Dr. Avery August is a research immunologist and former Co-Director of the Cornell Center for Health Equity, as well as former Chair of the Department of Microbiology & Immunology at Cornell University. He developed the Alcorn State:Penn State Bridges to the Doctorate and the Cornell Initiative to Maximize Student Development programs, both funded by the National Institutes of Health. Dr. August currently chairs the Steering Committee for the Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students (ABRCMS). He received a B.S. in Medical Technology from California State University at Los Angeles, a Ph.D. in Immunology from Cornell University’s Weill Cornell Graduate School of Medical Sciences, and a postdoctoral fellowship at Rockefeller University as a National Science Foundation Postdoctoral Fellow.
Anti-Blackness, Racial Equity, and Higher Education
Event Overview
In this discussion, audience members will hear from three of Cornell University’s Presidential Advisors on Diversity and Equity about the challenges and possibilities for racial equity in higher education.
What You'll Learn
- What anti-blackness is and how it functions in higher education
- What racial equity is in an education context and how it impacts students’ entry into the workforce
- The unique challenges and possibilities right now for racial equity
- The role of white people in this work
Speakers
Dr. Vijay Pendakur is a nationally recognized leader in student affairs administration. He is the editor of the recent book “Closing the Opportunity Gap: Identity-Conscious Strategies for Retention and Student Success,” as well as numerous chapters on racial identity development, critical leadership pedagogy, and campus equity strategy. He serves on the institute teaching faculty of the Race Equity Center at the University of Southern California and as a faculty member for the “High Impact Practices Institute” through the American Association of Colleges and Universities. He currently serves on the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Working Group on Diversity, which advises the Director of the NIH on inclusion and equity strategy in the field of biomedical research. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in history and East Asian studies from the University of Wisconsin, Madison; a Master’s degree in U.S. history from the University of California, San Diego; and a Doctorate in education from DePaul University.
As project leader in the Office of the President, Victoria White leads high-level university strategic programs and projects that contribute to the progression of the presidential priorities. Using her experience of leading global strategic programs and implementing diversity and inclusion practices in industry, Victoria facilitates the execution and adoption of Cornell’s new diversity and inclusion framework, Belonging at Cornell.
Prior to joining Cornell, Victoria spent several years at technology corporations, most of them at IBM. She holds a B.S. in Industrial Engineering and an MBA.
Dr. Avery August is a research immunologist and former Co-Director of the Cornell Center for Health Equity, as well as former Chair of the Department of Microbiology & Immunology at Cornell University. He developed the Alcorn State:Penn State Bridges to the Doctorate and the Cornell Initiative to Maximize Student Development programs, both funded by the National Institutes of Health. Dr. August currently chairs the Steering Committee for the Annual Biomedical Research Conference for Minority Students (ABRCMS). He received a B.S. in Medical Technology from California State University at Los Angeles, a Ph.D. in Immunology from Cornell University’s Weill Cornell Graduate School of Medical Sciences, and a postdoctoral fellowship at Rockefeller University as a National Science Foundation Postdoctoral Fellow.
Dr. Vijay Pendakur is a nationally recognized leader in student affairs administration. He is the editor of the recent book “Closing the Opportunity Gap: Identity-Conscious Strategies for Retention and Student Success,” as well as numerous chapters on racial identity development, critical leadership pedagogy, and campus equity strategy. He serves on the institute teaching faculty of the Race Equity Center at the University of Southern California and as a faculty member for the “High Impact Practices Institute” through the American Association of Colleges and Universities. He currently serves on the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Working Group on Diversity, which advises the Director of the NIH on inclusion and equity strategy in the field of biomedical research. He holds a Bachelor’s degree in history and East Asian studies from the University of Wisconsin, Madison; a Master’s degree in U.S. history from the University of California, San Diego; and a Doctorate in education from DePaul University.
As project leader in the Office of the President, Victoria White leads high-level university strategic programs and projects that contribute to the progression of the presidential priorities. Using her experience of leading global strategic programs and implementing diversity and inclusion practices in industry, Victoria facilitates the execution and adoption of Cornell’s new diversity and inclusion framework, Belonging at Cornell.
Prior to joining Cornell, Victoria spent several years at technology corporations, most of them at IBM. She holds a B.S. in Industrial Engineering and an MBA.