FDEV Forums

Wednesday, February 28 from 12-1:00 p.m. in ARTS 228

Facilitated by Dr. Lateasha Meyers (Multicultural and Gender Studies) and Dr. Devjani (Juni) Banerjee-Stevens (Social Work) as part of the Critical Conversations series, a two-part discussion centered on the importance of humanity, humility, and healing. Through active facilitated discussion, reflection, and other activities faculty will be invited to think about white supremacy culture, the impact of anti-blackness on our students, and grapple with the importance of humanizing conversations, course material, and experiences in the classroom and beyond. These conversations are connected to reflections on the 2023-2024 Book in Common, Clint Smith's How the Word is Passed: A Reckoning with the History of Slavery Across America.

Dr. Lateasha Meyers is an Assistant Professor at Chico State University, specializing in Multicultural and Gender Studies. She teaches courses in African American Studies, Race and Gender, and Social Justice Arts, drawing from her background in educational leadership and community-based organization work. Dr. Meyers' research focuses on the intersection of race and Black girlhood and womanhood, with a keen interest in educational dynamics within schools and community organizations. She holds a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership, Curriculum & Cultural Studies, with a certificate in Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies, and is dedicated to developing holistic educational approaches for Black students.

Dr. Devjani (Juni) Banerjee-Stevens is an Assistant Professor in the School of Social Work at Chico State University. She also is a licensed psychologist and owner of Deer Park Counseling & Consulting. Juni is interested in how emotional literacy (i.e., accurately understanding, validating, and responding to our own and others’ emotions) facilitates processes that aim to dismantle oppressive systems. In short, Juni is committed to helping individuals, families, and communities heal from trauma, one relationship at a time.

Facilitated by Dr. Brett Christie and Zach Justus on Friday, March 8, 2024.

Are you intrigued by the use of Artificial Intelligence (AI)? This workshop is specifically designed to be accessible to folks with no AI experience and will introduce how to get started.

Dr. Brett Christie has served as Vice President for Educational Innovation and Inclusivity at Alchemy(opens in new window) since 2020, a leading ed-tech innovations company that empowers instructors to effectively combine the science and magic of teaching. Brett's career in higher education spans over three decades including 25 years in the California State University system, where he played a significant role in student equity and success initiatives at both campus and system levels. His experience includes over 15 years of teaching in Educational Technology, Teacher Education, UDL/Accessibility, and K-12 partnerships. More recently, he has turned to GenerativeAI and the potential to create greater access to effective and personalized learning experiences.

Video Recording(opens in new window) | Slides (Google Slide) 

Visit the FDEV AI webpage for additional information and resources.

Facilitated by faculty and TLP staff.

This workshop will showcase short lightning-round presentations on how to improve your teaching and office workflows using AI tools.

Recordings:

• Zach Justus - Introduction(opens in new window)
• Abbas Attarwala - ChatGPT: Code Interpretation and Checking(opens in new window)
• Ben Seipel - Gamma and Slidesgo: Production of Slide Decks and Visuals for Student Use(opens in new window)
• joshuah whittinghill - ChatGPT: Creating Timelines and Schedules for Projects(opens in new window)
• David Zeichick & joshuah whittinghill - ChatGPT: Creating Quizzes You Can Upload to Canvas(opens in new window)
• Stef Baldivia - Elicit/LitMaps: Improving Your Own Research Productivity(opens in new window)

Tools and Resources:

• ChatGPT(opens in new window)
• Khanmigo(opens in new window) 
• Gamma(opens in new window) 
• Slidesgo(opens in new window) 
• Goblin(opens in new window) 
• K-State Classic to Canvas Conversion Tools(opens in new window) 
• Semantic Scholar(opens in new window) 
• Elicit(opens in new window)
• Litmaps(opens in new window) 
• Inciteful(opens in new window)

Visit the FDEV AI webpage for additional information and resources.

Wednesday, March 27 from 12-1:00 p.m. in ARTS 228

Facilitated by Dr. Lateasha Meyers (Multicultural and Gender Studies) and Dr. Devjani (Juni) Banerjee-Stevens (Social Work) as part of the Critical Conversations series, a two-part discussion centered on the importance of humanity, humility, and healing. Through active facilitated discussion, reflection, and other activities faculty will be invited to think about white supremacy culture, the impact of anti-blackness on our students, and grapple with the importance of humanizing conversations, course material, and experiences in the classroom and beyond. These conversations are connected to reflections on the 2023-2024 Book in Common, Clint Smith's How the Word is Passed: A Reckoning with the History of Slavery Across America.

Dr. Lateasha Meyers is an Assistant Professor at Chico State University, specializing in Multicultural and Gender Studies. She teaches courses in African American Studies, Race and Gender, and Social Justice Arts, drawing from her background in educational leadership and community-based organization work. Dr. Meyers' research focuses on the intersection of race and Black girlhood and womanhood, with a keen interest in educational dynamics within schools and community organizations. She holds a Ph.D. in Educational Leadership, Curriculum & Cultural Studies, with a certificate in Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies, and is dedicated to developing holistic educational approaches for Black students.

