Diversity, Decolonization, and the French Curriculum
Sam Houston State University Champion of Diversity
I make it my responsibility to help advance diversity and inclusion matters in the classroom and campus-wide. I help institutional settings engage in dialogues about why diversity matters in the classroom other spaces on campuses.
Recently, I was invited to speak about my experience in promoting Campus Diversity and my role as the co-chair of CHSS Diversity and Inclusion Committee, advisor of French and Francophone Club.
Recently, I was invited to speak about my experience in promoting Campus Diversity and my role as the co-chair of CHSS Diversity and Inclusion Committee, advisor of French and Francophone Club.
Diversity and Inclusion in the Classroom
Diversity Reader
As a member of the SHSU Diversity Reader program committee, I have actively participated in its organization (book selection, facilitating the distribution of the book and advertising for the event, inviting an author, and facilitating the discussion.
Past readers include Ta-Nehisi Coates's Between the World and Me, John Lewis's March, Sandra Cisneros's The House on Mango Street. For more information about the program, visit the website: https://www.shsu.edu/academics/humanities-and-social-sciences/chss-diversity-committee/diversity-reader.html
In the Fall 2018, the SHSU community will gather to discuss How Does it Feel to Be a Problem: Being Young and Arab in America. As co-chair of the Diversity Reader committee, I was very happy to be able to invite the author, Moustafa Bayoumi, to campus to discuss his experience writing the book. Students from my class will facilitate the discussion and share passages from the book to engage the audience.
Check out this article on important "Books Creating Conversation On Campus" in which the Fall 2018 Diversity Reader is featured: http://www.shsu.edu/today@sam/T@S/article/2018/books-creating-conversation-on-campus
Check out this article on important "Books Creating Conversation On Campus" in which the Fall 2018 Diversity Reader is featured: http://www.shsu.edu/today@sam/T@S/article/2018/books-creating-conversation-on-campus
The French and Francophone Club
The organization’s purpose is to promote French language and Francophone cultures around the world. Because “The Measure of Life is its Service” for the club means to ensure inclusiveness and opening access to all, the organization believes in and encourage diversity, hence the club logo, which features a variety of flags, each denoting countries in which French is the official language. It was important to go beyond representations stereotypically associated with the word “French” (i.e. the Eiffel Tower, Paris, berets, etc.) . Because of its works on diversity and inclusion and events related to this effort, the club has become more visible on campus and in the region. It was one of the recipients of the French on Campus Award from the French Embassy for our work on exposing new audiences to Francophone Cultures at large. The club received the award for one of their most outstanding program: A Night in Paris. As part of Black History Month programming, this event was an evening in honor of art, music, and poetry of black, exiled artists in Paris such as James Baldwin, Sidney Bechet and Nina Simone.
Because of its ongoing involvment and presence on campus, the Club was also nominated for a Sammy Award for best student organization.
Check out the video "Je suis un Bearkats" (French and Francophone Club Video Project) https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UHXunmI_qVw |
The French and Francophone club also regularly attend the Festivals Acadiens et Créoles in Lafayette, Louisiana. The students were able to discover Zydeco music, do a scavenger hunt with French landmarks in the city, and play pétanque with the University of Louisiana French Club.
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Heritage Months
As a member and co-chair of the CHSS Diversity and Inclusion Committee, I have been involved in the planning of several events for several Heritage Month celebrations.