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CCI Diversity & Inclusion Week 2017

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diversity logoUniversity 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.