Global Engagement Conference draws record attendance

Keynote speaker urges collaboration and community engagement

The Global Engagement Conference on May 22, 2024, opened at 9:30 a.m. in William Phillip Hall at the University of Washington Tacoma with a land acknowledgement by Dr. Danica Sterud Miller, welcoming attendees to the ancestral lands of the Puyallup Tribe. Chancellor Sheila Edwards Lange and Associate Vice Chancellor Dr. Divya McMillin expanded on the conference theme, emphasizing the pivotal role of relationships and global perspectives in the work that would be presented throughout the day, urging attendees to embrace exploration.

Keynote speaker, Dr. Dawn Whitehead, Vice President of the American Association of Colleges and Universities Office of Global Citizenship, captivated the audience with an insightful presentation on the evolution of global education: ‘Global Innovation for the Public Good: Advancing our Societies Locally and Globally’, using music as a narrative device. Reflecting on the shifts in global education in the 21st Century, she referred to As it Was by Harry Styles. “We have to look back to see where we have been and where we are to see where we are going,” stated Whitehead. She outlined how thinking began to move away from global learning as a competitive opportunity for the traveling elite towards a more collaborative model. Papa’s Got a Brand New Bag by James Brown was used to discuss sparking change in the current moment, especially in connecting global issues to local problems in education settings. “We [educational institutions] owe democracy a space to come together across time and differences,” stated Whitehead, “but we have historically not done this well”. Embracing equity and inclusion to bring together perspectives from diverse cultural groups, and acknowledging that we are from and a part of the same communities we are working in were highlighted as ways global education curriculum is changing to support this. Whitehead called attention to how global solutions can, and should, inform local challenges. Ethically partnering with communities and acknowledging power, poverty, and privilege are necessary for moving the work forward. She concluded with Beyonce's Formation, and rallied attendees to embrace these curricular innovations for a more just future, affirming, “You are not alone, and no one can address these problems alone. Let’s get in formation and embrace these ideas together for a just future!"

Bamford Fellow addresses minority representation in curriculum

 “Japan does not acknowledge disproportionate outcomes in the same way the US does,” stated Bamford student fellow Erin Brown as she kicked off the panel presentation with faculty Bamford Fellow Dr. Rachel Endo, Dean of UW Tacoma's School of Education. The project, 'Toward Innovation for Multicultural & Justice Practices in Education: A Comparative Analysis of Japan & the United States,' examines nuanced differences in minority representation in curriculum. Dr. Endo, a distinguished educator and author, followed Brown’s presentation by sharing her personal journey growing up in a mixed-race family in Nebraska, navigating through sanitized curricula and pressures to assimilate that she did not fully realize until later in life. She emphasized the importance of representation in education: “School is one of the few times we get to learn about the other, and maybe ourselves,” reflected Dr. Endo as she explained the ‘window and mirror’ metaphor she uses to shape her own curriculum. She went on to discuss the politics of education, stating that there's nothing neutral about knowledge – and it is just as much about what is taught as it is about what is left out of the classroom. Dr. Endo applauded Brown’s approach in the project to both critique the education curriculum and propose innovative recommendations. 

Holly Bamford Hunt, director of the Bamford Foundation, introduced the Bamford Fellowship Panel. She outlined how the Bamford Foundation was created to improve the quality of life in Tacoma, the city where she and the rest of the Bamford family live, learn, and work. "We cannot accomplish much if we do not consider how we work with communities locally and globally," she said. The Bamford family has been instrumental in awards and funding throughout UW Tacoma, and especially in the Global Honors Program. 

Keynote Panel: Global Education for Career Readiness and Community Impact

The atmosphere at UW Tacoma was charged with intellectual excitement and a call to action during this year’s Global Engagement Conference Keynote Panel. Keynote speaker, Dr. Dawn Whitehead, alongside Tacoma Mayor Victoria Woodards, and Dr.  Rachel Endo, delved into the critical role of curriculum in preparing students for employment. The panel was moderated by Dr. Divya McMillin who posed questions that brought out the experience of the panelists in their integration of global learning with career pursuits. Dr. Endo urged a shift from rigid curriculum paradigms to a more expansive approach, where the world becomes the curriculum, fostering lifelong skills like critical thinking, civil disobedience, and civil dissent – both in and out of institutional boarders.

Mayor Woodards added to this, stressing the importance of undergraduate research and civic engagement in advancing the public good. UWT’s relationship with the Tacoma community as an academic institution has the potential to be pivotal for students entering careers government for addressing societal needs. She also highlighted how UWT is uniquely positioned as an urban campus within a port city, making the global frameworks of the Global Honors program, IIGE, and the Global Innovation & Design Lab especially relevant even when working with local communities. “I used to think ‘Oh, they will be so different’,” reflected the Woodards “but we are all aligned in some way. At the end of the day, the reality is people want the same thing for their cities: quality of life for them and their children. We have way more in common than different.”

Overall, the panel discussion served as a catalyst for ongoing action towards a stronger world community. It underscored the transformative potential of education, experiential learning, and civic engagement in addressing global challenges. As students and educators continue their journey, we call on them to be bold, engaged, and proactive in shaping a more equitable and sustainable future for all. Doing the right thing not only affects your immediate community but has the potential to create a ripple effect globally.