Antiracism & Intersectional Justice Committee

About the Committee

The Writing & Critical Inquiry (WCI) Program's Antiracism and Intersectional Justice Committee seeks to center the voices of individuals who have been marginalized in pedagogical, curricular, institutional and systemic contexts to reconfigure power relations and cultivate an equitable learning, work and community environment at UAlbany. 

The committee’s key goals include: 

  • Sustained inquiry into antiracist and intersectional texts and pedagogical practices 

  • Amplifying voices of historically marginalized populations by raising funds to bring in BIPOC and LGBTQI educators to train WCI faculty in antiracism and intersectional pedagogy 

  • Inviting WCI students to participate in our shared inquiry and to share their experiential knowledge 

  • Hiring and participating in the retention of more faculty of color within WCI 

The committee’s work deepens and amplifies WCI’s mission to help students think critically about the world around them.  

By emphasizing both reflection and tangible action, the committee puts the diversity and inclusion goals outlined in UAlbany’s Strategic Plan into practice. 

 

Partner with Us 

The Antiracism & Intersectional Justice Committee partners with student organizations, University departments and units, off-campus organizations and other groups to host events and workshops.  

Please contact Courtney Ryan ([email protected]) to share opportunities to work together. 

 

Upcoming Events 

We encourage you to attend the SUNY Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Social Justice in the Curriculum Conference: Building A Community of Practice, which will be held on UAlbany’s Uptown Campus in November 2023. 

Additional events will be posted here as they are announced.

Please visit the University’s Events Calendar for more upcoming events on campus. 

 

Recent Events 

Intersectional Antihomophobia & Antiracism Workshop (April 2023)

The Antiracism and Intersectional Justice Committee hosted In Our Own Voices on campus for a three-hour intersectional workshop on antihomophobia and antiracism on April 19, 2023. 

In Our Own Voices (IOOV) has served Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) People of Color (POC) in the Capital Region community for 25 years. 

In Our Own Voices Chief Operating Officer Phillip Burse ’04 speaks during a intersectional workshop on antihomophobia and antiracism.

Fifty UAlbany students, faculty and staff members attended the event, which started with a workshop on working with Queer/Trans People of Color (QTPOC) in supportive, antiracist and antihomophobic ways. 

The session was led by IOOV Chief Operating Officer Phillip Burse '04, who is a recipient of the University’s Harvey Milk Alumnus Award.

Mixed groups of participants continued their discussions while eating lunch together. After the meal, Burse led a discussion session exclusively for students, especially those who identify as QTPOC.

The students-only conversation focused on sharing experiences, building community and making specific suggestions for improving the campus climate. 

Students note-takers shared anonymized feedback from that conversation with the Antiracism and Intersectional Justice Committee. Additionally, all participants were encouraged to leave written comments. The Committee is considering both sources of feedback as we plan our next steps. 

This event was supported by several campus partners, including: