Student success symposium set for April 21-22

April 17, 2014

Four distinguished and award-winning education experts from across the U.S. will head to the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater for the inaugural Student Success Symposium.

The event, April 21-22 in the James R. Connor University Center, will explore "The Color of Success: African American Men in Higher Education and Beyond."

"We spend so much time talking about the difficulties facing African American men, both in education and society," said Mark McPhail, dean of the College of Arts and Communication. "Our guests are all very successful in the work that they do with African American men, and with all university students. They are creating a culture of leadership within their organizations."

Guests include:

• Henry T. Frierson, associate vice president, dean of the graduate school and professor of educational psychology at the University of Florida. Frierson's current interests include program evaluation, examining the effects of mentoring and increasing the number of individuals of color in doctoral programs and research careers.
• William Keyes, president and founder of the Institute for Responsible Citizenship. Keyes is deeply involved in education and has served on the Board of Trustees of Landon School, an independent college preparatory school for boys, in Bethesda, Md. and on the National Selection Committee for the Coca-Cola Scholars Foundation. He also served as executive director of the Institute on Political Journalism at Georgetown University and was a senior policy advisor to the White House.
• Jerlando F. L. Jackson, the Vilas Distinguished Professor of Higher Education and director of the Wisconsin Equity and Inclusion Laboratory at UW-Madison. Jackson's research explores workforce diversity and workplace discrimination in higher education. He has authored more than 100 publications, delivered 175 presentations and published four books.
• DeVon Wilson, assistant dean of the College of Letters and Science and director of the Center for Academic Excellence at UW-Madison. Previously, he held various roles at Beloit College, including serving as assistant dean of students and project director of academic achievement programs. He also was a managing partner of Our World Business Solutions, an educational and corporate consulting firm.

Frierson, Keyes, Jackson and Wilson will meet various departments and divisions throughout their stay. Faculty and staff can meet them at an open meet-and-greet session from 1-3 p.m. Monday, April 21 in the University Center, room 275A. Students are welcome to attend a similar session in the University Center from 3-5 p.m. in the Warhawk Connection Center.

The forum will also feature a student panel from noon - 1:30 p.m. on Tuesday, April 22 in the University Center, room 275A.

For more information, contact McPhail at mcphailm@uww.edu.