About this Keynote: 

The prospect of developing an equity practice in education can be daunting. To begin with, the academy, at its inception, was designed to be exclusionary, in addition, today’s educators are increasingly stretched by day-to-day demands and societal changes. So getting it wrong, at least occasionally, is guaranteed. This keynote explores historical and contemporary inequities in the academy, the challenges inherent in embedding an inclusive practice in higher education, and why adopting and maintaining an equity lens, despite the pitfalls, will result in necessary culture shifts.

About the Keynote Presenter: 

Lisa White is the inaugural executive director of equity at Concordia University. Lisa began her advocacy and policy work in academia when she joined the Concordia Student Union Advocacy Centre in 2006. A Concordia alum, she has held key administrative roles such as Director of the Office of Rights and Responsibilities. Leading the Equity Office, Lisa oversees the strategic implementation of recommendations centered on advancing equity, diversity, and inclusion at Concordia. Lisa’s work is informed by over a decade of experience in addressing issues of discrimination and equity in higher education spaces as well as social justice and community-based approaches.