Critical Conversations Speaker Series

The objective of the Critical Conversations Speaker Series is to foster an inclusive and intellectually stimulating environment at Quinnipiac, promoting inclusivity of thought, respectful dialogue, empathetic engagement, and open-mindedness among students, faculty, and staff.  The events are designed to empower participants to be better prepared to embrace inclusivity of thought by actively listening to and engaging with concepts and ideas that may challenge their personal values, without dismissing or silencing differing viewpoints.

Most events are free and open to the public.

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We’re All Part of this Story

This event has been postponed until the Spring semester.

Presenter: Sarah E. Harris
Vice chairwoman, Mohegan Tribe

Past Events

We were honored to host the following conversations:

A panel of faculty and staff in the Mount Carmel Auditorium with a projected slide of an election data graph

Election Reflection: Sense-making and Understanding in the Quinnipiac Community and Beyond

Held: Thursday, November 7, 2024
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University faculty, staff and students explored the process and results of 2024 U.S. presidential election at a special discussion. The session included several mini lectures and discussions by faculty, staff and students from various disciplines, including:

David Fryson, interim vice president of the office of equity and inclusion
Doug Schwartz, associate vice president of the Quinnipiac University Polling Institute and director of the Quinnipiac Poll
Ryan Hagerman ’25, a public service fellow and the founding chair of the Student Philanthropy Council
Christine Chew, director of counseling services for Hartford Healthcare’s CampusCare program at Quinnipiac

Leah Wright Rigueur seated in an arm chair speaks with a staff member in the Quinnipiac auditorium

The Past and Present of the 2024 Presidential Election

Held: Thursday, October 31, 2024
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Presenter: Leah Wright Rigueur, Johns Hopkins University SN Agora Institute Associate Professor of History and CNN Correspondent

Wright Rigueur is an expert on race, politics, and contemporary history and her research interests include US political and social history, African American political and social history, civil rights, political ideology, the American presidency, the American two-party system and social movements.

Eric Marrapodi sits in a leather chair in the Mount Carmel Auditorium speaking with a conversation moderator

A Fireside Chat with Eric Marrapodi ’03

Held: Friday, October 18, 2024
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Presenter: Eric Marrapodi '03, vice president for news programming at NPR
Moderator: Mary Snow, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University Poll

Eric Marrapodi '03, a distinguished journalist with NPR news and graduate of the Quinnipiac School of Communications, spoke about the 2024 election cycle and the news media's responsibility in covering it.

Steve Kornacki sits in a leather armchair and speaks to a crowd in the Quinnipiac Mount Carmel Auditorium

The Story Behind the Stats: Media, Data, and the Future of Political Coverage with Steve Kornacki, NBC News & MSNBC

Held: Monday, October 7, 2024
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Presenter: Steve Kornacki, NBC News & MSNBC, National Political Correspondent

Renowned political journalist Steve Kornacki engaged our campus community in conversation about the electoral process and the importance of engaged participation as he shared his insights on the current political landscape.

Tim Wise gestures with his hand as he speaks behind a Quinnipiac podium

Beyond Diversity: Steps for Uprooting Racism, Privilege and Institutional Inequity

Held: Thursday, September 26, 2024
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Presenter: Tim Wise, anti-racist writer and educator

Tim Wise helped our community examine the various policies, practices and procedures that exist within educational, employment and organizations settings that often inadvertently perpetuate unequal opportunity and treatment.

Wise is among the most prominent anti-racist writers and educators in the United States. Wise has spent the past 25 years speaking to audiences in all 50 states, on more than 1,500 college and high school campuses, at hundreds of professional and academic conferences, and to dozens of corporate, government, entertainment, media, law enforcement, military, nonprofit and medical industry professionals about issues of systemic racism and methods for dismantling racial inequity in their institutions. Wise is the author of nine books, including his latest, “Dispatches from the Race War,” and his highly acclaimed memoir, “White Like Me: Reflections on Race from a Privileged Son.” He has appeared on hundreds of radio and television programs and is a regular contributor to discussions about race on CNN and MSNBC.

NCAA President Charlie Baker speaks with Quinnipiac President Judy Olian in leather armchairs

Conversation with Charlie Baker

Held: Monday, April 29, 2024
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Presenter: Charlie Baker, NCAA President

Charlie Baker is an American businessman and politician who currently serves as president of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). He served as the 72nd governor of Massachusetts from 2015 to 2023, and held two cabinet positions under two previous governors of Massachusetts. He also served as the CEO of Harvard Pilgrim Health Care for a decade.

Baker knows how to manage conflict. As the twice elected Republican governor in a historically blue state, he brings his proven track record of building bridges to the world of athletics in the NCAA. President Judy Olian hosted an interview-style critical conversation about leadership and the tools he has leveraged in his decades of experience spearheading transformations at high-profile institutions in the private and public sectors.

