Dena Samuels to present Oct. 5 lecture at Whitworth on minimizing bias in classrooms
September 21, 2015
Dena Samuels, Ph.D., will present an Inclusive University Classroom lecture, “Minimizing Implicit Bias in Educational Settings,” on Monday, Oct. 5, at 7 p.m. in Weyerhaeuser Hall’s Robinson Teaching Theatre at Whitworth University. Admission is free. For more information, please call (509) 777-4215. Samuels’ book, The Culturally Inclusive Educator: Preparing for a Multicultural World, will be available for sale during the evening and a short book signing with Samuels will follow her lecture.
According to Samuels, discrimination often happens in classrooms and organizations because of engrained stereotypical thoughts and ideas we have been taught to believe as true. These ideas are so imbedded in our brains that we actually believe they are “natural” or the “norm.” During her lecture, Samuels will ask the audience to consider their own biases and the consequences of those biases, and will provide strategies for minimizing biases and stereotypes to create a more inclusive educational environment.
Samuels is the director of the Matrix Center for the Advancement of Social Equity and Inclusion at the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs, where she also teaches women’s and ethnic studies. Her numerous publications include the book The Culturally Inclusive Educator: Preparing for a Multicultural World. Based on Samuels’ national research and consulting work, the book examines the discrepancy between the current educational cultural climate and the need for educators and their institutions to prepare for a growing multicultural population, and offers transformative strategies for building cultural inclusiveness.
As director of the Matrix Center and through her consulting firm, Dena Samuels Consulting (www.DenaSamuels.com), she provides seminars and consultation to schools, campuses and organizations nationally and internationally on the processes of integrating diversity and building inclusiveness.
Located in Spokane, Wash., Whitworth is a private liberal arts university affiliated with the Presbyterian church. The university, which has an enrollment of 3,000 students, offers 60 undergraduate and graduate degree programs.
Contacts:
Larry Burnley, associate vice president for diversity, equity and inclusion, Whitworth University, (509) 777-4215 or lburnley@whitworth.edu.
Nancy Hines, director of communications, Whitworth University, (509) 777-4638 or nhines@whitworth.edu.
According to Samuels, discrimination often happens in classrooms and organizations because of engrained stereotypical thoughts and ideas we have been taught to believe as true. These ideas are so imbedded in our brains that we actually believe they are “natural” or the “norm.” During her lecture, Samuels will ask the audience to consider their own biases and the consequences of those biases, and will provide strategies for minimizing biases and stereotypes to create a more inclusive educational environment.
Samuels is the director of the Matrix Center for the Advancement of Social Equity and Inclusion at the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs, where she also teaches women’s and ethnic studies. Her numerous publications include the book The Culturally Inclusive Educator: Preparing for a Multicultural World. Based on Samuels’ national research and consulting work, the book examines the discrepancy between the current educational cultural climate and the need for educators and their institutions to prepare for a growing multicultural population, and offers transformative strategies for building cultural inclusiveness.
As director of the Matrix Center and through her consulting firm, Dena Samuels Consulting (www.DenaSamuels.com), she provides seminars and consultation to schools, campuses and organizations nationally and internationally on the processes of integrating diversity and building inclusiveness.
Located in Spokane, Wash., Whitworth is a private liberal arts university affiliated with the Presbyterian church. The university, which has an enrollment of 3,000 students, offers 60 undergraduate and graduate degree programs.
Contacts:
Larry Burnley, associate vice president for diversity, equity and inclusion, Whitworth University, (509) 777-4215 or lburnley@whitworth.edu.
Nancy Hines, director of communications, Whitworth University, (509) 777-4638 or nhines@whitworth.edu.
