About the Lecture Series

Advancing social justice is a long tradition and core value of information professionals and cultural heritage institutions. The Department of Library and Information Science at CatholicU has always embodied the principle of social justice in its teaching, research and service. It instills a mindset that nurtures a commitment to community service, an openness to change and global perspectives, and a dedication to the philosophy, principles, and legal and ethical responsibilities of the field for the society. In order to represent its tradition in upholding core values and responsibility for social justice, in spring 2019, we are pleased to inaugurate a dedicated lecture series on social justice named after Sister Thea Bowman.

Sister Thea Bowman was a Franciscan Sister of Perpetual Adoration. She attended Viterbo College in La Crosse, Wisconsin, while preparing to enter the convent. She earned a M.A. and Ph.D in English from The Catholic University of America.  She went on to teach at elementary schools and later at CatholicU and Xavier University in New Orleans, Louisiana.  After sixteen years in academia, Sister Thea Bowman became a consultant for intercultural awareness for the Diocese of Mississippi. Her programs were designed to break down racial and cultural barriers. She believed that through communication and understanding of other cultures and ethnicities, racial injustice could be minimized. Many felt that Sister Thea Bowman’s efforts left a lasting mark on U.S. Catholic life in the late 20th century. An influential speaker on music and diversity and inclusion, her work continues to have a profound impact on the world. After battling cancer, Sister Thea Bowman, died in 1990. The United States bishops endorsed her canonization to sainthood in November, 2018. Her case will continue for approval through commission. If approved, her cause will proceed to the Vatican where she will be declared venerable.

 Read the Archivist's Nook posting on Sr. Thea Bowman

 

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2023 Lecture with Dr. Michele A. L. Villagran
"Using the Power of Cultural Intelligence to address Critical Societal Needs in the LIS field"

Wednesday, November 15, 2023 at 6:00-7:00PM EST via Zoom

Abstract: Our LIS field requires interactions and relationships with individuals who are different from ourselves. Building culturally intelligent organizations means adapting how we work, how we think about cultures, how we communicate, and how we behave. It means that the individuals, structure, leadership, and initiatives of a library or institution must reflect a variety of perspectives, values, and preferences. Cultural intelligence plays a vital role in achieving sustainable development in organizations. Embracing cultural intelligence not only promotes equality and social cohesion – but also brings numerous benefits to organizations and the wider society. In a time where our LIS field and society are faced with ongoing disasters, housing concerns, transportation challenges, gender equality, health and well-being, unsafe societies, discrimination, etc. whether inside our institutions or external to the information communities with which we serve, in order to really change, an organization has to commit to continuous valuation. The goal of this talk is to explore how you can apply cultural intelligence to empower your organizations to tackle some of the societal needs that are most crucial within your organization and in the communities you serve.

About the Speaker

Accommodations and Special Needs

For disability accommodations please contact the department at cua-lis@cua.edu or 202-319-5085. In all situations, a good faith effort (up until the time of the event) will be made to provide accommodations.

2022 Lecture with Dr. Bharat Mehra

"A 'Voice' from Intersecting Margins to Further Social Justice Scholarship and Advocacy in Library and Information Science"

Thursday, November 10, 2022.  6:00-7:00PM via Zoom

Abstract: During his presentation entitled "A "Voice" from Intersecting Margins to Further Social Justice Scholarship and Advocacy in Library and Information Science" for the 4th Sister Thea Bowman Social Justice lecture series, Dr. Mehra will share insights from his academic journey as a faculty member, educator, and activist over 20 years to further social justice scholarship and advocacy within mainstream LIS canons under the dark shadows of post-positivist paradigms and privileged white networks.  As an intersectional scholar he will share glimpses of past and recent research endeavors and approaches that attempt to decenter white-privileged entrenchments and other forms of oppressions within the academy and beyond.  He will also illustrate the operationalization of the concept of "voice" emerging from the intersecting margins in LIS that have generated social justice impacts that are deliberate, systematic, action-oriented, and community-engaged while making meaningful changes in the everyday lives of disenfranchised populations and others.

About the Speaker

Dr. Bharat Mehra is EBSCO Endowed Chair in Social Justice and Professor in the School of Library and Information Studies at the University of Alabama.  As a survivor growing up with child abuse and domestic violence in India and as a gay scholar of color in the United States, he is privileged to find his atypical "voice" through social justice scholarship and advocacy in library and information science (LIS). Dr. Mehra's research focuses on social justice and social equity concerns in LIS and community informatics or the use of information and communication technologies to empower minority and underserved populations to make meaningful changes in their everyday lives.  He has authored/co-authored over 175 peer-reviewed publications on equity, diversity, inclusion, accessibility, and international social justice content since 1998 (including >65 in referred journals).  Dr. Mehra is the book editor of Emerald Publishing's  Advances in Librarianship Series.