Back by popular demand, the University of Louisville (UofL) Advancement Through Healthy Empowerment, Networking, and Awareness (ATHENA) is pleased to invite you to join the conversation in Speaking Up: How Bystanders Can Change the Conversation, an engaging, interactive theater event delivered by UNH PowerPlay Interactive Development in collaboration with Dr. Stephanie Goodwin of Incluxion Works.

Event & RSVP Information (RSVP by 4/20/22) 

Thursday, April 27th 2:00pm - 5:00pm EST  

Friday, April 28th 9:00am - 12:00pm EST 

Why Attend Speaking Up?

Faculty members are often called upon to evaluate their peers, in annual evaluations, teaching observations, and promotion and tenure processes. Research suggests that being committed to equity and fairness is important, but not enough to result in equitable outcomes. Unintended biases and challenging dynamics during decision-making can undermine the equitable outcomes we seek when we evaluate other people. In this interactive workshop, attendees will learn about some of the common challenges to equitable evaluation and decision-making as well as some tools for speaking up when they observe these challenges emerging in their own discussions. Attendees will then learn to apply these tools with the support of talented improvisational actors through interactive theater tools. Through observation, interrogation, and experimentation, attendees will explore and learn how to adapt these tools to speak up authentically in their own work settings. Anyone who is tasked with evaluating others in their roles – whether it be faculty, staff, or academic leaders – can gain greater awareness, self-efficacy, and skills for speaking up through attendance.

Note: New scenario content has been developed for this workshop; those who attended previously can anticipate new opportunities to practice their skills in the workshop.

About ATHENA  

ATHENA is an institutional initiative, funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) ADVANCE Program. The ATHENA project is adapting evidence-based interventions to improve the professional standing and career opportunities for women STEM faculty at the University of Louisville.  

About the Speaking Up Workshop Team

Speaking Up  is a collaboration between Incluxion Works and UNH PowerPlay Interactive Development. Speaking Up workshops have promoted dialogue to improve organizational culture and reduce identity harassment at 40+ universities and professional societies—reaching over 5k participants across the US and Canada in the past 6 years. 

Incluxion Works— founded by Stephanie A. Goodwin, Ph.D.—IW brings diversity science to bear on DEI strategy, partnering with organizations around the country to implement evidence-based strategies for institutional change. An elected Fellow of the Society of Experimental Social Psychology, Dr. Goodwin has 25+ years of experience in higher education as a scientist, educator, and academic leader with expertise in diversity and inclusion science, faculty development, and academic affairs.

PowerPlay Interactive Development — an entrepreneurial program of the University of New Hampshire, is a professional applied theatre company. PowerPlay creates unique training models for a diverse group of clients across the country. Its dynamic interactive model utilizes applied theatre techniques to safely engage participants in challenging conversations around bias, harassment, communication, collaboration, and leadership. PowerPlay has engaged in an extensive collaboration with Dr. Goodwin in the development and execution of this program. 

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us at athena@louisville.edu.