CPGE Events
For faculty research events at CPGE, visit CPGE RSCA Events
Academic Equity, Diversity, Inclusion (EDI) and
Social Justice Webinar Series
A Lens on Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Social Justice Aspects of Artificial Intelligence
Tuesday, September 26, 2023, 12 - 1 PT
Zoom: https://sjsu.zoom.us/j/88673374816
Presenter: Vishnu S. Pendyala, PhD
Artificial Intelligence has been a topic of hot debates recently with some experts
calling for a pause on its development. Social Justice aspects of AI models play a
major role when the models are used for certain critical societal applications such
as criminal or credit risk assessment and similar behavior prediction problems. The
talk will give a general technical overview and go over a few scenarios of the difficult
situations that AI models face when used for crucial and sometimes autonomous decision
making. The talk will also address some general concerns the recent developments evoked
and discuss future directions
Bio: Vishnu S. Pendyala, PhD is a faculty member in Applied Data Science and an Academic
Senator with San Jose State University, current chair of the IEEE Computer Society
Santa Clara Valley chapter, and IEEE Computer Society Distinguished Contributor. During
his recent 3-year term as an ACM Distinguished speaker and before that as a researcher
and industry expert, he gave numerous (50+) invited talks in conferences, faculty
development programs, and other forums some of which are available on YouTube and IEEE.tv. He is a senior member of the IEEE and has over two decades of experience in the software
industry in the Silicon Valley, USA. His book, “Veracity of Big Data,” is available
in several libraries, including those of MIT, Stanford, CMU, the US Congress and internationally.
Two other books on machine learning and software development that he edited are also
well-received and found place in the US Library of Congress and other reputed libraries.
Dr. Pendyala taught a one-week course sponsored by the Ministry of Human Resource
Development (MHRD), Government of India, under the GIAN program in 2017 to Computer
Science faculty from all over the country and delivered the keynote in a similar program
sponsored by AICTE, Government of India in 2022. Dr. Pendyala recently served on a
US government's National Science Foundation (NSF) proposal review panel. He received
the Ramanujan memorial gold medal and a shield for his college at the State Math Olympiad.
He also played an active role in Computer Society of India and was the Program Secretary
for its annual national convention. He served as an Area Governor with Toastmasters
International and received the Distinguished Toastmaster, Area Governor of the Year,
and Silver Scribe awards.
Indigenous Data Sovereignty: What are the Current Issues?
Thursday, April 27, 2023, 9-10 AM PDT
Zoom: https://sjsu.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_xiEl-MQlQ0K_G32ZS-jFRw
Presenter: Professor Rebecca Tsosie
Professor Rebecca Tsosie will discuss the framing of Indigenous data sovereignty and how the concept is being articulated to advance the interests of Indigenous peoples at the local and global levels. In addition, there will be an examination of certain applications of Indigenous data sovereignty that raise novel ethical and legal issues.
Bio: Rebecca Tsosie is a Regents Professor and Morris K. Udall Professor of Law at the
James E. Rogers College of Law at the University of Arizona. Professor Tsosie
teaches in the areas of Federal Indian law, Property, Constitutional Law, Cultural
Resources Law, and Critical Race Theory. Prior to joining the University of Arizona
in 2016, Professor Tsosie was a Regents Professor at the Sandra Day O’Connor
College of Law at Arizona State University, where she also served as Vice Provost
for Inclusion and Community Engagement. Professor Tsosie was the first faculty
Executive Director of ASU’s Indian Legal Program and served in that position for
fifteen years. While at ASU, Professor Tsosie also held an academic appointment
with the faculty of Philosophy within the School of Historical, Philosophical and
Religious Studies, and she served as an affiliate faculty member for the American
Indian Studies Program and a Distinguished Sustainability Scientist for the Global
Institute of Sustainability.