Dr. Devjani (Juni) Banerjee-Stevens is an Assistant Professor in the School of Social Work at Chico State University. She also is a licensed psychologist and owner of Deer Park Counseling & Consulting. Juni is interested in how emotional literacy (i.e., accurately understanding, validating, and responding to our own and others’ emotions) facilitates processes that aim to dismantle oppressive systems. In short, Juni is committed to helping individuals, families, and communities heal from trauma, one relationship at a time.

Wednesday, April 3 at 6:30 p.m. in the Recital Hall (ARTS 150)

Facilitated by Dr. Nandi Sojourner Crosby. This public talk is connected to reflections on the 2023-2024 Book in Common, Clint Smith's How the Word is Passed: A Reckoning with the History of Slavery Across America.

In this engaging talk, we dive deep into Chapter 3 of Clint Smith's eye-opening book, exploring the haunting legacy of slavery as it morphs into the mass incarceration of African Americans today. By weaving together heart-stopping statistics, vivid historical insights, and video clips of Angola, I aim to shine a light on the impact of racial inequality on the U.S. justice system.

We'll start by unpacking how Smith's work uncovers the stories history tells us, setting the scene at Angola Prison, which isn't just any prison—it's a symbol of how the chains of slavery have been reshaped into the bars of incarceration. As we trace Angola's transformation from a brutal plantation to the U.S.'s largest maximum-security prison, we'll see the stark lines connecting past oppressions to today's racial injustices.

With fresh statistics and compelling visuals, we'll discuss the stark racial disparities in Louisiana and beyond, laying bare the disproportionate impact on African American communities. But it's not all grim; we can challenge, question, and act. We'll explore how each of us can play a part in dismantling the prison industrial complex, a modern-day echo of slavery's exploitation.

Dr. Nandi Sojourner Crosby, Professor of Sociology, is a beacon of inspiration in the realms of social inequality and justice. Known affectionately as “Dr. Nandi” by her students, she combines her roles as an educator, public speaker, author, and entrepreneur with a fervent commitment to social change. Since 1999, she has been at the forefront of addressing critical issues like mass incarceration through her teaching and activism, including her impactful work with the Incarcerated Students Program in partnership with Feather River College from 2015 to 2018. She recently published a memoir titled Prisoners I Once Loved, which chronicles her 30+ years working with, supporting, and caring for inmates throughout the U.S.

Born in Baltimore, Maryland, Crosby’s journey from a correctional officer in a maximum-security prison for men to an acclaimed professor and advocate for the incarcerated has been transformative. Her dedication to bridging the gap between theory and practice is evident in her engaging teaching style and her efforts to illuminate the challenges of gangs, racial inequality, gender issues, and mass incarceration.

Her accolades include the 2016 Outstanding Teacher of the Year at Chico State, and she is a celebrated voice on issues of kindness, having delivered an inspiring TEDx talk about becoming a living donor. Crosby founded FreedomConscious Ink, a press dedicated to elevating the stories of incarcerated individuals through nonfiction and biographical works, fostering empathy and advocating for systemic change.

Crosby’s academic credentials are impressive, with degrees from St. Mary’s College of Maryland, Clark Atlanta University, and a Ph.D. in Sociology from Georgia State University. Her scholarship and activism are driven by a belief in redemption and the power of supportive communities to facilitate meaningful change for those impacted by incarceration.

Beyond her professional endeavors, Crosby enjoys indoor gardening, arts and crafts, and exploring the world. Her creative spirit and dedication to social justice are intertwined, guiding her efforts to make a significant impact on her students, prisoners, and society at large. Dr. Nandi Sojourner Crosby’s work exemplifies her belief that “Justice is what love looks like in public,” a philosophy that continues to inspire and drive her commitment to creating a more equitable and compassionate world.

Crosby would like to invite participants to join the movement toward dismantling systemic racism and championing meaningful reform.

Thursday, April 11 at 7:30 p.m. in Laxson Auditorium

The 2023-2024 Book in Common, Clint Smith’s How the Word is Passed: A Reckoning with the History of Slavery Across America is an urgent book for our moment, which creates space for conversations about historical truth, commemoration, and reconciliation. 

Author visit: Clint Smith(opens in new window) spoke in Laxson Auditorium on April 11th at 7:30 p.m.

The Book in Common is a shared, community read, designed to promote discussion and understanding of important issues facing the broader community. The Book in Common is chosen each year by a group of university faculty staff, students and community members.

Clint Smith is the #1 New York Times bestselling author of How the Word Is Passed: A Reckoning With the History of Slavery Across America, winner of the National Book Critics Circle Award for Nonfiction, the Hillman Prize for Book Journalism, the Stowe Prize, the Dayton Literary Peace Prize, and selected by the New York Times as one of the 10 Best Books of 2021. He is also the author of two books of poetry, the New York Times bestselling collection Above Ground and Counting Descent, which won the 2017 Literary Award for Best Poetry Book from the Black Caucus of the American Library Association and was a finalist for an NAACP Image Award. He is a staff writer at The Atlantic.

