Can a liberal arts approach help us better understand why racial health disparities began and persist into modern times?
Our 2021 online seminar Racism: A Public Health Crisis will bring faculty, staff and students together into a shared conversation.
In this seminar, we will discuss the many ways racism changes health outcomes and life expectancy for Black and Indigenous Americans. We will also think together and reason together so that we may imagine solutions for these inequities.
Join us to learn about the social, economic, historical and cultural contexts that created the societal impacts we currently witness.
June 1, 2021 – July 8, 2021
Plenary lectures:
Tuesdays, 2:00-3:15 p.m.
Discussions:
Thursdays, 2:00-3:15 p.m.
Week 1: Tuesday, June 1, 2021
Confidence in Modern Medicine of Marginalized Groups
Plenary lecture by Janelle Mirabeau, MSN-HCA, Sibley Memorial Hospital, with remarks by Eckerd President Damián J. Fernández, Ph.D.
Week 2: Tuesday, June 8, 2021
Maternal Health/Infant Mortality and Environmental Racism
Plenary lecture by Kyaien Conner, Ph.D., associate professor in the Department of Mental Health Law and Policy at the University of South Florida, and Jalisa Ferguson, Ph.D., assistant professor of chemistry, Eckerd College
Week 3: Tuesday, June 15, 2021
The History of Medical Experimentation
Plenary lecture by Meghan Martinez, Ph.D., assistant professor of history, Florida State University
Week 4: Tuesday, June 22, 2021
The AIDS Crisis
Plenary lecture by Ronald Porter ’05, Ph.D., director of service-learning, Eckerd College
Week 5: Tuesday, June 29, 2021
Dangers Seen and Unseen: Policing in the U.S. and COVID-19
Plenary lecture by Long Doan, Ph.D., assistant professor of sociology, University of Maryland, and Katurah Jenkins-Hall, Ph.D., visiting professor of human development, Eckerd College, and chair of the board at Foundation for a Healthy St. Petersburg
Week 6: Tuesday, July 6, 2021
Historical Trauma and Mental Health
Plenary lecture by Christy L. Erving, Ph.D., assistant professor of sociology, Vanderbilt University
Discussion Section Student Leaders 2021
- Julia Bennet ’24, Human Development Major
- Joelle Clayborne ’21, Sociology and Environmental Studies Double Major
- Jack Dempsey ’22, Human Development and Spanish Double Major
- Kelly Kress ’24, Marine Science and Animal Studies Double Major
- Mackenzie Maggio ’22, Biology Major, Human Development Minor
- Christyna Reagan ’23, Political Science and Women’s and Gender Studies Double Major
- Taylor Wagner ’20, Literature Graduate with Environmental Studies Minor, Johns Hopkins Bioethics M.A. Graduate Student
2020: Pandemic & Our Changing World
Can a liberal arts approach help us better understand the global pandemic and its lasting impact on our lives?
Our new online seminar Pandemic & Our Changing World will bring faculty, staff, and students together into a shared conversation.
In this seminar, we will discuss how we as educated citizens ought to interpret the news surrounding the COVID-19 crisis. We will also think together and reason together so that we may imagine a better world to come.
Join us to learn about the science of the pandemic within its broader social, economic, historical, and cultural contexts.
May 26, 2020 – July 16, 2020
Plenary lectures: Tuesdays, 2:00-3:30 p.m.
Discussions: Thursdays, 2:00-3:30 p.m.
Week 1: Tuesday, May 26, 2020
The Psychological and Emotional Impact of the Pandemic
Plenary lecture by Professor Sara Hofmann with remarks by President Emeritus Donald R. Eastman III
Week 2: Tuesday, June 2, 2020
The Mathematics and Data Science of the Pandemic
Plenary lecture by Professors Nazarré Merchant and Sarah Duncan
Week 3: Tuesday, June 9, 2020
Pandemics and Plagues in Historical Perspective
Plenary lecture by Professor Barnet Hartston
Week 4: Tuesday, June 16, 2020
The Science of the Virus and its Pathology
Plenary lecture by Professors Denise Flaherty and Crystal Young-Erdos
Week 5: Tuesday, June 23, 2020
Disease and Art History
Plenary lecture by Professor David Gliem
Week 6: Tuesday, June 30, 2020
The Politics and Economics of Pandemics
Plenary lecture by Professors Bill Felice and Sophie Tripp
Week 7: Tuesday, July 7, 2020
Pandemics and the Literary Imagination
Plenary lecture by Professor Jared Stark
Week 8: Tuesday, July 14, 2020
Philosophy in a Time of Crisis
Plenary lecture by Professor Nathan Andersen with remarks by President Damián J. Fernández