Teach-In will open with keynote presentation from U-M faculty member

October 29, 2024 (Volume 48, Number 5)
Article by Samantha Drougel

Charles Davis standing outside in suit coat and shirt, no tie

U-M faculty member Charles Davis III will give a presentation to open the annual Teach-In on November 13.

Grand Valley's annual Teach-In is Wednesday, November 13, on the Pew Grand Rapids Campus (L. William Seidman Center) and Thursday, November 14, on the Allendale Campus (Kirkhof Center).

The event kicks off with an opening reception on November 13, featuring keynote speaker Charles Davis III. Davis is a University of Michigan faculty member in the Center for the Study of Higher and Postsecondary Education and director of the Campus Abolition Research Lab. Davis will discuss higher education as it relates to democracy in decline. The session schedule and event details are posted on the Teach-In website.

The Teach-In is sponsored by the University Academic Senate and Student Senate, with support from the Inclusion and Equity Institute. Financial support is provided by the divisions of Academic Affairs; Enrollment Development and Educational Outreach; People, Equity and Culture; and Student Affairs.

An 18-person committee has planned this conference around social justice topics. Students, faculty and staff are presenting on various topics related to the theme of "power, privilege and difficult dialogue."

“We really focus on lived experiences,” said Karen Gipson, professor of physics and academic lead for the Teach-In. “Students don’t need another lecture, they need another way to engage in learning.”

The goal of the event is to share others' life experiences and facilitate equity and inclusion within the campus community. Every session is interactive and provides a space to elevate community voices. On both days, sociology professor Jennifer Stewart will host a drop-in Banned Books Reading Room, which aims to promote Grand Valley’s message of lifelong learning.

“I am hoping people learn something new and get a new perspective on topics they may not have been aware of before,” said Anna Obi, student committee member.