The Wabash Center's Dialogue On Teaching

What is white rage? What does it mean that racism so permeates school ecologies that white rage is not noticed by anyone other than its victims? What is the loss to the institution for white rage? How can white rage be counterbalanced? Dr. Nancy Lynne Westfield hosts Dr. Melanie Harris (Texas Christian University) and Dr. Jennifer Harvey (Drake University).

Rekindling engagement of the unknown, the unsure, the uncertain can happen in on-line teaching. What does it mean not to shame, blame, or cringe while making mistakes in front of students? Practicing adaptation, nimbleness, flexible is key to kindling passion for teaching.  Dr. Nancy Lynne Westfield hosts Dr. Carol B. Duncan (Wilfrid Laurier University).

What obstacles hinder faculty of color from being successful? What institutional strategies might remove unnecessary obstacles? How do creative and committed faculty survive with their hearts intact? Dr. Nancy Lynne Westfield hosts Dr. Miguel De La Torre (Iliff School of Theology).

What does it mean to honor a call to scholarship when tenure-track is not an option? What would it mean for senior scholars to assist contingency faculty? Communities of accountability are needed in every season of scholarship. Dr. Nancy Lynne Westfield hosts Dr. Edwin Aponte (Louisville Institute). 

How are people who are alive doing theology? What does it mean to be Catholic given the surge of Hispanic members? Teaching the Catholic religious experience as a Latino scholar? Dr. Nancy Lynne Westfield hosts Dr. Hosffman Ospino (Boston College). 

Society needs scholars who are curious about right now and the coming future. The production of knowledge includes creativity and imagination. In these moments of pandemics, consider your responsibility to the people. Dr. Nancy Lynne Westfield hosts Dr. Leah Gunning Francis (Christian Theological Seminary).

This podcast was originally featured as a webinar with Dr. Nancy Lynne Westfield, Dr. Melanie Harris (Texas Christian University), and Dr. Jennifer Harvey (Drake University). White America must challenge its high capacity to tolerate racism, to overlook racist acts, and to look past racist behaviors. Personal agency is required to become anti-racist. Disrupting systemic racism requires a shift in public policies as well as a rethinking of institutional norms, traditions, and procedures. These shifts require the work of dedicated people. Equally, personal agency is required to genuinely welcome persons targeted by racism. To shift personal and familial attitudes, beliefs and behaviors persons must speak out for justice. This requires education and action. Our questions for this webinar:
• If racism is so pervasive as to be like “smog in the air” (Dr. Beverly Daniel Tatum) – how do we identify acts of racism?
• What does it mean to be complicit with racism?
• What kind of listening is needed to become anti-racist?
• Is there such-a-thing as “microaggression?”

What does it take to ready schools for diversity? What is the evidence of the shift to anti-racist culture? Hear the story of a seminary who is making the commitment to diversity and cultural humility. Dr. Nancy Lynne Westfield hosts Dr. Boyung Lee (Iliff School of Theology). 

What is the freedom that language provides? Speaking in the dialect of the people honors the people and makes scholarship accessible. Who is the self who dares wield the power of voice for social change? Dr. Nancy Lynne Westfield hosts Dr. Pamela Lightsey (Meadville Lombard Theological School). 

What does it mean to mentor and be mentored? Who is the person(s) who will nurture, affirm, encourage, listen and support vocational decisions? Who is the person who will allow themselves to be mentored? Dr. Nancy Lynne Westfield hosts Dr. Kimberly Russaw (Christian Theological Seminary).