The Department of Library and Information Science at The Catholic University of America invites you to the Sister Thea Bowman Lecture Series on Social Justice in Library and Information Science.
"Using the Power of Cultural Intelligence to address Critical Societal Needs in the LIS Field"
with Dr. Michele A. L. Villagran
November 15, 2023, virtually at 6 p.m. EST
Please register to receive the link to the online lecture event.
About the Speaker: Dr. Michele A. L. Villagran (she/her/ella) is an accomplished educator, innovative speaker, entrepreneur, cultural intelligence, and diversity & inclusion expert with over 30 years of experience in the public and private sectors. As an assistant professor at San José State University (SJSU) School of Information, Villagran's research focuses on diversity and social justice in library and information science and cultural intelligence phenomena within libraries. Dr. Villagran earned her Doctor of Education in Organizational Leadership with her dissertation on cultural intelligence in 2015 at Pepperdine University. She also completed her Master of Dispute Resolution and Certificate of Dispute Resolution with Pepperdine. At the University of North Texas, Dr. Villagran completed her M.L.S. degree in Legal Informatics and her M.B.A. in Strategic Management. Dr. Villagran is involved with numerous associations including holding elected, nominated, and appointed roles, respectively, with REFORMA National, REFORMA Los Angeles, the Association for Library and Information Science Education, and the International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions. She is the recipient of several awards including the 2023 American Library Association (ALA) Social Responsibilities Round Table (SRRT) Herb Biblo Outstanding Leadership Award for Social Justice and Equality, the 2021 REFORMA Librarian of the Year, and the 2021 Association for Library and Information Science Education (ALISE) Norman Horrocks Leadership Award. Additionally, Dr. Villagran serves as CEO of CulturalCo, LLC consulting in cultural competency, diversity & inclusion, conflict resolution, and emotional intelligence. She is an advanced certified cultural intelligence and unconscious bias facilitator through the Cultural Intelligence Center, a Conflicts Dynamic Profile consultant, and a Qualified Administrator of the Intercultural Development Inventory.
Accommodations and Special Needs: For disability accommodations please contact the department at cua-lis@cua.edu or 202-319-5085. In all situations, a good faith effort (up until the time of the event) will be made to provide accommodations.
About the Lecture Series: Advancing social justice is a long tradition and core value of information professionals and cultural heritage institutions. The Department of Library and Information Science at CatholicU has always embodied the principle of social justice in its teaching, research and service. It instills a mindset that nurtures a commitment to community service, an openness to change and global perspectives, and a dedication to the philosophy, principles, and legal and ethical responsibilities of the field for the society. In order to represent its tradition in upholding core values and responsibility for social justice, in spring 2019, we inaugurated a dedicated lecture series on social justice named after Sister Thea Bowman.
Sister Thea Bowman was a Franciscan Sister of Perpetual Adoration. She attended Viterbo College in La Crosse, Wisconsin, while preparing to enter the convent. She earned a M.A. and Ph.D in English from The Catholic University of America. She went on to teach at elementary schools and later at CatholicU and Xavier University in New Orleans, Louisiana. After sixteen years in academia, Sister Thea Bowman became a consultant for intercultural awareness for the Diocese of Mississippi. Her programs were designed to break down racial and cultural barriers. She believed that through communication and understanding of other cultures and ethnicities, racial injustice could be minimized. Many felt that Sister Thea Bowman's efforts left a lasting mark on U.S. Catholic life in the late 20th century. An influential speaker on music and diversity and inclusion, her work continues to have a profound impact on the world. After battling cancer, Sister Thea Bowman, died in 1990. The United States bishops endorsed her canonization to sainthood in November, 2018. Her case will continue for approval through commission. If approved, her cause will proceed to the Vatican where she will be declared venerable.