Composing the Academy: Anti-Racism, Linguistic Justice, and Culturally Responsive Writing Pedagogy

Join us on  Friday, May 6, 2022 from 2:00-3:00 p.m. for a workshop led by Dr. Daniel Collins and Dr. Meghan Gilbert addressing ongoing changes to the Composition Program at Guttman Community College.  These changes are grounded in anti-racist pedagogy and theory, as well as the scholarship and activism of linguistic justice. Drawing from Critical Race Theory, Abolitionist theory and pedagogy, and contemporary Composition theory informed by Culturally Responsive Pedagogy, this session will outline current Composition initiatives at Guttman.     This workshop is intended for a broad, multi-disciplinary audience.  Although our work commences from changes in our writing program at Guttman, it addresses a broader set of ideologies around how we assign and assess writing in the CUNY classroom.   Core principles include student access, student voice, and joy and love as pedagogical foundations.    The workshop will begin with a presentation outlining Guttman’s progress and the rationale for the work we’ve done. However, we anticipate and will provide space for a broad and robust conversation and sharing of best practices. Attendees are encouraged to bring questions, ideas, and current practices, and to participate deeply as we collaborate toward bettering instruction across CUNY.

Register for the workshop here (please note that space will be limited. If you register and find you will be unable to attend, please email innovative.pedagogy@cuny.edu)

Daniel Collins is a Professor at Guttman Community College. He received his Ph.D. from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. Recently, Daniel completed a Master’s in Public Health, and he is currently interested in the relationship between the act of writing and the creation and maintenance of student well-being. Dr. Collins completed a two-part series on Implicit Bias by the Equity Consulting Group and a seminar on Racial Literacy and Culturally Responsive Pedagogy offered by Yolanda Sealy-Ruiz of Columbia University’s Teachers College. Along with Meghan Gilbert, he is writing a book-length manuscript, Composing an Anti-Racist Academy, about culturally responsive pedagogy, anti-racism, and linguistic justice in the Composition classroom and beyond.

Meghan Gilbert is an Assistant Professor of English. Dr. Gilbert holds a Ph.D. in English from St. John’s University. Like Professor Collins, she has participated in the series on Implicit Bias and seminar on Racial Literacy and Culturally Responsive Pedagogy, as well as many additional workshops and sessions on equitable curriculum and pedagogy. Dr. Gilbert’s recent book- and article-length publications focus on intersectionality and advocacy in contemporary popular culture and fiction. Along with Daniel Collins, she is writing a book-length manuscript, Composing an Anti-Racist Academy, about culturally responsive pedagogy, anti-racism, and linguistic justice in the Composition classroom and beyond.   This event is presented as part of a virtual teaching workshop series called Teaching Matters, featuring monthly, free, one-hour summits of CUNY faculty and staff devoted to sharing innovative teaching strategies and student-centered learning methods. Each gathering includes a focused, interactive and engaged peer-to-peer workshop, and a few practical teaching tips that can be used in any classroom.    The CUNY Innovative Teaching Academy, established in 2020, aims to improve pedagogy at scale and recognize excellence and innovation in teaching by CUNY faculty. The Academy is predicated on the recognition that the quality of pedagogy and access to high-impact practices has a direct and measurable impact on the quantity and quality of degrees produced by CUNY and the ability of CUNY graduates to be well-positioned for meaningful careers and further study.For any questions, please email Innovative.Pedagogy@cuny.edu.