SST celebrates Black History Month with annual keynote

Since the School of Social Transformation was established in 2009, the Black History Month lecture has been an annual event to celebrate and explore the nuances of Black history. This year’s keynote speaker is Joy Gaston Gayles, head of the Department of Educational Leadership, Policy and Human Development at North Carolina State University. Her research is focused on women and underrepresented communities of color in STEM, collegiate athletics and higher education.

“Her keynote ‘This Little Light of Mine: A Love Letter to Leaders Inspired by Black Women Leaders’ will offer inspirational vignettes of exemplary trailblazers that will inform attendees on the importance of vision, persistence, commitment and collaboration with humanizing values,” says African and African American Studies faculty Ersula Ore.

Gayles was selected as this year’s keynote speaker because her work on women and underrepresented people in STEM and higher education helps us to better understand how both students and faculty of minoritized communities can thrive as learners and leaders at ASU and beyond.

This event continues African and African American Studies’ ongoing lecture series exploring the role of Black women leaders in higher education, industry and the arts. This year, there is a faculty and graduate luncheon with Gayles. At the luncheon, faculty and graduates will reflect on their scholarly and professional trajectories, build career readiness confidence and expand their professional network by communicating with ASU faculty across all four campuses. Students will also get the opportunity to engage directly with Gayles.

“We hope this event inspires people to engage deeply with the rich history, culture and contributions of Black communities,” says Ore. “As a vital social institution, higher education has much to learn from the leadership and transformative insights of Black women, whose contributions continue to shape pathways toward inclusive excellence.”