Dean’s Lecture Series with Anthony Abraham Jack

Colleges and universities are accepting a wider range of students than ever before. But when racial unrest and a global health crisis gripped the world, schools scrambled to figure out the needs of their new student body—and disadvantaged students paid the price. In this talk, Anthony Abraham Jack, author of The Privileged Poor: How Elite Colleges Are Failing Disadvantaged Students” and “Class Dismissed: When Colleges Ignore Inequality and Students Pay the Price,” explores why colleges were so unprepared to support their most vulnerable students, and more importantly, how we can move forward.

Drawing on his rigorous reporting to give real-life examples of students, such as lower-income students whose valuable work experience is often overlooked on resumes, he challenges the myth of the “college bubble” by illustrating how lower-income students bring the inequalities of their neighborhoods right onto campus. His critical analysis offers a clear path to creating a fairer educational system. Through simple but strategic steps—like revamping how we review resumes or offering learning opportunities outside of the classroom—we can ensure a more equitable experience for disadvantaged students.

Jack’s eye-opening talk makes one thing clear: creating an inclusive workforce begins with transforming our colleges. Now is the time to overhaul our education systems and pave the way for a better future for all students.

Schedule:

4:30-5:15 p.m.: Networking Reception, Colony Ballroom

5:30-7 p.m.: Lecture, Colony Ballroom

RSVP here by October 15.