Office of Development & Alumni Engagement
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Old Main, 3rd Floor
- 610-499-1154
- alumnioffice@widener.edu
Experience Lifelong Learning
A Spotlight on Diversity & Inclusion
Dear Alumni,
I am pleased to have this opportunity to update you about what Widener is doing in the areas of diversity, equity and inclusion.
Diversity, equity and inclusion is an institutional priority , as indicated in Widener University's Executive Team Goal: to advance a culture of diversity and inclusion. We are committed to increasing diversity, in all of its many dimensions, at our university. We have a sincere desire that all members of the Pride family, including our alumni, experience a sense of belonging at Widener, when you reach out to your alma mater, whether you are connecting with current students and faculty or reaching out to staff in the Career Design and Development Office.
We are intentionally focused on building a strong foundation to support a diverse, equitable and inclusive climate for all members of the university community. For example, on September 9th, Faculty Council voted to approve a Faculty Council standing committee for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and the Diversity Leadership Inclusion Council (DLIC) has been reorganized to include greater representation from our three campuses. DLIC membership also includes undergraduate and graduate students. Over the past several months, students, faculty and staff have engaged in numerous conversations and workshops through their participation in DiversiTeas and "We're All Widener" Workshop series.
As alumni members of the Pride family, you are an important part of this journey. During Homecoming, I encourage you to explore the educational resources provided here on the Homecoming Hub. I look forward to sharing more information with you as initiatives develop. In the meantime, I welcome your ideas and feedback. Feel free to contact me at:
mmdavis@widener.edu. We're All Widener!
Cordially,
Micki Davis
Chief Diversity Officer
Books
- Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption by Bryan Stevenson
- Between The World and Me by Ta-Nehisi Coates
- Why Are All The Black Kids Sitting Together in The Cafeteria?; and Other Conversations About Race by Beverly Daniel Tatum, Ph.D.
- Stamped From the Beginning by Ibram X. Kendi
- How To Be An Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi
- Privilege, Power, and Difference by Allan Johnson
- Blindspot: Hidden Biases of Good People by Anthony Greenwald and Mahzarin Banaji
- Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents by Isabel Wilkerson
- The Warmth of Other Suns by Isabel Wilkerson
- The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the Age of Colorblindness by Michelle Alexander
- The Color of Law: A Forgotten History of How Our Government Segregated America by Richard Rothstein
- So You Want to Talk About Race by Ijeoma Oluo
- Sister Outsider by Audre Lorde
- Biased: Uncovering the Hidden Prejudice That Shapes What we See, Think, and Do by Jennifer L. Eberhardt, Ph.D.
- White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism by Robin DiAngelo
- What If I Say The Wrong Thing? 25 Habits for Culturally Effective People by Verna A. Myers
- Race Talk and the Conspiracy of Silence: Understanding and Facilitating Difficult Dialogues on Race by Derald Wing Sue
- Microaggressions in Everyday Life by Derald Wing Sue and Lisa Spanierman
Books (Faculty/Administration)
- For White Folks Who Teach in the Hood and The Rest of Y’all Too by Christopher Emdin
- From Equity Talk to Equity Walk: Expanding Practitioner Knowledge for Racial Justice in Higher Education by Tia Brown McNair, Estela Mara Bensimon and Lindsey Malcolm-Piqueux
Articles
- “75 Things White People Can Do for Racial Justice” by Corinne Shutack
Movies
- 13th – Netflix
Ava DuVernay's 13th is a documentary that focuses on long-standing structures of racial inequality in the United States with a specific focus on the prison system. - American Son – Netflix
Kenny Leon's American Son is a timely look at police brutality against the Black community - When They See Us – Netflix
The 2019 series, written by Ava DuVernay, highlights the injustices of the criminal justice system and the lasting trauma it leaves on young people of color who get caught up in it.
Additional Resources
- Take the Harvard Implicit Bias Test (IAT), www.implicit.harvard.edu
Widener Digital Collections
LGBTQIA+ at Widener (Digital Collection): This collection follows the LGBTQIA+ story on Widener's campus across several decades of its history.
