The Uncomfortable Legacy of Student Activism and How We Can Do Better Moving Forward

The Social Justice Summit is hosted annually by the College of Education & Human Services -- Western Illinois University.

The Summer of 2020 brought much needed national attention to issues of racial justice in the country and globally like never before. In the marches and protests on television, were our students. Student activism has a rich history on college campuses as well, dating back decades, and is responsible for many educational and socio-political advancements. We have seen grassroot organizing from younger generations take new forms of activism. However, most higher education professionals are not prepared to work with student activists. The expectations on staff and faculty of color are higher than of their peers to engage with student activists on campus. What does activism look like on our college campuses today and in the future? What do professionals need to do to prepare themselves to work with student activists? We will explore these questions and develop new possibilities for making our campuses more inclusive and student success driven.

Presenter: Jordan “JT” Turner
Jordan “JT” Turner (they/them) serves as the Director of the Gender and Sexuality Center at The University of Illinois-Chicago (UIC). Previously, JT worked at Northwestern University in Multicultural Student Affairs with a focus on outreach and support for LGBTQ+ students. As a scholar practitioner, JT has focused their work at the intersections of race, gender, and sexuality. JT has served on the executive board for The Consortium of Higher Education LGBT Resource Professionals as well as on the leadership team for ACPA's Commission of Social Justice Educators. In addition to their work in higher education, JT consults non-profit organizations, religious institutions, and businesses on how to build anti-racist and inclusive workplace and learning environments. JT earned a master’s degree in College Student Personnel from Western Illinois University and a bachelor’s degree in Sociology with a minor in American Studies from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. They have also studied in the Masters of Divinity Program at Garrett Evangelical Theological Seminary with a specific interest in Queer theology. JT is an avid meditator, writer, hip-hop fan, foodie, and enjoys reading self-development literature, and traveling to new places.