Northwest Missouri State University (NWMSU) will host a lecture on cultural inclusion in higher education on Wednesday, October 23, 2024. The presentation will feature Toby S. Jenkins, an Associate Professor of Higher Education at the University of Southern Carolina and the 2022 recipient of the Individual Leadership Award from the National Association of Diversity Officers in Higher Education. Jenkins’ lecture is titled “The Hip Hop Mindset: Turning Up the Volume to Educational Practice.”
Event Details
Scheduled for 7 p.m., the event will take place in the Charles Johnson Theater within the Olive DeLuce Fine Arts Building. Following the lecture, a discussion centered around Jenkins’ book will occur.
About Professor Jenkins
In addition to her teaching role, Professor Jenkins serves as the interim Associate Dean of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at the University of Southern Carolina’s Graduate School. Her visit to NWMSU is part of the Fall Ploghoft Lecture series.
Significance of the Lecture
Kiene, an Associate Professor in the School of Education at NWMSU, highlighted the significance of Jenkins’ lecture for pre-service teachers, stating it will offer insights into incorporating cultural elements from their communities into their teaching practices. The intention of the Ploghoft Lecture series is to equip participants with practical strategies and tools for classroom application.
Academic Focus
Professor Jenkins focuses her academic work on using culture as a means of fostering social survival, addressing themes of social change and transformational spaces within higher education. Her contributions to this field were recognized with the Outstanding Scholarship Award by the National Conference on Race and Ethnicity in 2021.
Publications and Research
Jenkins is the author of five books that investigate cultural, familial, and educational ideologies in modern society and has conducted research in over 30 countries. Before her tenure at the University of Southern Carolina, she held administrative roles at several notable institutions, including the University of Maryland, Penn State University, George Mason University, Georgia Southern University, and the University of Hawaii. Jenkins has also provided consulting services for more than 50 national organizations and has delivered over 100 lectures and workshops internationally.
Ploghoft Diversity Lecture Series
The Ploghoft Diversity Lecture Series at NWMSU is made possible through funding from the late Dr. Milton Ploghoft and his wife, Zella. The series seeks to broaden the educational perspectives of teacher candidates and increase awareness of the challenges encountered by students from diverse backgrounds. Dr. Milton Ploghoft, a 1949 alumnus of NWMSU, made significant contributions to education both locally and globally.
Contact Information
For additional information regarding the Ploghoft Diversity Lecture series, interested individuals may contact Dr. Ashley Strickland, the chair of the series, at 660-562-1838 or via email at [email protected].
Source: KQ2 News