Books
- The Savvy Ally by Jeannie Gainsburg
- Be An Inclusion Ally: ABCs of LGBTQ+ by Lisa Koenecke
- He/She/They -Us by Jessica Soukup
- Transgender 101 by Nicholas Teich
- How We Fight for Our Lives (memoir) by Saeed Jones
- Redefining Realness (memoir) by Janet Mock
- Surpassing Certainty by Janet Mock
Online Resources
- Widener ISRC recently announced SWAGToolkit.com—a resource hub for sexuality education materials for Black gay and bisexual men and the health care providers who serve them.
Videos
- Disclosure (Netflix documentary about Trans people in the media)
- We’re Here (Series on HBO)
- Queer Eye (series on Netflix)
- QTPOC Resource Guide
- Diversity & Democracy (Periodical) issue Making Excellence Inclusive: Higher Education’s LGBTQ Contexts
Wolfgram Memorial Library—Everyone's Favorite Study Spot—is Turning 50!
This November marks 50 years of Wolfgram Memorial Library—the gem at the center of our campus. As a way to celebrate, we invite you to explore this collection of videos and digital exhibits that will have you taking a walk down memory lane.
Wolfgram Memorial Library 50th Anniversary Celebration
Earlier this fall, alumni, students, faculty, and staff were invited to submit their favorite library memories. We took these stories and compiled them into one video to showcase our collective appreciation for this beloved building. Looking back on the past 50 years has us eagerly looking forward to the next 50 and beyond!
Special Digital Collections
- Honoring the 50th Anniversary of the PMC Class (Digital Collection)
Created in partnership with the PMC Museum Committee, this special - History of the Wolfgram Memorial Library: 1970-2020 (Digital Collection)
This exhibit celebrates the 50th Anniversary of the Lt. William J. Wolfgram Memorial Library.
William Wolfgram ‘43 excelled at Pennsylvania Military College and was dedicated to serving in the military. After graduation, he joined the 10th Mountain Division and served in WWII, where he gave his life for his country. Inspired by William’s love of learning, his parents, Edith and Frank Wolfgram, chose to honor his memory in the form of a library, which the institution greatly needed to accommodate a growing student body and the expansion of many academic programs. The groundbreaking took place in 1968, and construction was completed two years later. At the dedication on November 7, 1970, Edith Wolfram stated, “If any kind of noble memorial to him is in keeping, it could not take any other form than a library.”
When it opened, the library was celebrated for embracing the 'new media' at the time – microfilms, transparencies, and filmstrips. Over 50 years later, it features a robust digital presence, more than 100 computers for student use, nearly 200 scholarly databases, and current multimedia technology. This ‘jewel of the campus’ continues to serve students, faculty, staff, and the Chester community by providing resources and services to support their academic pursuits.
This collection chronicles the history of the library by focusing on several key themes, including:
- 50th Anniversary Celebration
- Library Groundbreaking
- Library Construction
- Library Dedication & Opening
- Exterior and Interior Photographs
- Lindsey Law Library
- Faculty & Staff Photographs
- Archives & Distinctive Collections
- Historical Documents
- Events at the Library
- 25th Anniversary
- Technology
- William Wolfgram and Family
Expand Your Education
Thinking about taking your education to the next level? You’ve come to the right place!
Searching for an advanced degree in a nationally recognized program? We’ve got it. A certificate program to give you the competitive edge? Sure thing! What if you just want to exercise your mind for the fun of it? Try one of our free, self-paced courses. The options are endless! No matter what you’re looking for, Widener has the options to keep you on the Inside Track to success.
Professional Development Workshops
Explore additional Career Design and Development workshops for alumni! Widener alumni are warmly invited to attend these all-virtual professional development workshops. This is the perfect time to power up your LinkedIn profile, sharpen your interviewing and negotiating skills, and learn pro tips on making a camera-ready virtual impression!
Continuing Education Opportunities
Need CEU credits for your licensure? Keep an eye out for upcoming CEU events.