk: 5:00 – 6:00 p.m.
Thursday, September 28
Morning Session
Topic: “Disagreeing in a Civil Fashion”
Moderator:
- Maureen Taylor, Professor & Director, UT School of Advertising and Public Relations
Panelists:
- Edward Garnes, UT Counseling Center and UT Doctoral Student in Psychology
- Courtney Wright, Associate Professor, UT School of Communication Studies
Location: Scripps Convergence Lab (Com 402)
Time: 8:00 – 9:15 a.m.
Afternoon Session
Topic: “Bridging Hidden Divides”
Moderator:
- Julian Wright, Counselor, UT Office of Undergraduate Admissions & Assistant Director, CCI Diversity Student Leaders Society
Performers:
- Dena Baker, UT student
- Justin Crawford, UT student
- Johnesha Harris, UT student
- Tara Holley, UT student
- Chelsea Trott, UT student
- Natalie Ward, UT student
- Courtney Wright, Associate Professor, UT School of Communication Studies
Location: Scripps Convergence Lab (Com 402)
Time: 12:40-1:55 p.m.
Evening CCI Diversity Festival
An all-campus barbecue with diverse music, dance, games for all ages, a photo booth and cultural performances; all CCI student organizations will be participating including: Ad Club, Communication Studies Club, Diversity Student Leaders Society, National Association of Black Journalists, Public Relations Student Society of America, and Society of Professional Journalists.
Organizer: Alice Wirth
Location: Communications Building
Time: 5:00-7:00 p.m.