By: Ball State Marketing and Communications—
Muncie, IN–Dr. Beverly Tatum, president emerita of Spelman College, will visit Ball State University on January 21 to as part of the campus’s MLK Jr. Day and Unity Week observances.
“A Conversation with Dr. Beverly Tatum” begins at 7:30 p.m. in Pruis Hall. The event, which is free and open to the public, is sponsored by Ball State’s Excellence in Leadership, Housing and Residence Life, Multicultural Center, Office of Inclusive Excellence, Online and Distance Education, and The Division of Student Affairs.
Dr. Tatum is a clinical psychologist widely known for both her expertise on race relations and as a thought leader in higher education. Her 13 years as the president of Spelman College (2002–2015), a historically black liberal arts college for women in Atlanta, were marked by innovation and growth. Her visionary leadership was recognized in 2013 with the Carnegie Academic Leadership Award.
She is the author of several books including the best-selling “Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria?” and “Other Conversations About Race” (now in a new 2017 20th anniversary edition) and “Can We Talk About Race? and Other Conversations in an Era of School Resegregation.”
Dr. Tatum is a sought-after speaker on the topics of racial identity development, race and education, strategies for creating inclusive campus environments, and higher education leadership. In 2005, she earned the prestigious Brock International Prize in Education for her innovative leadership in the field.
A Fellow of the American Psychological Association, she was the 2014 recipient of the APA Award for Outstanding Lifetime Contributions to Psychology. A civic leader in the Atlanta community, Dr. Tatum is engaged in educational initiatives designed to expand educational opportunity for underserved students and their families.
She holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Wesleyan University, and a master’s and doctorate in clinical psychology from the University of Michigan. She also holds a master’s in religious studies from Hartford Seminary.
Unity Week aims to challenge perspectives on matters of diversity, inclusivity and solidarity in an evolving social climate. Unity Week 2020 marks the 40th annual Unity Week celebration at Ball State.
Since 1980, Unity Week remains dedicated to unifying the Ball State community through enlightening social, cultural, and educational events. All events are free and open to students, faculty, staff, and community members.
A schedule may be found here.
About Ball State
Founded in 1918 and located in Muncie, Ball State University is one of Indiana’s premier universities and an economic driver for the state. Ball State’s 22,500 students come from all over Indiana, the nation, and the world. The 790-acre campus is large enough to accommodate first-rate facilities and 19 NCAA Division I sports, but our welcoming and inclusive campus is small enough to ensure the friendliness, personal attention, and access that are the hallmarks of the University. Destination 2040: Our Flight Path establishes Ball State’s ambitious goals for our second century. We Fly!
