Author: Julie Ross

The Global and Community Engagement Conference (formerly D80) is a dialogue and celebration of our efforts to solve issues that confront the world’s poorest 80%. Traditionally, it’s a one-day conference featuring multiple in-person panels. This year, the conference will be delivered in multiple formats, including a lecture series, a Rozsa gallery exhibit, a walking tour, and a series of online interviews with changemakers around the Michigan Tech community.

This year’s theme is “The Pursuit of Social Equality and Representation,” and features keynote speaker Dr. Meghan L.E. Kirkwood. Kirkwood is an assistant professor of Visual Art at Washington University in St. Louis where she teaches photography. Kirkwood’s photography interests concentrate on landscape photography and the ways artistic representations of land help generate and sustain values and attitudes toward the natural environment. In tandem with her studio practice.

Student session: “The Importance of Community Discovery & Obligation: Strategies for Successful Project, Service Learning and Global Experiences,” to be held Wednesday, September 30, 2020 from 6-7 p.m.

When do you immerse yourself fully into a service learning project or global experience? When do you maintain a respectful distance? How do you respect the culture of the community you’re engaging with? This session is designed for student leaders who want to learn strategies to understanding their roles and thoughtfully prepare for engagement opportunities.   

Campus Lunch and Learn: “The Pursuit of Social Equity & Representation: Impacting Classroom and Student Engagement,” to be held Friday, October 2, 2020 from noon-1 p.m..

During a time of national and global uncertainty, it’s important to explore how our interactions with students impact their Michigan Tech experiences. Dr. Kirkwood will discuss the value of presenting diverse narratives while remaining mindful of the unique viewpoints of our students.

Online Gallery Talk: “Hero City: Documentary Photography by Meghan Kirkwood” to be held Saturday, October 3, 2020 at 5 p.m.

Hero City: Documentary Photography by Meghan Kirkwood features a collection of silver gelatin and inkjet photographs made as part of a documentary project about modern Mongolia and its capital city, Ulaanbaatar. Kirkwood’s images of modern Mongolia capture the unique and storied history of its capital city, and its transition through economic and cultural change – and the rich and thriving culture that animates this young Asian nation.

Learn more about the conference, or register for sessions with keynote Dr. Meghan Kirkwood. 

We hope to see you there,
The Global and Community Engagement Conference team

In collaboration with the Pavlis Honors College/Visual and Performing Arts/D80 Conference, this program/lecture is partially funded/sponsored by the Visiting Professor Program which is funded by a grant to the Office of the Provost from the State of Michigan’s King-Chavez-Parks Initiative.