2015–16
Christine Sleeter, Professor Emerita, California State University, Monterey Bay, visited UMaine as a Libra Professor for the College of Education and Human Development. Dr. Sleeter is recognized nationally and internationally as a leading authority on multicultural education and diversity. She met with UMDLI and UMDLAC members to discuss her book, White Bread: Weaving Cultural Past into the Present (2015), and the topic of Critical Family History.
2009–10
Oren Lyons, •member of the Onondaga Nation•member of the Traditional Circle of Indian Elders•Ambassador to the United Nations •international Indigenous speaker on environmental & human rights issues•Distinguished Service Professor Emeritus of American Studies at the State University of New York at Buffalo•author and publisher of the Native American magazine Daybreak•instructor of the Iroquois Great Law of Peace focusing on the principles of peace, equity, justice & the power of good minds•speaker at the Global Forum of Spiritual Leaders for Human Survival•presented at “Permanent Forum on Indigenous Issues” – United Nations •presented at “A Call to Consciousness on Climate Change” Symposium at the National Museum of the American Indian
Sonia Nieto is Professor Emerita of Language, Literacy, and Culture, University of Massachusetts, Amherst. She has taught students at all levels from elementary through graduate school and she continues to speak and write on multicultural education, teacher preparation, the education of Latinos, and other culturally and linguistically diverse student populations. Her book Affirming Diversity: The Sociopolitical Context of Multicultural Education (5th ed, 2008, with co-author Patty Bode), is widely used in teacher preparation and in service courses. Other books include The Light in Their Eyes: Creating Multicultural Learning Communities (1999), What Keeps Teachers Going? (2003) and three edited volumes, Puerto Rican Students in U.S. Schools (2000), Why We Teach (2005), and Dear Paulo: Letters From Those Who Dare Teach (2008). She has received many awards for her advocacy and activism, including the 1997 Multicultural Educator of the Year Award from the National Association for Multicultural Education, an Annenberg Institute Senior Fellowship (1998-2000), the Outstanding Language Arts Educator of the Year from the National Council of Teachers of English (2005), the 2008 Social Justice in Education Award from the American Educational Research Association, and honorary doctorates from Lesley University (1999), Bridgewater State College (2004), and DePaul University (2007).
2007–08
Anita Arnold, creator and founder of The Convergence Center www.theconvergencecenter.org, has been in private practice as a psychotherapist for over 20 years and has found a means to converge her “work world” with her “activist world work” as a diversity trainer, cultural competency educator and organizational consultant. She facilitated the January 2008 session of the UMDLI using the Shakti Butler film, Mirrors of Privilege.
2006–07
Anthony Cortese, Professor of Sociology at Southern Methodist University (SMU) in Dallas, Texas visited campus in November and talked with reference to his book, Opposing Hate Speech.
2005–06
Karen Pace and Dionardo Pizana from the Michigan State University Extension presented workshops in March of 2006 at UMaine on Leadership in Dealing with Difficult Multicultural Discussions.
2004–05
Sulak Sivaraksa was born in Thailand in 1933. Concern for democracy, human rights, and accountable government has been central to his life’s work. Sulak visited UMaine in the fall of 2004 as a Visiting Diversity Libra Professor and as part of Peace Week.
Anne Sibley O’Brien performs a one-woman theatre piece that examines whiteness—”the often unconscious patterns of attitude and behavior acquired by white people.” Ms. O’Brien performed White Lies at UMaine in March of 2005. www.whitelies.ws
Tim Wise is one of the most prominent white anti-racist voices in the US, and has been called the “foremost white anti-racist intellectual in the nation.” His writings are taught at hundreds of colleges and have appeared in dozens of popular and professional journals. He visited UMaine in April of 2005. www.speakoutnow.org