Professor Tsosie, who is of Yaqui descent, is recognized nationally and
internationally for her work in the fields of Federal Indian law and Indigenous
peoples’ human rights. Professor Tsosie is a member of the Arizona Bar Association
and the California Bar Association. She serves as an appellate judge for the Supreme
Court of the Fort McDowell Yavapai Nation, as well as the San Carlos Tribal Court
ofAppeals. Professor Tsosie received her Bachelor of Arts and Juris Doctorate degrees
from the University of California, Los Angeles, and she was also a President’s Postdoctoral
Fellow at the University of California.
Breaking Barriers and Building Bridges: Career Development of North Korean Millennials in South Korea
Thursday, April 6, at 2 PM PDT to 3 PM PDT
Zoom Link:https://sjsu.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_rMfdVSkGTUKeF9Gri64LEA
Presenter: Dr. Hyewon Park, Senior Researcher, the Institute for Educational Research at Yonsei University
The presentation centers around an ethnographic study that investigates the career trajectories of young adult North Korean defectors (NKDs). The study explores the systemic challenges that young adult NKDs confront as first-generation learners in South Korean education systems within a highly competitive education culture. This research serves to advance our comprehension of the often overlooked obstacles that underrepresented young adult populations encounter while striving to succeed in society and the implications for career counseling and education for first-generation students.
Bio: Dr. Hyewon Park is a senior researcher at the Institute for Educational Research
at Yonsei University in South Korea. At the core of Dr. Park's research is a focus
on education as a means for driving social change, particularly for socially and economically
marginalized people. She has been involved in various research projects, such as the
career development of underrepresented learners, the development of vocational education
curricula, and critical analysis in education systems. Currently, she is passionately
committed to achieving educational equity by teaching digital literacy skills to low-income
and disabled learners as a bilingual instructor at Community Tech Network. Dr. Park
holds a Ph.D. in Lifelong Learning and Adult Education from the Pennsylvania State
University.
Diversity for Representation
Tuesday, November 29, at 12 PM PST/ 3 PM EST
Zoom Link: https://sjsu.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_SbTHAxlYQQiaqCXis4-V4Q
Presenter: Aisha Johnson, PhD, Associate Dean of Academic Affairs and Outreach, Georgia Tech Library
Dr. Aisha Johnson will discuss her path to librarianship, archives, and discovery of the Julius Rosenwald Library Fund. Her title, The African American Struggle for Library Equality: The Untold Story of the Julius Rosenwald Fund Library Program, unveils the almost forgotten philanthropic efforts of Julius Rosenwald, former president of Sears, Roebuck, Co., and an elite businessman. Rosenwald simply desired to improve, “the well-being of mankind” through access to education. The talk will extend into a discussion on the need for diversity for adequate representation in libraries and archives to provide service to all people. A talk on the impact of diversity, equity, and inclusion.
Bio: Dr. Aisha Johnson (she/her), Associate Dean for Academic Affairs and Outreach at Georgia
Institute of Technology Library, is a revelator of Southern library history. Formerly
an Assistant Professor/MLS Program Director for the School of Library and Information
Sciences at North Carolina Central University, she is committed to archival research,
the production of minority librarians and archivists for cultural preservation, and
redefining the scholar.
Johnson stands on a soapbox for unveiling the history of underrepresented communities.
She has focused much of her research on the development of literacy in the African
American community and philanthropic efforts to develop public libraries in the South.
Her advocacy for librarianship and archives is not only conveyed in her research,
but also her professional career.
When nobody looks like me: Navigating identity and culture in a corporate journey
Thursday, September 29, at 10 AM PST
Zoom Link: https://sjsu.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_lCn-77c7Q7avE1mDIpVnRw
Presenter: Maria Medrano, Sr. Director Diversity Partnerships and External Engagement
One thing everyone knows is how it feels to not belong. At a time when many of us want to be seen, connected, and supported, othering can make us feel the exact opposite. Sexual orientation, socioeconomic status, and even one’s own beliefs can be targets for othering, which can hold us back. Systemic injustices and racism also play a role.
For young leaders from underrepresented communities, what are the lessons that can help them navigate career challenges? How did those lessons influence my own career decisions? And how can academia and corporate America work together to lower the barriers for ambitious but underrepresented communities?
Through this discussion, I will share one Latina’s journey, along with lessons learned along the way, including:
- Remember who you are.
