Daily Brief

Daughter of Malcolm X Featured Guest Speaker

Kutztown University’s Multicultural Center is hosting its annual Ujima Conference Feb. 22-24. Ujima means “collective works.” This year’s conference will center around the celebration of Black History. A major highlight of the 2022 conference will be a keynote by professor Ilyasah Shabazz, daughter of Malcolm X and Betty Shabazz, at the close of the event. The 2022 Ujima Conference is open to all KU students, faculty and staff. Registration is required for some events. For more information, please contact the Multicultural Center or visit https://www.kutztown.edu/about-ku/administrative-offices/multicultural-services/events.html. In collaboration with the Women’s Center and the Dr. Constance P. Dent and Dr. Ann T. Gundry Distinguished Speaker Series, professor Shabazz will host the closing ceremony at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 24, 218 McFarland Student Union. Shabazz is an award-winning author, producer, motivational speaker, social activist and educator. She will deliver a 30-minute address and will wrap up the conference with a 30-minute question-and-answer session.

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University Relations

Schearer Receives Kutztown Community Partnership Award

Jerry Schearer, senior associate dean and chief diversity officer at Kutztown University, has received the Kutztown Community Partnership (KCP) Volunteer of the Year award. This award is given annually and recognizes individuals who go above and beyond in their endeavors.

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University Relations

“1619” podcast

As we continue the celebration of Black History Month and promote the study of all the diverse groups who live across the U.S. throughout the year, may we suggest the “1619” podcast for people interested in learning more about the history and afterlife of American slavery. “1619” is hosted by Nikole Hannah-Jones and a companion piece to "The 1619 Project," an award-winning and ongoing project with contributions from many leading journalists and scholars. The project began in August 2019, the 400th anniversary of the beginning of American slavery and examines not only the origins and persistence of anti-Black racism and inequality in the U.S., but the ongoing resistance to these injustices and how Black Americans have persistently worked towards making the constitutional values of freedom, justice, and equality for all a reality. There are five episodes in the podcast, each with a different theme that highlights different dimensions of Black history and the Black experience in the U.S.

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/01/23/podcasts/1619-podcast.html

Jerry Schearer, Diversity & Inclusion Centers

AFSCME Membership Meeting

Please join AFSCME Local 2234 for our monthly membership meeting 5 p.m. Monday, Feb. 21,  220 Boehm Science Center. Bring your ideas to our next meeting.

Christina Ferris, AFSCME Local 2234

Ujima Conference

The Multicultural Center's annual Ujima Conference is Feb. 22-24. The full schedule includes three guest speakers. Phillip Brashear, Chief Warrant Officer 5 in the Army Reserve, will present 11 a.m. Tuesday, Feb. 22, in 218 McFarland Student Union (cosponsored with Office of Veteran Services). Traciana Graves, entrepreneur and internationally acclaimed vocalist, will present 7 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 23, Alumni Auditorium, 183 McFarland Student Union. Closing ceremony guest speaker professor Ilyasah Shabazz, award-winning author, educator, producer and daughter of Malcolm X, will present 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Feb. 24, 218 McFarland Student Union. The full schedule also includes many fun events for faculty, staff and students, including rock painting, Well-Being events (cosponsored with KU Well-Being), Love Your Hair discussion with Texture Curl Bar and more. Please visit our website for more information. Feel free to contact Angelica Mishra, assistant to senior associate dean/chief diversity officer, at mishra@kutztown.edu or ext. 3-1362 for more information.

https://www.kutztown.edu/about-ku/administrative-offices/multicultural-services/events.html

Angelica Mishra, Multicultural Center

Open Hour with Provost

Faculty, staff and students are invited to drop by and chat with the provost, Dr. Lorin Basden Arnold, during her open office hour 2 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 23, Starbucks, McFarland Student Union Building. Faculty and staff who would like to have a conversation, but for whom this time does not work, are welcome to contact the Office of the Provost at 610-683-4155 to schedule a time to meet.

https://www.kutztown.edu/about-ku/administrative-offices/provost-academic-affairs/office-of-the-provost.html

Anne Imschweiler, Office of the Provost

Student Award-Winning Data Science Presentation

Alumnus Connor Ellis, M.S. computer science and graduate data analytics certificate, will be delivering his presentation "Data Collection, Cleaning and Analysis of Gamers at Kutztown and their Social Habits" at the monthly CS&IT Research & Teaching meeting 11 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 24, via Zoom Meeting ID: 936 1203 3210, Passcode: CSresearch. Ellis earned the annual $1000 Liquid Interactive Award to help promote our data science courses and certificate program. Ellis' capstone project in CSC558 Data Mining and Predictive Analytics II introduced students to association rules for uncovering obscure data relationships. Association rules were not previously used in our courses.

Dale Parson, Computer Science & Information Technology Department

Social Equity Policies Training Dates for Spring 2022

The Office of Social Equity will offer training pursuant to the University’s Anti-Harassment, Anti-Discrimination, Sexual Misconduct, and Amorous Relationships Policies, as follows:
- 11 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 24 (In-Person)
- 3 p.m. Wednesday, March 2 (Zoom)
- 1 p.m. Monday, March 21 (In-Person)
- 2 p.m. Tuesday, April 26 (Zoom)
All in-person sessions will be held in the Human Resources Training Center (formerly the LGBTQ+ Resource Center), in 4 Old Main, A-Wing, located on the ground floor across from the Office of Social Equity. For Zoom sessions, a link will be sent to all registered participants the day prior to the scheduled training.  Each session should last approximately 30-45 minutes. If you would like to attend any of the above trainings, please register by e-mail with socialequity@kutztown.edu.

Office of Social Equity

University Curriculum Committee

The University Curriculum Committee will meet 11 a.m. Thursday, Feb. 24. Please note the location has changed. The meetings will be held on Zoom for the rest of the semester. To join the Zoom meeting please click here. The link can also be found on the UCC document submissions SharePoint page. Contact Brian Meares at meares@kutztown.edu with any questions.

Brian Meares, University Curriculum Committee

Rape, Aggression and Defense Training

Rape, Aggression and Defense Training (RAD), provided by Public Safety and Police Services, is free to female students, faculty and staff. The next training is scheduled 6 p.m., March 21, 22 and 24. Students must attend all three sessions to complete the RAD program. Contact Danielle Santos at dsantos@kutztown.edu or 610-683-4861 to sign up.

Danielle Santos, Public Safety and Police Services

UGRC Workshop Series Kickoff

Faculty please share this information with your students. KU Undergraduate Research and Creativity and KU Honors present the Spring 2022 UGRC Workshop Series. Series Kickoff Event: Why Undergraduate Research and Creativity? What Can UGRC Do for Me? Topics include the value of UGRC, career skill-building through UGRC, presentation venues, and funding opportunities. Join us in the Honors Hall classroom or via Zoom.

Zoom Meeting ID 94615348606

Lynn M Kutch, Undergraduate Research and Creativity

KUSBDC Webinar: What Is My Role in the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Movement

Join KUSBDC webinar “What Is My Role in the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Movement” 1-2 p.m. Tuesday, Feb. 22. This session will tackle the rise and significance of the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion movement and how as small business owners and community leaders we can support these efforts in our businesses. Attendees will also learn how to make their business more inclusive for their customers, Inclusivity Charge of the America’s SBDC, and how this has impacted the role of employer to employee. 

KUSBDC