Faculty Women of Color in the Academy 7th Annual Conference Program

Our goal this year is to help women connect, support each other, and leave empowered to continue to succeed in the academy. The national and local planning committees have created a dynamic program focusing on career development, leadership, personal well-being, and scholar activism. Women of color need opportunities to come together to uplift one another and build lasting professional connections that will strengthen our communities.

The program includes a lineup of outstanding keynote speakers including Nontombi Naomi Tutu and Aida Hurtado. The conference also continues its partnership with the National Center for Faculty Development and Diversity, founded by Kerry Ann Rockquemore. This year, NFCDD is offering two workshops: Writing your next chapter: How to find your mojo and move forward at mid-career and Rethinking mentoring: How to build communities of inclusion, support, and accountability. Both workshops are facilitated by Joy Gaston Gayles of North Carolina State University.

In response to participant requests to hear from women in leadership positions, we are once again offering a panel of Women of Color presidents representing diverse institutions. We are pleased to have Shanna Jackson, Nashville State Community College; Wilma L. Santiago Gabrielini, University Puerto Rico; and Laurel Vermillion, Sitting Bull College, as our panelists. Patrice Dickerson, Director of Faculty of Diversity at Virginia Tech, facilitates.

Workshops and poster exhibits prepared and delivered by our community of scholars complement our keynote speakers. Once again, we are pleased to offer a post-conference academic writing retreat led by Michelle Boyd of Inkwell Academic Writing Retreats.