2023-2024 Annual Report
Activities and Accomplishments of
The Center for the Study of Race, Ethnicity, and Social Justice
The Center for the Study of Race, Ethnicity, and Social Justice
The Center for the Study of Race, Ethnicity, and Social Justice
Academic Year 2023-2024
Annual Report
Summary and Overview
The Center for the Study of Race, Ethnicity, and Social Justice at Stonehill (CRES) launched in Fall 2021 after nearly five years of planning and preparation. During the 2023-2024 academic year, we welcomed a wide swath of scholars and cultural producers discussing a range of topics ranging from sports in Native America to economic justice to language and race to Freedom Schools to Indigenous engagement with science. CRES played a vital role in various sorts of programming beyond just the five lectures that took place on campus. We also assembled our proposal for a new major in Critical Race and Ethnic Studies and it was successfully passed. Starting this Fall 2024, Stonehill will launch this new major and minor in Critical Race and Ethnic Studies.
Presented in an in-person format, the programming of the Center for the Study of Race, Ethnicity, and Social Justice (CRES) was designed to complement the curriculum and foster student and faculty engagement in interdisciplinary studies of race, ethnicity, gender and sexuality studies, class, and social justice.
Over the course of the year, we had nearly 1,000 people attend CRES programs, including the Center’s inaugural donor, Liz Hayden, who joined us for several of our talks. The mix of events ranged from public-facing and student-facing to specific events structured to support faculty scholarly production. The major lectures were open to the public. As a result, in addition to the Stonehill College community, we had residents of Brockton, Easton, and Sharon attend our events.
CRES also fostered student-faculty collaboration and student creative accomplishments, sponsoring the Hayden Family SURE (Stonehill Undergraduate Research Experience) Scholar.
Dr. Stanley Thangaraj planned all the major lectures, workshops, and student-facing events on campus while playing a key role in issuing statements in support of justice. Under his continued leadership and guidance, CRES goals for the upcoming year are to host four lectures including the third Hayden Lecture, assembling the third annual undergraduate and graduate research conference, creating connections with Brockton for a “freedom school,” continuing with writing workshops and brown bag sessions for junior faculty, implementing the new major and minor, supporting the three new faculty of color who were part of the cluster hire, organizing an external advisory committee, and continuing to create interdisciplinary spaces to engage with race, ethnicity, and social justice.
2023-2024 CRES Leadership
Steering Committee
The Center’s 2023-2024 academic year also took shape with the leadership of the steering committee of the Center. In addition to Stan Thangaraj, the members of the steering committee included faculty from across the College:
- Laura Thiemann Scales, Associate Professor of English, Steering Committee Chair
- Jungyun Gill, Associate Professor of Sociology, Sociology Department Chair
- Megan K. Mitchell, Associate Professor of Philosophy
- Anwar Mhajne, Assistant Professor of Political Science
- Andrea Opitz, Assistant Professor of English, American Studies Program Director
CRES Public Events and Programs
The Center sponsored five public lectures in the 2023-2024 Academic Year, planned and organized by Dr. Stan Thangaraj, Administrative Assistant to the Dean of the May School of Arts & Sciences Erin Dzierzak, and Stonehill students. The events also received $2,500 in supporting funds from the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. The distinguished scholars and writers who visited campus represented a wide range of disciplines in the social sciences, humanities, sciences, and arts. The events were well attended by students, faculty, and staff, and residents of neighboring towns.
Men’s and Women’s Basketball
July 2023
Dr. Stan Thangaraj met with the coaches and players on the Stonehill College Women’s and Men’s Basketball teams to prepare them academically and give them resources for a successful collegiate intellectual experience. It was an hour-long session with the student-athletes in separate sessions with each team.
Dr. Jeffrey Fuhrer
September 2023
Dr. Nadia Kim presented on his book The Myth that Made Us. Dr. Fuhrer addressed the economic system holistically as a way to look at how economic policies have not worked with facts that could have supported many. His talk showed the ways that housing, health, and the economy were connected through racism. Dr. Fuhrer is a fellow at the Eastern Bank Foundation. We have over 100 students, faculty, and staff at this event.