Mira Sucharov and Omar Dajani speak with moderator Claude Mayo in the Mount Carmel Auditorium

Understanding and Explaining Events in Israel/Palestine: The Road to Empathy

Held: Monday, April 8, 2024
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Presenters:
Mira Sucharov, Jewish-Canadian political scientist
Omar Dajani, Palestinian-American legal scholar

For the last two years, Omar Dajani, a Palestinian American law professor, and Mira Sucharov, a Canadian Jewish political scientist, have been trying to make sense of Israel/Palestine. Together, they’ve been writing a book and developing a podcast about their travels there.

This session brought Dajani and Sucharov in conversation with the Quinnipiac community to address the question of how to talk effectively about the crisis in Israel/Palestine. They shared tools for holding space for Israeli, Jewish, Palestinian and Muslim trauma; how to maintain one’s scholarly skills of engagement in times of pain and suffering; and how to think about the difference between explaining and justifying, and between describing and prescribing. They addressed the question of when it is appropriate to offer historical and political context without intensifying the trauma of affected communities, and they asked how we can encourage Israelis and Palestinians – and their respective supporters – to look forward while also coming to terms with the past.

Martin Looney and Themis Klarides speak with Jennifer Brown in the School of Law Ceremonial Courtroom

Working Across the Aisle: A Conversation with Martin Looney and Themis Klarides

Presenters:
Martin Looney, Connecticut Senate President Pro Tempore
Themis Klarides, Former State Representative
Moderator: Jennifer Brown, dean of the School of Law

Held: Thursday, March 28, 2024
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Connecticut Senate President Pro Tempore Martin Looney and Themis Klarides, who served 11 terms as a state representative, presented a fireside chat about their time in the Connecticut legislature, how they’ve managed to be friends and sometimes opponents on policy, and how they’ve reached across the aisle from time to time to get things done. School of Law Dean Jennifer Brown moderated the conversation.

John Wood Jr. stands and speaks with his hands clasped in front of him

Conversation with John Wood Jr.

Presenter: John Wood Jr., national ambassador and author

Held: Tuesday, March 26, 2024
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Wood focused on topics related to political polarization, bridging ideological divides, and fostering respectful and constructive conversations in today's society.

Former U.S. Senator Joseph Lieberman speaks at a Quinnipiac podium

Creating Dialogue Across Differences

Presenter: Joseph Lieberman, former U.S. Senator

Held: Thursday, March 7, 2024
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Perhaps best known as the Democratic candidate for vice president in 2000, Joseph Lieberman has established himself as a national leader — one who works across party lines to find common ground, a person who speaks his conscience and who gets things done for the good of all people in America.

Cindy Maher and Carol Grannis hold microphones and speak in Quinnipiac's Mount Carmel Auditorium

Can We Talk? Engaging in Meaningful Dialogue That Might be Uncomfortable

Presenters:
Cindy Maher, President, Leading Edge Coaching & Development
Carol Grannis, EdD and Co-Founder Leading Edge Coaching & Development

Held: Tuesday, February 27, 2024
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American Sage Al Yankovic has said: “If you want to avoid heated arguments, never discuss religion, politics, or whether the toilet paper roll should go over or under.”
The bottom line is that we need to learn how to discuss difficult things with courage and curiosity to support learning and growth. That's what this workshop is all about. Through a blend of live improv comedy and interactive conversations, Leading Edge instructors Cindy Maher and Jamie Guite will offer skills and strategies to help you engage in meaningful discussions about race, gender, age, and other social identities that impact your experience at work or in the classroom.

Lawrence Ross speaks at a podium in the Mount Carmel Auditorium

Blackballed: The Black and White Politics of Race on America’s Campuses

Presenter: Lawrence Ross, author, lecturer, writer and creator

Held: Thursday, February 1, 2024
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A bold mix of history and the current climate, Blackballed is a call to action for universities to make radical changes to their policies and standards to foster a better legacy for all students.

Ron Jackson holds his arms up as he speaks into a microphone at a Quinnipiac podium

The Road to Community: Navigating Difference, Healing Traumas, and Building Inclusive Communities

Held: November 28, 2023
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Presenter: Ronald L. Jackson II, distinguished university research professor of communication and former dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Cincinnati

Additional Resources

We are here to help

Below you will find forms, resources and policies that have been established to ensure a safe environment for all members of the Quinnipiac community.

Forms and Resources

Bias Incident Reporting Form Gender Equity Training Request Form Title IX Reporting Form Title IX Training Materials

Policies and Plans

Bias and Discrimination Policy Title IX Policy Statement of Values Ten Point Plan Equity and Inclusion Report