By SUSAN JONES
For the first time since Pitt’s “Year of” themes started in 2014, the current topic — Discourse and Dialogue — will carry over into a second year, Provost Joe McCarthy announced last week.
The 2024-25 school term will continue the Year of Discourse and Dialogue theme, which McCarthy’s announcement said was “inspired by the many ways in which higher education has been at the forefront of engagement around respecting divergent viewpoints — and in establishing the important space for various viewpoints to continue to find opportunities for expression.”
So far, 35 projects have received funding from the Office of the Provost, and McCarthy said, “It is clear that there is a great deal of room to continue to advance our efforts.”
The decision to extend theme was made in consultation with Chancellor Joan Gabel, McCarthy said. One of Gabel’s first acts last year as the new chancellor was to join the Campus Call for Free Expression initiative from the Institute for Citizens & Scholars, in which college leaders have committed to re-emphasizing the principles of critical inquiry and civic discourse on their campuses and to help students work together to find solutions to complicated, divisive problems.
Carissa Slotterback, dean of the Graduate School of Public and International Affairs, and Clyde Pickett, vice chancellor for equity, diversity, and inclusion, will continue to lead the 2024-25 Year of Discourse and Dialogue. As in years past, a committee of faculty, staff and students will coordinate the “Year Of’ funding and the Office of the Provost will provide matching funds to support events and projects related to the theme.
The first year wraps up April 5 with “Developing Capacity for Discourse and Dialogue Across Our Campuses” at the University Club and a showcase of funded projects. See a list of the projects funded in the first round here.
Round 2 funding recipients (lead proposer, unit and project title)
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Daniel Abusuampeh, School of Social Work, Center on Race and Social Problems: Space for Voice: Race and Social Problems Discourse
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Mary-Aleyde Angbanzan, Frederick Honors College and College of General Studies: Changemakers in Healthcare: Reimagining How We Serve Others
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Carrie Benson, Office of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion: Heart to Heart with Circle Up
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Sommer Blair, School of Social Work, Center on Race and Social Problems’ Race and Youth Development Research Group (CRSP): Parenting for Racial Equity: Assuring the Next Generation of Antiracists
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Mark Conlon, Pitt–Johnstown, Division of Education: American Civic Education and Literacy Initiative
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Cruzilious Contreras-Amezuca, School of Social Work, Center of Race and Social Problems: Leading Social Work Students to LEAD : Legislative Education and Advocacy Day
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Stephanie Dangle, School of Law: Environmental Justice v. Affordable Housing: Using Discourse and Dialogue to Prevent Eco-Gentrification in Pittsburgh
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Helma de Vries-Jordan, Pitt–Bradford, Division of Behavioral and Social Sciences: Building Discourse and Dialogue on a Foundation of Common Memory: Cultural Competency Training at the Seneca-Iroquois National Museum
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Veronica Dristas, University Center for International Studies, Global Studies Center: Global Appalachia: Interdisciplinary Perspective on a Region in Motion
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Stephanie Eckstrom, School of Social Work: Racial Equity Consciousness Institute: Bradford Campus In-Person Cohort
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Gabriella Ficerai-Garland, School of Medicine: Discourse and Dialogue in Medicine: Using AI Language Technology to Improve Patient-Provider Communication
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Sherdina Harper, Division of Student Affairs, Inclusion and Belonging: The Tunnel of Oppression
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Jennifer Iriti, Learning Research and Development Center: Idea Lab: A collaborative and creative space for integrating generative AI and powerful pedagogies at the University of Pittsburgh
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Alyssa Khieu, School of Pharmacy: Addressing Resource Barriers in Previously Incarcerated Populations
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Tuangtip Klinbubpa-Neff, Pitt– ohnstown, Humanities Division: SPRINGS: Promoting Engagement in Inclusive Dialogues at Pitt-Johnstown and Local Communities
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Jonah Koetke, Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences, Department of Psychology: Enhancing Intellectual Humility and Willingness to Engage in Discourse and Dialogue in Higher Education
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Lisa Nelson, Collaboratory Against Hate and Graduate School of Public and International Affairs: Discourse and Dialogue: A Collaboration Against Hate Podcast Series
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Sera Mathew, Provost’s Advisory Committee on Women’s Concerns (PACWC): Let’s Talk about Reproductive Justice: A Provost’s Advisory Committee on Women’s Concerns Initiative
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Emily Rook-Koepsel, University Center for International Studies, Asian Studies Center: Anna May Wong: Discourses of Asian American Representation
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Alexandra Straub, Dietrich School of Arts and Sciences, Department of History, World History Center: Pedagogy in an Age of Religious Nationalism: Confronting Intergenerational Collection Memory of Violence and Displacement
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Micalee Sullivan, Division of Student Affairs, Residence Life: Restorative Practices and Nonviolent Communication Curricular Integration
Susan Jones is editor of the University Times. Reach her at suejones@pitt.edu or 724-244-4042.
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