Disability and Equity in Education Commons^™

Diversity Speaker Series: Donnell Collins, Angela Richardson

Speaker Series

A proud graduate of Northern Illinois University and East Aurora High School, Donnell has told stories of Aurora and beyond through the lens as a photojournalist for over 30 years, including the famous Rosa Parks photo taken here at IMSA in 1995. His works have also been featured in the Chicago Tribune, the Chicago Sun-Times, the Beacon News, and ESPN Magazine. Donnell is also a very proud IMSA parent and father of alum Kayla Collins Lightfoot, class of 2001! This event is brought to you by the IRC and Fine Arts Department.

The Hbcu Experience Panel : Why I Chose My Hbcu And How It Helped Me Prepare For My Career, Illinois Math And Science Academy, Angela Richardson

Educational Panels

Dr. Anita Connors White (Dean of Scholarship) - Panel Moderator

Angela Richardson (Information Resource Center, Supervisor)Event and Panel Coordinator

Panelists:

• Justin Alfred : Southern University and A&M College, Baton Rouge. Civil Engineering / Computer science. Lockheed Martin.
• Joseph Bertrand ‘20 : Alumni : North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, Associate Engineer at Caterpillar Inc.
• Darryl Burrell Jr. : Alumni :Morgan State University . Project manager at city of Pearland, Texas engineering and Public Works.
• Dr. Garry J. Kennebrew Jr. ‘04 : MAJ, US Army Reserve. Emergency Medicine Physician . Hospitals of Providence. University Medical Center of El Paso. Studied …

Hispanic Heritage Month 2025, Illinois Math And Science Academy

Cultural Read-Ins

See, I believe there are windows of hope in the present darkness of our current reality. As members of the IMSA community, we have a responsibility to find and open these windows of hope or build them if we must." -Convocation, 2021

Read-In Order

Opening Video    Dr. Torres's Retirement Video

Land Acknowledgement   Rodrigo Sanchez

Intro to Hispanic Heritage Month   Student Hosts

Remembrance Bio  Student Hosts

Tribute Performance     Poetic Justice

Introduction to Keynote  Student Hosts

Keynote Remarks  Ana Lizza Arroyo

Honor Dr. Torres's Memory   IMSA Community Members Past and Present

Community Readings    IMSA Community

The Hbcu Experience Why I Chose My Hbcu And How It Helped Me Prepare For My Career, Illinois Mathematics And Science Academy, Angela Richardson

Educational Panels

Panel/Event Coordinator: Angela Richardson

Moderated by: Dr. Anita White

Panelists:

• Justin Alfred : Southern University and A&M College, Baton Rouge. Civil Engineering / Computer science. Lockheed Martin.
• Joseph Bertrand ‘20 : Alumni : North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, Associate Engineer at Caterpillar Inc.
• Darryl Burrell Jr. : Alumni :Morgan State University . Project manager at city of Pearland, Texas engineering and Public Works.
• Dr. Garry J. Kennebrew Jr. ‘04 : Alumni :Morehouse College. Alumni Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine . Emergency medicine physician.
• Jai.da Lewis ‘15 : Alumni :Texas Southern University Chemistry. Owner, Poised Lips by …

Hispanic Heritage Month, Illinois Math And Science Academy

Cultural Read-Ins

Celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month with Alma Latina! Join Alma Latina for a day of delicious food, music, and cultural exploration as we honor the diverse heritage of Latin American countries.

The Hbcu Experience: Why I Chose My Hbcu And How It Helped Me Prepare For My Career, Illinois Mathematics And Science Academy, Angela Richardson

Educational Panels

Panel/Event Coordinator: Angela Richardson

Moderated by: Dr. Anita White

Panelists:

• Justin Alfred : Southern University and A&M College, Baton Rouge. Civil Engineering / Computer science. Lockheed Martin.
• Joseph Bertrand ‘20 : Senior at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, Greensboro, NC. Mechanical Engineering.
• Darryl Burrell Jr. : Morgan State University, Baltimore, MD.Civil Engineering. City of Houston,Houston Public Works.
• Dr. Garry J. Kennebrew Jr. ‘04 : Morehouse College, Atlanta BS Biology Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine.Doctorate in Medicine.
• Jaida Lewis ‘15 : Texas Southern University Chemistry. Owner, Poised Lips by Jai Program Coordinator, CVS Health.
• Ja’Nae …

2023 African American Read-In, Illinois Mathematics And Science Academy

Cultural Read-Ins

This event was co-sponsored by the Black Student Union (BSU), Peer Multicultural Educators (PME), Brotherhood Sister Circle (BHSC), Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, IRC, and the English and History/Social Science teams.

