Inclusive Excellence Summit

The Inclusive Excellence Summit provides a space for staff, faculty and student leaders to be in community and conversation on key DEI topics, institutional priorities, and concrete strategies, tools and resources for everyone to play a part in maintaining progress toward our shared goals.

Embracing History & Counter Storytelling

Program Schedule Coming Soon!

Friday, November 7, 2025

10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

University Union Theatre
Lunch provided

Keynote Speaker

Nikole Hannah-Jones

Nikole Hannah-Jones

Award-winning investigative reporter who covers civil rights and racial injustice for The New York Times Magazine and the Knight Chair in Race and Journalism at Howard University where she is the founding director of the Center for Journalism & Democracy. 

Unearthing Towson's History Project 

The Unearthing Towson鈥檚 History Project is an interdisciplinary collaborative effort that centers students as researchers and interpreters and connects alumni and the wider community to the university. Inspired by efforts at other American colleges and 麻豆传媒高清 to come to terms with a legacy of racial inequality in American high education, a team of Towson University researchers has begun a multi-year project to investigate and publicize this institution鈥檚 exclusionist past and its ongoing efforts to diversify. The project is a collaboration between the , the Department of History, and the Office of Inclusion and Institutional Equity with the support of the Office of the President and the Office of the Provost. Unearthing Towson's History Project is a member of the Universities Studying Slavery.

Speakers

Ashley Todd-Diaz

Ashley Todd-Diaz, Ph.D. 

Director of Distinctive Collections and Digital Scholarship

Christian J. Koot

Christian J. Koot, Ph.D.

Chair and Professor in the Department of History

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Breakout Sessions

Investigating the Truth Despite the Threats: Building Advocacy in Journalism

This session will focus on how the power of investigative journalism requires foundational argumentation skills to help uncover the hidden truths to amplify voices often left out of dominant narratives. These outcomes impact how the public receives and interacts with the information, which creates public discourse that seeps into interpersonal relations. This session will highlight how journalists like Nikole Hannah-Jones use storytelling to challenge systems of inequality, elevate marginalized perspectives, and hold institutions accountable. Throughout this session, attendees can expect to get theoretical understandings of how to engage in investigative journalism, apply these approaches pragmatically through confronting the truth via debates, and then explore the meaning despite opposition.

Speakers

Kanika Jackson

Kanika Jackson, Ph.D. (she/her)

Assistant Teaching Professor in the Department of Communication Studies and the Director of the Public Communication Center (PCC).

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Michael Harrington

Michael Harrington, M.A. (he/him/his)

Director of Debate and Lecturer in the Department of Communication Studies

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Stacy Spaulding

Stacy Spaulding, Ph.D. (she/her/hers)

Chair and Professor in the Department of Mass Communicatons

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Rauf Arif

Rauf Arif, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor in the Department of Mass Communications

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John Kirch

John Kirch, Ph.D.

Associate Profession in the Department of Mass Communications

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The Legislative History of DEI: From Policy to Practice

This session will trace the historical arc of diversity, equity, and inclusion in U.S. law and policy. Attendees will examine landmark legislation, executive actions, and judicial rulings that have shaped the current DEI landscape. Through a critical lens, the session will connect past policy debates to present-day challenges and opportunities in higher education, workplaces, and communities.
 

Speaker

Donn Worgs

Donn Worgs, Ph.D.

Professor in the Department of Political Science

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The Economic Impact of Recent Executive Orders on DEI

Executive orders on diversity, equity, and inclusion have far-reaching effects on education, employment, and business practices. This session will unpack the economic implications of recent federal directives, including their influence on workforce development, funding streams, and organizational strategy. Participants will engage in dialogue on how institutions can adapt while maintaining their commitment to equity and inclusion.

SpeakerS

Tanja Darden

Tanja Darden, Ph.D.

Assistant Professor in the Department of Management

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Daraius Irani

Daraius Irani, Ph.D.

Vice President for Business and Public Engagement

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Equity Games: Learning Through Play

This interactive session uses experiential activities and equity-focused games to spark conversation about bias, privilege, and systemic inequities. By 鈥減laying鈥 through real-world scenarios, participants will gain new insights into the complexities of diversity and inclusion work. The session emphasizes collaboration, reflection, and practical strategies for applying lessons learned to everyday contexts.

Speakers

Nadea Armogan

Nadea Armogan (she/her/hers)

Coordinator for Bias Education and Advocacy in the Office of Inclusive Excellence Education and Support

Erin Wilson

Erin Wilson

Divisional Budget Officer in the Division of Administration and Finance



ASL interpreting and captioning will be provided for the opening remarks, keynote speaker, panel Q&A and the closing session. ASL interpreting for individual breakout sessions will be provided upon request. If you require ASL interpreting for the breakout session or require other disability-related accommodations to participate in the summit, please indicate your requests on the registration form. To ensure timely fulfillment, we kindly ask that all accommodation requests be submitted by October 20, 2025

Contact Information

Inclusive Excellence Summit

Location
University Union (Map)
281 University Ave
Towson, MD 21204
Hours
Friday, Nov. 7, 2025
10 a.m. - 4 p.m.
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