Dr. Matthew Gilbert
October 2023
Dr. Matthew Gilbert presented on his book Hopi Runners. Dr. Gilbert addressed the long history of Native American boarding schools while looking at how young Hopi men negotiated settler colonialism and racism through their practices of long-distance running. He illuminated the Hopi epistemologies and relationships to the land that was centered around long-distance running. Dr. Matthew Gilbert is a Professor and the Director of American Indian Studies at the University of Arizona. We had over 120 students, faculty, and staff at this event.
Dr. Matthew Gilbert Event
Dr. Jeffrey Fuhrer Event
Justice Jam
October 2023
The Center hosted a “Justice Jam.” In this informal session, we read Gloria Anzaldua’s writing and discussed social justice on our campus. We had 12 people in attendance, which included students, faculty, and staff.
Dr. Jen Delfino and Dr. Mike Mena
November 2023
Dr. Jen Delfino and Dr. Mike Mena addressed the relationships between race and language. As racio-linguistic scholars, they analyzed how race and practice of language take shape in African American and Latinx communities. Their scholarship highlights the many ways the defeceit model in language impacts students of color and refuses their brilliance. Their scholarship allowed an understanding of how to interrogate language as a site of justice and injustice. We had over 100 students, faculty, and staff attend this event.
Justice Jam
December 2023
We had a Justice Jam about surveillance capitalism and settler-colonialism in the West Bank. This article explored the connections between Israel’s practices of surveillance and the increased precarity of Palestinian lives. We had 50 people attend this event.
Dr. Jon Hale
February 2024
Dr. Jon Hale presented on his award-winning book Freedom Schools. In his presentation, Dr. Hale addressed the emergence of the Freedom Schools during the civil rights movement and the structure of radical education. His talk gave us ideas about how to construct radically democratic curriculum and highlighted the leadership of youth. He also met with leaders from the Brockton community to talk about establishing a Freedom School in Brockton. Dr. Jon Hale is an Associate Professor of History and Education at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign.
Dr. Jon Hale Event
Dr. Kim TallBear
April 2024
Dr. Kim TallBear presented the Hayden Lecture, which served as the keynote for the Center’s undergraduate conference, Social Justice and The Practices of World (Un)Making. Dr. TallBear addressed the long history and contemporary moment within American Indian communities and their engagement with genomics and science. Through a critical science studies perspective, Dr. TallBear illustrated the convergences and dissonances between Western epistemologies of science and Indigenous epistemologies of science to think about race and Indigenous sovereignty. Dr. Kim TallBear is a Professor and Canada Research Chair at the University of Alberta. We had over 120 people attend this lecture.
“Social Justice and the Practices of World (Un)Making” Undergraduate Conference
April 2024
Working with various students on our campus, CRES hosted the second undergraduate conference centered on social justice. We had six panels with 25 students and several hundred people attend various panels over the course of the weekend-long conference. The students presenting at the conference included students from Stonehill College, Bridgewater State University, University of Vermont, University of Massachusetts-Amherst, Duke University, New York University, Dartmouth College, Swarthmore College, and the University of Arizona. Our moderators included faculty from Stonehill College, Brown University, University of Massachusetts-Boston, and Queens University (Canada).
Brown Bag Sessions
2023-2024
Over the course of the academic year, the Center organized brown bag sessions for faculty to present their scholarship and receive feedback on the pathway to publication. These are informal and supportive spaces. Dr. David Sanders presented and received feedback.
Dr. Kim TallBear Event
CRES Operations and Other Efforts
Administrative Assistant
Administrative Assistant to the Dean of the Thomas and Donna May School of Arts & Sciences Erin Dzierzak has been the permanent administrative assistant to CRES efforts since the Summer of 2023. Ms. Dzierzak is a critical administrative resource in supporting the logistical needs of the Center as programs and speaking engagements continue to be central to CRES offerings.
