Project Spotlight

Initiative Description

The speaker series centered topics often “relegated to the margins” of the field.

“The Series advanced the IDEAoffice’s commitment to making Watts College an anti-racist and anti-oppressive college by uplifting the voices of diverse scholars whose cutting-edge research focuses on various marginalized communities and advances anti-racist agendas.The series exposed undergrad students, graduate students, and faculty to the perspectives of three diverse scholars: Dr. Nancy Rios-Contreras, Dr. Wendy Roth, and Dr. Cortney Simmons. Our three outstanding speakers led the public discussion regarding justice, race, intersectionality, and structural inequities.”

Initiative Impact

ASU students and Students and employees in Watts engaged withAR/AOP work in CCJ

“In sharing these diverse perspectives with students and faculty, the Series sought to build a more inclusive, equitable, and accessible Watts community that not only enriches students but also recognizes the visiting scholars for their anti-racist and anti-oppressive work.”

The project further impacted the field of criminology and criminal justice by underscoring the importance of discussing these topics by hosting an entire speaker series dedicate to them.

What’s next?

The Graduate Student Committee hopes to secure future funding and continue the series.

“We plan to survey the graduate students to gauge their interest in speakers and perspectives they are most interested in learning from. In doing so, we plan to identify speakers to invite for the 2022-2023 academic year. We also plan to apply for funding to compensate visiting scholars for their time to attenuate the potential excess burden underrepresented scholars face when asked to delegate their time to programs advancing diversity and inclusivity.”