Opening Keynote: Dr. Samantha Francois

The Opening Keynote will begin promptly at 12:30pm. Please plan to arrive at least 30-45 minutes early to check-in at the registration desk, grab your lunch, and find a seat.

Universities Redefining Service Learning and Community Engagement in a “Race Neutral” Milieu

In June 2023, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled race-conscious admissions at two universities to be unconstitutional, thereby paving the way for the elimination of affirmative action in college admissions nationally. What does this mean for academic institutions’ prioritization of equity, access, and inclusion? What does this mean for the intentionality of university’s research, service, and engagement with their geographic communities, particularly when those communities comprise racially and economically marginalized groups? This keynote will address how universities sustain and grow their research, service learning, and community engagement while recommitting to racial equity and inclusion in admissions and enrollment.