Center Statements to the Campus Community
CRES issued a public statement to the campus community expressing concern for the violence in Israel and Palestine. The statement offered ways to support Palestinians and Israelis during this difficult time.
Hayden Family SURE Scholar
Alexandra Trantos ’25 was selected by Dr. Thangaraj as the Hayden Family SURE Scholar for the summer of 2024. She is conducting research with Dr. Anwar Mhajne, Associate Professor of Political Science, on “Disinformation in the Israel-Hamas War.”
Their research paper aims to understand how the diffusion of mis- and disinformation concerning the Israel-Hamas conflict has been used as a strategy of war. To examine the spread of false information, this research utilizes qualitative data to assemble a sample of content from social media, online platforms, news articles, as well as official statements by political actors in order to uncover the hidden, symbolic, and often threatening implications of unverified information. Alexandra and Professor Mhajne already have a publication on the topic together and plan on publishing more on the topic.
Alexandra (Alex) Trantos, Class of 2025
What research project did you complete as part of the Stonehill Undergraduate Research Experience?
This summer I worked on a research project titled “Disinformation and Misinformation in the Israel-Hamas War” with Professor Mhajne. We examined how misinformation and disinformation on Twitter have been weaponized to advance narratives and objectives and its global implications on the continuity of the conflict.
What was the most exciting takeaway from your research experience?
The most exciting takeaway from my research experience was the ability to work closely with an expert in the field of cybersecurity and Middle Eastern politics. Given the salience of disinformation and misinformation in the current age, I am appreciative that I had the opportunity to contribute to the discourse on this important topic and help address its broader implications for the ongoing war.
What aspects of the research project will help shape your personal growth and/or potential career path?
This research project has helped shape my personal growth because I have always been passionate about advocacy and social justice, and this project allowed me to channel that passion through research. Additionally, this project has been valuable in terms of my potential career path, as I hope to pursue a career in public policy where I can leverage my research skills and commitment to social justice to produce meaningful change.
Why did you choose to enroll at Stonehill?
I chose to enroll at Stonehill because of the strong sense of community I felt from the minute I stepped on campus. I have always thrived in smaller settings, and with Stonehill’s close-knit environment, I was confident that I would be able to foster valuable connections with both my peers and professors.
What is your favorite part about being a student at Stonehill?
My favorite part about being a student at Stonehill is the professors. They are not only knowledgeable in their fields, but also genuinely helpful and dedicated to ensuring student success. I am extremely grateful to attend an institution where my professors know me personally and can offer guidance and support whenever I need it.
What are your professional goals and aspirations?
My professional goals and aspirations are to work in the field of public policy where I strive to continue conducting research that influences policy decisions, advocates for underserved populations, and drives systemic change.
Cluster Hire in Race, Ethnicity, and Social Justice
This past year was quite busy for Dr. Thangaraj as he moved ahead with the interview process for the cluster hire for the Center for the Study of Race, Ethnicity, and Social Justice. Many great candidates emerged from a talented pool. Stonehill College, the English Department, the Sociology and Anthropology Department, the Political Science Department, and the Center for the Study of Race, Ethnicity, and Social Justice were excited to secure three incredible candidates through the cluster hire.
- Ashvin Kini will be the Assistant Professor in English
- Sameera Akella will be the Assistant Professor in Sociology and Anthropology
- Guillermo Cabellero will be the Assistant Professor in Political Science
Together, they will bring forth their expertise in Asian American Studies, South Asian American Studies, Black literature, trans and queer communities of color, Black Feminism, Queer of Color Critique, Black politics, Latinx Politics, Health Disparities, American Racism, and US empire.
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The Center for the Study of Race, Ethnicity, and Social Justice launched in fall 2021 as a new home for innovative and interdisciplinary teaching, research, and public dialogue at Stonehill College.