Guest speaker: Sam Adams; Current Magazines, featured columnist

The Hbcu Experience: Why I Chose My Hbcu And How It Helped Me Prepare For My Career, Illinois Mathematics And Science Academy

Educational Panels

Panel/Event Coordinator: Angela Richardson

Facilitated by: Dr. Anita White

Panelists:

• Justin Alfred | Southern University and A&M College, Baton Rouge
• Jayda Yancy ‘19 | North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University, Greensboro, NC
• Tony Richardson II | Southern University and A&M College, Baton Rouge
• Joseph Pollard | Tuskegee University, Tuskegee, Alabama
• Ja’Nae McGee | Southern University and A&M College, Baton Rouge
• Zoe Mitchell ‘19 | Xavier University, New Orleans
• Darryl Burrell Jr. | Morgan State University, Baltimore, MD
• Joseph Bertrand ‘20 | North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University, Greensboro, NC
• Dr. Garry J. Kennebrew Jr. ‘04 | Morehouse College, …

2022 Disabilities Read-In, Illinois Mathematics And Science Academy

Cultural Read-Ins

This event is being co-sponsored by PME, L & D Matters, the History and English Departments, the Office of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, and the IRC.

Special Guest: Jon Gilroy

2022 Black History Month Read-In, Illinois Mathematics And Science Academy

Cultural Read-Ins

This event was co-sponsored by the Black Student Union (BSU), Peer Multicultural Educators (PME), Brotherhood Sister Circle (BHSC), Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, IRC, and the English and History/Social Science teams.

Special Guest: Rapheal Mathis

2021 Native American Heritage Read-In, Illinois Mathematics And Science Academy

Cultural Read-Ins

This event was co-sponsored by Peer Multicultural Educators (PME), Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, the English team, the History/Social Science team, and the IRC.

Special Guest: Bill Miller

2021 Latinx Read-In, Illinois Mathematics And Science Academy

Cultural Read-Ins

This event was co-sponsored by Peer Multicultural Educators (PME), Alma Latina, the English team, the History/Social Science team, and the IRC.

1. Imsa’S Equity And Excellence Scorecard, Adrienne Coleman, Traci Ellis, Hannah Anderson

Equity and Excellence Scorecard

The Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, in collaboration with the Office of Institutional Research, has developed the Equity and Excellence Scorecard. The Equity and Excellence Scorecard is a process to measure the progress of the Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy (IMSA) Equity and Excellence Policy. This Scorecard was established through an intensive process which included the collection, organization, analysis, and interpretation of institutional data related to diversity, equity, and inclusion utilizing an array of assessments aligned with each outcome strategy identified within the Equity and Excellence Policy.

3. 2021 Diversity Climate Survey: Summary Of Findings, Adrienne Coleman, Hannah Anderson

Equity and Excellence Scorecard

In March 2021, a survey regarding diversity and school climate was administered by the Office of Diversity, Equity, and inclusion. This survey was adapted from the National Climate Survey developed by the Gay, Lesbian and Straight Education Network (GLSEN). There were a total of 551 survey responses, 48 of which were removed due to incomplete survey responses. Of the remaining 503 authentic responses, there were 182 Sophomores, 156 Juniors, 147 Seniors, and 18 that did not indicate their grade level. Below is a summary of the major results from the survey.

5. Stem Education Equity Analysis Tool Summary Of Findings, Adrienne Coleman, Traci Ellis, Hannah Anderson

Equity and Excellence Scorecard

The STEM Education Equity Analysis Tool is used by schools to self-evaluate their equity in STEM teaching and learning, with an emphasis on graduating students who are prepared for and excited about engaging in STEM careers. The STEM Education Equity Analysis Tool, created by the Great Lakes Equity Center (i.e., MAP Center), was administered as part of the development of IMSA’s Equity and Excellence scorecard via Qualtrics.

2. Intercultural Development Inventory, Adrienne Coleman, Traci Ellis, Hannah Anderson

Equity and Excellence Scorecard

The Intercultural Development Inventory^® (IDI^®) assesses intercultural competence—the capability to shift cultural perspective and appropriately adapt behavior to cultural differences and commonalities.

Access To Quality Education For The Underprivileged, Jayant Kumar '23, Ayati Lala '23, Jacqueline Zhang '23, Julius Wardlow '23

Student Leadership Exchange (SLX)

Education is something that everyone deserves; however, throughout the USA, there are extreme inequalities in the education system. In Illinois specifically, districts in affluent neighborhoods, such as districts 204 and 203, have graduation rates more than 10% above the state average, along with more opportunities like clubs, extracurriculars, sports, and easier access to tutoring. Conversely, districts such as 189 and 131, which are in less affluent areas, see graduation rates 10% below the state average, as well as fewer opportunities for their students as stated in the Illinois State Report Cards. As a result, we hereby propose a solution that …

2021 Women In Literature Read-In, Illinois Mathematics And Science Academy

Cultural Read-Ins

This event was co-sponsored by BELLAS, GEN, Girls IN2 STEM, Peer Multicultural Educators (PME), the IRC, and the English team.