Clint has received fellowships from the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, New America, the Emerson Collective, the Art For Justice Fund, Cave Canem, and the National Science Foundation. His essays, poems, and scholarly writing have been published in The New Yorker, The New York Times Magazine, The New Republic, Poetry Magazine, The Paris Review, the Harvard Educational Review, and elsewhere. He is a former National Poetry Slam champion and a recipient of the Jerome J. Shestack Prize from the American Poetry Review.

Previously, Clint taught high school English in Prince George's County, Maryland where he was named the Christine D. Sarbanes Teacher of the Year by the Maryland Humanities Council. He is the host of the YouTube series Crash Course Black American History.

Clint received his B.A. in English from Davidson College and his Ph.D. in Education from Harvard University. Born and raised in New Orleans, he currently lives in Maryland with his wife and their two children. He can be found on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

Event information provided by University Public Engagement (UPE)
Sierra Hall, Room 101
530-898-5917
upe@csuchico.edu

Monday, April 15 from 2-3:00 p.m. in MLIB 045 (basement) and Zoom
(opens in new window)

Presented by Vice Provost Mahalley Allen and FDEV Director Zach Justus

This workshop is open to faculty who want an intentional and effective approach to RTP for implementation over the coming months.

The Fall RTP cycle starts fast and putting together your dossier can be taxing. Even if you are putting your materials together for the Spring, this workshop will be helpful for you. This workshop is designed to get ahead of the RTP cycle and take the stress out of the process. 

• Identify trends in your previous reports which need to be addressed.
• Thoughtfully compile evidence and resources.
• Talk to mentors and RTP reviewers in advance about file contents.
• Strategically plan your summer work.
• Curate and streamline your materials for your committee.
• Make a summer timeline for yourself.

Slides (Google Slide) | Video Recording(opens in new window)

Tuesday, April 16 at 1-2:00 p.m. in ARTS 228

Facilitated by Dr. Nandi Crosby.

Book in Common Faculty Workshop: Breaking Chains, Building Bridges

Envision a future where we can dismantle the complex web of mass incarceration and pave the way for justice and equality. This presentation, inspired by Clint Smith's "How the Word is Passed" and Dr. Nandi Crosby's "Prisoners I Once Loved: A Memoir," invites us on a journey toward compassion. Through lively and interactive slides, we will confront our biases and explore the principles of racial equity, diversity, and inclusion. We'll address the individual and systemic obstacles that fuel disparity and exclusion. This session is not just an academic exercise; it's a call to action, aiming to ignite a unified push for meaningful reform in our hearts and in our laws. Together, we'll explore how to transform our society into one where liberty and justice aren't just ideals, but realities for all.

Dr. Nandi Sojourner Crosby, Professor of Sociology, is a beacon of inspiration in the realms of social inequality and justice. Known affectionately as “Dr. Nandi” by her students, she combines her roles as an educator, public speaker, author, and entrepreneur with a fervent commitment to social change. Since 1999, she has been at the forefront of addressing critical issues like mass incarceration through her teaching and activism, including her impactful work with the Incarcerated Students Program in partnership with Feather River College from 2015 to 2018. She recently published a memoir titled Prisoners I Once Loved, which chronicles her 30+ years working with, supporting, and caring for inmates throughout the U.S.

Born in Baltimore, Maryland, Crosby’s journey from a correctional officer in a maximum-security prison for men to an acclaimed professor and advocate for the incarcerated has been transformative. Her dedication to bridging the gap between theory and practice is evident in her engaging teaching style and her efforts to illuminate the challenges of gangs, racial inequality, gender issues, and mass incarceration.

Her accolades include the 2016 Outstanding Teacher of the Year at Chico State, and she is a celebrated voice on issues of kindness, having delivered an inspiring TEDx talk about becoming a living donor. Crosby founded FreedomConscious Ink, a press dedicated to elevating the stories of incarcerated individuals through nonfiction and biographical works, fostering empathy and advocating for systemic change.

Crosby’s academic credentials are impressive, with degrees from St. Mary’s College of Maryland, Clark Atlanta University, and a Ph.D. in Sociology from Georgia State University. Her scholarship and activism are driven by a belief in redemption and the power of supportive communities to facilitate meaningful change for those impacted by incarceration.

Beyond her professional endeavors, Crosby enjoys indoor gardening, arts and crafts, and exploring the world. Her creative spirit and dedication to social justice are intertwined, guiding her efforts to make a significant impact on her students, prisoners, and society at large. Dr. Nandi Sojourner Crosby’s work exemplifies her belief that “Justice is what love looks like in public,” a philosophy that continues to inspire and drive her commitment to creating a more equitable and compassionate world.

Crosby would like to invite participants to join the movement toward dismantling systemic racism and championing meaningful reform.