Black and Abroad Leadership Conference discusses the challenges and opportunities of global citizenship through the lens of Black identity
Contact: Nicol Tinsley
VCU Global Education Office
(804) 828-6463
nctinsley@vcu.edu
Richmond, VA (February 6, 2025) — Virginia Commonwealth University’s Global Education Office will host the Black & Abroad: Global Leadership Conference on Friday, February 7, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., in the VCU Student Commons, Richmond Salons III-IV. The full-day mini-conference is centered on global leadership through the lens of Black identity and coincides with the longstanding annual Black & Abroad event in celebration of Black History Month.
The event is intended to provide meaningful conversation, insight, and action items for VCU students and the community. Previously formatted as a panel discussion featuring Black students who have studied abroad, the conference is expanded this year to include a larger scope of presentations with an increased range of topics and target audience.
Stephanie Tignor, director of global learning, explains that the conference has grown to include “Black international students, Black study abroad faculty program leaders, and now, Black alumni and scholars reflecting on their experiences as people of color in international spaces and the professional benefits of global learning.”
“The expansion of this year’s Black & Abroad event into a full-day leadership conference creates even more opportunities for learning, cultural dialogue and community-building,” she said. “With multiple sessions, a greater diversity of speakers, and dedicated networking opportunities, this new format deepens connections and conversations on global leadership and Black identity.”
In addition to facilitating dialogue among the various groups, a resource fair that will be offered aims to “empower more students to see themselves as part of a global community and as leaders in our world,” said Tignor.
The following workshops and presentations will be held during the leadership conference:
Keynote Address | 9 a.m.: Shay Lumpkin, coordinator of the Ronald E. McNair Post-baccalaureate Achievement Program in VCU’s TRiO Programs
The keynote address, "Traveling the World They Said Would Never Be Ours," is a powerful exploration of the impact of study abroad and global learning on Black identities. Through her own study abroad experience, Shay takes us on a journey that challenges narratives of exclusion, highlights the transformative impact of international education, and reimagines a future where the world truly belongs to us all.
Building Your Global Tribe | 9:45 a.m.: Jackie Otieno, health psychology
Participants will hear firsthand accounts of how to foster meaningful connections in establishing cross-cultural settings, and learn to use their unique experiences and identities to enhance their personal, academic, and professional development. Activities will include mentor mapping, legacy visioning, and action planning.
Navigating Discomfort as a Black Student Abroad | 10 a.m.: VCU undergraduates Nonso Akunwafor and Brittney Cates of the Urban Studies Student Association
The students will discuss their experiences overcoming challenges, and discomfort abroad. They will discuss how being black affected their study abroad experiences, and how they also leaned into their identity to overcome some of the discomforts of studying abroad. The goal is to encourage students of underrepresented backgrounds to pursue studying abroad, even if they are scared of feeling out of place in their new country.
Can Study Abroad Reinforce Black Identity? | 11 a.m.: John Fife, Ph.D., associate research professor, STEM education, and undergraduate Koryn Shaw, studying biology with majors in pre-medicine, chemistry, and Spanish
The presentation will discuss the impact of a study abroad experience in Brazil on the identity of Black faculty and students born in various parts of the world. We will focus on their experiences within this context and how the program assisted students in building community with local students. We will also discuss how black identity as it is constituted in the US, impacts students' relationships with American and non-American students as they travel.
VCU GEO Alumni Panel | 12 p.m.: VCU alumni Cydni Gordon and Britni Purcell; and VCU Humphrey Fellows Ameera Ba-Fadhel, Ph.D., and Grace Aliyu Oluwatosin
Studying abroad can be a life-changing experience, but what exactly does life look like afterward? VCU alumni and Humphrey Fellows share how study abroad and international experiences have shaped their careers, studies, and lives, as well as some tips and tricks for really making the experience count in the long term.
Familiar Struggles: Analyzing the Lingering Side Effects of Colonialism on Blacks in America, East and South Africa | 2 p.m.: Cydny A. Neville, education leadership, policy and justice doctoral candidate
During this interactive workshop, the presenter will share her experiences through Fulbright-Hays GPA experiences in East and South Africa, and analyze the “familiar struggles” experienced by Blacks in America and Africa. This presentation will allow participants to examine primary and relevant resources to develop lesson plans for K-16 and engage in informative discussions at the community level. In addition, this workshop will examine studying abroad through a Black lens and develop a practical understanding of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.
Those interested in attending the conference may register on RamsConnect in advance. The first 50 people who register will receive a lunch ticket for a free lunch from Africanne on Main while attending.