8. Institutional Model For Faculty Diversity Self-Assessment Tool Summary Of Findings, Adrienne Coleman, Traci Ellis, Hannah Anderson

Equity and Excellence Scorecard

The Institutional Self-Assessment for Inclusive Faculty Recruitment, Hiring, and Retention Tool is designed to evaluate the actions taken by an organization to effectively hire, retain, and support the success of underrepresented faculty in STEM. More specifically, this assessment tool aids institutions in identifying their strengths, weaknesses, and effectiveness of existing programs and/or policies as they strive to increase STEM faculty diversity.

2021 Black History Read-In, Illinois Mathematics And Science Academy

Cultural Read-Ins

This event was co-sponsored by the Black Student Union (BSU), Peer Multicultural Educators (PME), the IRC, English team, and History/Social Science team.

Special Guest: Christopher Whitehead

7. Stem Equity Program Evaluation Rubric Promise Program, Adrienne Coleman, Traci Ellis, Hannah Anderson

Equity and Excellence Scorecard

The STEM Equity Program Evaluation Rubric is designed to help program administrators, designers, implementers and funders identify the critical attributes of a STEM program to determine the degree to which it is inclusive and supports access and success for students who historically have not engaged in STEM. Serving “all students” does not ensure equity, so considering how each of these attributes impacts underrepresented students in STEM and addressing those barriers will create a STEM learning environment where every student can succeed (NAPE, 2019).

6. Stem Equity Program Evaluation Rubric Center For Teaching And Learning (Ctl) Summary Of Findings, Adrienne Coleman, Traci Ellis, Hannah Anderson

Equity and Excellence Scorecard

The STEM Equity Program Evaluation Rubric is designed to help program administrators, designers, implementers and funders identify the critical attributes of a STEM program to determine the degree to which it is inclusive and supports access and success for students who historically have not engaged in STEM. Serving “all students” does not ensure equity, so considering how each of these attributes impacts underrepresented students in STEM and addressing those barriers will create a STEM learning environment where every student can succeed (NAPE, 2019).

4. Trauma Responsive School Implementation Assessment, Adrienne Coleman, Traci Ellis, Hannah Anderson, Katie Berger, Takeisha Rheams

Equity and Excellence Scorecard

The TRS-IA is an evidence-informed self-assessment that can be quickly and efficiently used to identify trauma responsive programming and policy domains of strengths, as well as areas with greater room for improvement.

2020 Lgbtqa+ Read-In, Illinois Mathematics And Science Academy

Cultural Read-Ins

This event was co-sponsored by Peer Multicultural Educators (PME), SPECTRUM, the IRC, and the English team.

Special Guest: Yolanda Williams

2020 Hispanic Heritage Month Read-In, Illinois Mathematics And Science Academy

Cultural Read-Ins

This event was co-sponsored by Peer Multicultural Educators (PME), the IRC, and the English team.

Special Guest: Spoken Word Artist, Michael Reyes, sharing an original piece!!

2020 Jewish Literature Read-In, Illinois Mathematics And Science Academy

Cultural Read-Ins

This event was co-sponsored by Peer Multicultural Educators (PME), the IRC, and the English team.

3rd Annual Diversifying Stem Think Tank, Adrienne Coleman

Diversifying STEM Think Tank

This Diversifying STEM Think Tank will share the D-STEM Equity Model, which resulted from previous Think Tanks and continue to build upon it, providing strategies to enhance diversity in STEM education and careers. The factors that motivate Black and Latino students to engage in STEM will also be discussed, specifically related to the integration of a culturally responsive curriculum. With a focus on STEM equity, an increase in diverse STEM majors may occur, visibility of Black and Latino professionals in STEM careers may increase, and ultimately we may solve global problems in a culturally responsive manner. Thus, the 2020 Diversifying …

2020 African American Read-In, Illinois Mathematics And Science Academy

Cultural Read-Ins

This event was co-sponsored by the Black Student Union (BSU), Peer Multicultural Educators (PME), the IRC, and the English team.

2020 Asian Literature Read-In, Illinois Mathematics And Science Academy

Cultural Read-Ins

This event was co-sponsored by ASIA, Peer Multicultural Educators (PME), the IRC, and the English team.

Chasing Equity, Samantha Taylor '21, London Bennett '21, Kayla Quigley '21, Len Washington Iii '21

Student Leadership Exchange (SLX)

Our main goal is to fight against the inequities present within our country and communities. The disadvantages that marginalized individuals encounter create obstacles that make obtaining success extremely difficult, and for some, impossible. We aim to challenge the lack of representation of middle and lower class citizens by proposing to federally dismantle lobbying within America’s Executive, Judicial, and Legislative Branches. This all attempts to accomplish the UN Sustainable Goal of reduced inequalities. Lobbying is not only immoral but discriminates against individuals who do not have sufficient funds to engage in it, which in this case happens to be a majority …