Her work led the way to Black Feminist Thought
KANSAS CITY, Mo. – The University of Missouri-Kansas City Division of Diversity, Access and Equity will take on a different format for its 8th Annual Women of Color Leadership Conference.
Unlike in previous years, this year’s conference – “Positioning Ourselves to Empower, Impact and Excel” – will begin at 1 p.m., on Thursday, May 23, with sign-in beginning at noon. The event is free and open to the public.
What has not changed are the excellent workshops and panel discussions, culminating with keynote speaker Patricia Hill Collins, Ph.D. – professor, author and national and international speaker – at 6 p.m.
Collins’ “Black Feminist Thought” – one of the best known of her books – was published in 1990 and is said to “have made her one of the leading American thinkers of our day.”
“Dr. Patricia Hill Collins is leading expert on Black Feminist Thought. Her research and scholarship examine issues of race, gender, social class and sexuality. We are excited to bring this tremendous scholar-activist to UMKC for the 8th Annual WOCLC conference,” said Kristi Ryujin, director of initiatives, Division of Diversity, Access and Equity.
Collins currently is a Distinguished University Professor of Sociology at the University of Maryland, College Park and the Charles Phelps Taft Emeritus Professor of Sociology within the department of African American Studies at the University of Cincinnati.
Collins has authored numerous books, including “Black Feminist Thought: Knowledge, Consciousness, and the Politics of Empowerment” and “Another Kind of Public Education: Race, Schools, the Media, and Democratic Possibilities.”
Also, Collins has served as the 100th president of the American Sociological Association, the first African American woman elected to this position in the association’s 104-year history.
The conference will be held at the UMKC Student Union, Multipurpose Room, 5100 Cherry St., Kansas City, Mo. Registration is required. For additional details, visit WOC Leadership Conference.
Collins will sign copies of her latest book, “On Intellectual Activism,” following her keynote.
About the University of Missouri-Kansas City
The University of Missouri-Kansas City, one of four University of Missouri campuses, is a public university serving more than 15,000 undergraduate, graduate and professional students, and celebrating its 80th anniversary in 2013. UMKC engages with the community and economy based on a four-part mission: life and health sciences; visual and performing arts; urban issues and education; and a vibrant learning and campus life experience. For more information about UMKC, visit www.umkc.edu. You can also find us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter and watch us on YouTube.
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