2021 Convocation Speaker
Martin Luther King Jr. Convocation
Cristina Beltrán
Monday, February 22 at 7 p.m.
Cristina Beltrán
Cristina Beltrán is an associate professor and director of Graduate Studies in the department of
Social & Cultural Analysis at New York University. A political theorist by training, her research focuses on modern and contemporary political theory, Latinx and U.S. ethnic/racial politics, feminist and queer theory. She is the author of
The
Trouble with Unity: Latino Politics and the Creation of Identity (Oxford University Press, 2010), which received numerous awards, including the American Political Science Association’s Ralph Bunche
Award and the Casa de la Américas prize
for the best book on Latinos in the United States. Her new book, Cruelty as Citizenship: How Migrant Suffering Sustains White Democracy has just been published with the Forerunner Series at the University of
Minnesota Press.
Her research has also appeared in the journals Political Theory, Aztlán, Politics & Gender, Contemporary Political Theory, Political Research Quarterly, and the Du Bois
Review as well as various edited volumes. Along with Elisabeth Anker,
she is co-editor of the journal Theory & Event. She also provides occasional political commentary on MSNBC and has appeared on The Beat with Ari Melber, Velshi with Ali Velshi, All In with Chris Hayes, and The Last Word with Lawrence
O'Donnell.
Martin Luther King Jr. Week Virtual Events
Celebration of Activism
Vision Award Winner: Andrea Canuel
Vision Award Winner: Janie Leatherman, PhD
Vision Award Winner: Nya Jones '23
Connecticut Post Martin Luther King Jr. Essay Contest
Taylor Bianca Gerald is a seventh-grader at St. Augustine Academy who won first place in this year’s annual Fairfield University Martin Luther King Jr. essay contest for Bridgeport, Conn. middle school students.
Events
21-Day Ignatian Racial Equity Challenge
Monday, February 1- Sunday, February 21
Join by going to 21-Day Ignatian Racial Equity Challenge. The 21-Day Challenge is hosted by the Ignatian Solidarity Network that provides social justice education grounded in Catholic Social Teaching. This event kicks off Black History month and leads up to our MLK Convocation keynote address on Monday, February 22, 2021 at 7p.m. with Cristina Beltrán.
Groups from across campus will host drop-in sessions where we can gather and discuss the 21-Day Challenge. Look for announcements at life@fairfield and in today@fairfield about the drop-in sessions during the month of February.
The MLK Convocation Committee supports this event as part of its “Celebration of Activism,” along with the following partners: Center for Social Impact, Center for Catholic Studies, Campus Ministry, Office of Student Diversity and Multicultural Affairs, CT-ACE Fairfield Chapter, and Alpha Sigma Nu.
This 21-Day Challenge brings our Fairfield community together as one way to reflect on and advance our Diversity and Inclusive Excellence Mission Statement. For further readings to compliment the 21-Day Challenge, please visit our DiMenna-Nyselius Library Antiracist Resource Guide.
Martin Luther King Jr. Convocation
Cristina Beltrán, PhD
Monday, February 22
7 p.m.
Join us for the annual Convocation featuring Cristina Beltrán, PhD.
"Brown Girl With A Gun: Susana Martinez and Intersectionality on the Right"
Tuesday, February 23
5 p.m.
This seminar is open to faculty and staff.
"Borderlands and the Construction of Latinx Identities in the US" Virtual Discussion
Thursday, February 25
5 p.m.
Is there a place for borders in the beloved community? This event will feature small group discussions focusing on an excerpt from Gloria Anzaldua’s Borderlands La Frontera: The New Mestiza. We will also share reflections on Dr. Cristina Beltran’s convocation address.
Youth Leadership Summit
Friday, February 26
Local middle school students will participate in the virtual Youth Leadership Academy, where they will learn valuable leadership and conflict resolution skills.
"Growing Up in the Age of Colorblindness Virtual Panel Discussion"
Friday, March 5
5 p.m.
This student panel consisting of the Black Student Union and the Honors Book Club aims to address the consequences of colorblindness by drawing from personal experiences as well as academic literature. Students will reflect on and discuss their personal experiences as well as relevant critical scholarship.
For more information or to register for events, please visit Life@Fairfield.
Vision Award Winners
2021:
Student: Nya Jones ‘23
Staff: Andrea Canuel
Faculty: Janie Leatherman, PhD
2020:
Student: Luckario Alcide ‘21
Staff: Julie Bararo Mughal
Faculty: Silvia Marsans-Sakly, PhD
2019:
Student: Sydney Williams ‘19
Staff: Sharon Daly
Faculty: Maggie Ann Labinski, PhD
2018:
Student: Sophia Bolanos '18
Faculty: Dr. Kris Sealey
2017:
Student: Anmol Tabassum '18
Faculty: Dr. Paul Lakeland
Staff: Dr. Ophelie Rowe-Allen
2016:
Student: Michael Joe Harding '18
Faculty: Dr. Bryan Ripley Crandall
Staff: Sydney Johnson
2015:
Student: Nicole Davidow '15
Faculty: Dr. Jocelyn Boryczka
Staff: Will Johnson
2014:
Student: Eric Salgado ’14
Faculty: Dr. Yohuru Williams
Staff: Jocelyn Collen '06
2013:
Student: Sharon Pedassa '13
Faculty: Dr. David Brown
Staff: Wylie Blake
2012:
Student: Jasmine Fernandez '12
Faculty: Dr. Deb Chappell
Staff: Melissa Quan
2011:
Student: Shawne Lomauro '11
Staff: Meredith Marquez
Faculty: Dr. Danke Li
2010:
Student: Sarah L. Gatti '10
Community: Roberto Sanchez
Faculty: Dr. Johana Garvey
2009:
Student: Michael Cicirelli '10
Staff: Jim Fitzpatrick
Community: Denise Taylor
Faculty: Dr. Ellen Umansky
2008:
Student: Peter Otoki ‘08
Student: Frank Fraioli ‘08
Faculty: Dr. Michael Tucker
Community: James Smith
Special: Sr Julianna Poole, SSND, PhD
2007:
Student: Ashley Toombs '07
Community: Charles B Tisdale
Staff: Barbara Kiernan
Alumni: Danielle K. Hawthorne '91
2006:
Faculty: Dr. Winston Tellis
Alumni: Paula Donovan '77 '88
Community: Dr. & Mrs. Barone
Student: Chrystie Cruz '07
2005:
Community: Dr. Elizabeth Gardner
Community: Rev. Paul Merry
Alumni: Ellen Morgan esq '86
Student: Oriena Cowan '05
Student: Katherine Canner-O'Mealy '05
2004:
Faculty: Dr. Judy Primavera
Community: George Bellinger
Alumni: Dr. Robert Smith Jr. '74
Student: Francesca Cobb '04
Student: Burim Gjidija '05
2003:
University: Dr. Walter Petry
Community: Stanley Arrington
2002:
University: Andre Willis
Alumni: Richard Fuller Sr. '77
Community: Rev. John S. Kidd
Community: Rev. Phyllis J Leopold
2001:
Faculty: Dr. Elizabeth Hohl
Alumni: Edward Brennan '65
Alumni: Kathy Niznansky M'81
Alumni: Felipe Reinoso M'88
Contact Us
For more information, contact:
Director of Student Diversity and Multicultural Affairs
(203) 254-4000 ext. 4215
Assistant Professor of History