Understanding Students' Lived Experiences and Closing Equity Gaps

Among the prominent themes playing out at all levels of higher education pedagogy and practice is the need to understand the lived experiences and life contexts students from historically underserved populations bring to their educational endeavors. In this keynote presentation, Nani Jackins Park will discuss why these knowledge sets are critical to the design and implementation of culturally relevant and responsive curriculum and educational practice and closing attainment and equity gaps.

Deepen your knowledge of the relationship between understanding students' lived experiences and life contexts and culturally relevant and responsive pedagogical design and practice * Increase your understanding of how the root causes of educational disparities related to race have become embedded within higher ed systems through historical and contemporary practice * Engage in related conversations using "the real words"—direct and racialized language that doesn't mute the urgency or importance of the equity dynamics being addressed