- Make your needs known.
- Create new connections that matter.
- ‘Ring the bell” for others.
- Invest in you.
Bio: Maria Medrano, Sr. Director Diversity Partnerships and External Engagement, is responsible for a global diversity partnership strategy that is inclusive of
policy and external partners with equitable outcomes that extend a sense of belonging.
With more than 20 years of experience, Maria is a balanced blend of strategist and
community advocate—holding roles in Inclusion, Community, HR, Finance, Operations
and Strategic Sales. In her previous role as Visa’s Chief Diversity Officer, Maria
was responsible for establishing the Inclusion, Diversity vision and mission and for
supporting the company’s promise of universal acceptance for everyone, everywhere.
Maria is a first-generation American of Mexican descent and the first in her family
to earn a college degree. Through her work, Maria has earned several important accolades,
including Top 100 under 40 Diversity MBA, Silicon Valley 40 under 40, and YWCA Tribute
to Women Emerging Leader Award. She continues to advise and serve on multiple non-profit
boards dedicated to improving the education of students in disadvantaged communities.
Engaging Our Communities Through EDI Work: Our Perspectives
Wednesday, November 17 at 9 AM PDT
Zoom Link: https://sjsu.zoom.us/j/82868881853
Presenters: Ray Pun & Patrice Green
This session will share how two librarians engage their communities through the values of equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI). As the field of librarianship continues to evolve, library workers have become more cognizant of what it means to share authority and knowledge inside and outside of their silos while working toward a more inclusive set of values. Recognizing librarianship as more than internal, transactional exchanges with limited audiences is essential to engaging in more reparative and meaningful work with community partners. From special collections to programming, both speakers will address the opportunities and challenges in integrating EDI into their respective activities.
Bio: Ray Pun is the Education/Outreach Manager at the Hoover Institution Library & Archives, Stanford
University. He holds a Doctorate in Education, a Master of Library Science, and a
Master of Arts in East Asian Studies. His research interests focus on the impact of
digital exclusion and library advocacy work on communities of color. Ray serves as
a CIRI International Advisory Board Member for SJSU School of Information. Most recently,
he was a merit reviewer for the National Telecommunications and Information Administration
(NTIA)'s broadband connectivity programs to award over $1.5 billion dollars to enhance
national broadband goals and efforts.
Bio: Patrice R. Green is the inaugural Curator for African American Collections at Penn State University.
She holds master's degrees in Public History and Library and Information Science from
the University of South Carolina, where she focused her studies in museums and material
culture, archives and preservation management, historic preservation, and 20th century
US history. Her current research interests include information literacy, information
privilege, and Black feminist theory. Green has served as an Emerging Leader with
the American Library Association and currently co-chairs the National Council on Public
History's Professional Development Committee.
Humble Leadership as a Humble Practice
Tuesday, November 9 at 10 AM PDT
Zoom Link: https://sjsu.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_cOHKLvH9TWuJoTxbbbcpYA
Presenter: Xan Goodman, Health Sciences Librarian, Associate Professor, University Libraries, University of Nevada Las Vegas
This 60-minute webinar will introduce the concept of humble leadership. Humble leadership is a leadership style developed by Dr. Edgar Schien, MIT Emeritus Professor of organizational psychology. This webinar will introduce the idea of humble leadership as a pathway to engage in leadership as a librarian. I will share my thoughts about humble leadership using a framework of cultural humility to situate humble leadership as a humble practice within a developing framework of cultural humility for librarianship.
Bio: Xan Goodman is Health Sciences Librarian at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, where she supports
three schools in the Division of Health Sciences, the School of Integrated Health
Sciences, School of Public Health, and School of Nursing. Xan is a co-editor of two
ACRL publications, Disciplinary Faculty-Librarian Collaborations: Integrating the
Information Literacy Framework into Disciplinary Courses (2021) and Applications of
Information Literacy Threshold Concepts (2017). She is also an American Library Association
Spectrum Scholar and a trained Racial Healing Circle Facilitator.
Visit our Youtube Playlist to Watch Past Recorded Webinars