Guest Lecturer to Explore Civil Rights at Campus Discussions

Dr. Claudine Taaffe, Principal Senior Lecturer in the Department of African American and Diaspora Studies at Vanderbilt University, will be visiting Furman University in September to present a Cultural Life Program session “From Upside Down to Right Side Up: Ella Baker and the Power of Collective Leadership.” Coordinated by Furman’s Center for Interpersonal Connections (CIC), the CLP takes place Thursday, September 11, 5-6 p.m. The CIC is partnering with the FDC to offer two other programs on September 12 related to Dr. Taaffe’s visit: a faculty/staff discussion on from 12:30-1:30 p.m. and a workshop from 4-5:30 p.m. All events are expected to take place in the Watkins Room of the Trone Student Center.  

More information about this Special Program: 
Leadership That Lasts: Ella Baker’s Vision for Faculty, Staff, and Community Impact 
Ella Baker, a quiet and Black feminist force of the Civil Rights Movement, believed that real change grows from the ground up. It must be nurtured through relationships, shared purpose, and collective leadership. In a time of digital fatigue, political division, and rapid change in higher education, her principles challenge us to listen deeply, act strategically, and empower others. This lecture explores how faculty and staff can apply Baker’s vision to our daily work, transforming small, intentional actions into lasting change for our students, our campus, and our community.