Annual Joseph T. Taylor Symposium
The Joseph T. Taylor Symposium at IUPUI features panel discussions and talks by IUPUI, local, and national experts around a different theme. Joseph T. Taylor Excellence in Diversity Awards, honoring people and programs who have improved diversity at IUPUI are also presented. The symposium is open to the public.
2022 Symposium
This event will be a virtual event on March 29th at 6:00pm in the evening, and will feature Dr. Aleesia Johnson -- superintendent of Indianapolis Public Schools -- as the keynote speaker.
Past symposia
Previous Taylor Symposia have focused on topics like urban health care, mass incarceration, and politics and race.
2021
Due to the coronavirus and restrictions on large events, this event has been cancelled for 2021.
2020
Inequality in Income, Education, and Health Care: Extent, Causes, and Consequences
Canceled due to coronavirus
2019
Communicating for Health Equity at the Crossroads of America
Presented by the IU School of Liberal Arts in conjunction with the Department of Communication Studies and in partnership with Spirit & Place.
Luncheon keynote: "The Importance of Communication in Achieving Health Equity"
Dr. Joycelyn Elders, the 15th United States Surgeon General
2018
Invisible Indianapolis: Race and Heritage in the Circle City
Presented by the IU School of Liberal Arts in conjunction with the Department of Anthropology and in partnership with Spirit & Place.
Luncheon keynote: “What Happened to the Money? Black Power and Black Capitalism”
Dr. Richard Pierce, Associate Professor of History and Africana Studies, University of Notre Dame
2017
It’s not foreign. It’s U.S.
Presented by: School of Liberal Arts, Department of World Languages and Cultures, Spirit and Place Festival, Office of International Affairs
Luncheon speaker: Kim Potowski, professor of Spanish, Department of Hispanic and Italian Studies, University of Illinois at Chicago
2016
Mass Incarceration and the Destruction of Community: Beyond the Post-racial Myth
Presented by: School of Liberal Arts, Department of Sociology
Luncheon speaker: Major Neill Frankling, executive director for Law Enforcement Against Prohibition (LEAP)
2015
Encountering Religions through Performance
Presented by: School of Liberal Arts, Department of Religious Studies
Luncheon speaker: Sancocho Music and Dance Collage
2014
Politics. Race. Place.
Presented by: School of Liberal Arts, Department of Political Science, The Polis Center
Luncheon speaker: Byron D’Andra Orey, professor and chair of political science, Jackson State University
2013
It Takes a City: Toward a Diverse and Humane Community
Presented by: School of Liberal Arts, Department of Philosophy, Center for Service and Learning
Luncheon speaker: Gaye Todd Adegbalola
2012
The Campus for the Community
Presented by: School of Liberal Arts, Department of History
Luncheon speaker: Charlotte Westerhaus-Renfrow, acting president, Martin University
2011
imaging + imagining the city: Perspectives on Indianapolis
Presented by: School of Liberal Arts, Department of Geography
Luncheon speaker: Gilbert Rochon, president and professor, Tuskegee University
2010
Voices in the City: Language + Literacy + Urban Life
Presented by: School of Liberal Arts, Department of English
Luncheon speaker: Patricia Smith, National Poetry Slam champion
2009
Renewing the American Promise
Presented by: School of Liberal Arts, Department of Economics
Luncheon speakers: Ngina Chiteji and Darrick Hamilton, facilitated by Barbara Boyd, WRTV 6 news anchor
2008
“You Talkin to Me?” Political Messages/Multicultural Perspectives
Presented by: School of Liberal Arts, Department of Communication Studies
Luncheon speaker: Melissa Harris-Lacewell, associate professor of politics and African American studies, Princeton University
2007
Urban Universities • Urban Communities: Partners in Social Justice
Presented by: School of Liberal Arts, Department of Anthropology
Luncheon speakers: Edward E. Curtis, Millennium Scholar of the Liberal Arts and associate professor of religious studies, IUPUI; Dana-Ain Davis, assistant professor of anthropology, Purchase College (SUNY)
2006
The Crisis in Urban Health Care
Presented by: School of Liberal Arts, Department of Sociology, The Polis Center
Luncheon speaker: David R. Williams, Harold W. Cruse Collegiate Professor of Sociology, Institute for Social Research, University of Michigan
2005
Faith-Based Initiatives: Boon or Bust?
Presented by: School of Liberal Arts, Department of Religious Studies, Center for Study of Religion and American Culture
Luncheon speakers: Steven Goldsmith, chair, Corporation for National and Community Service; Daniel Paul, professor of government, Kennedy School of Government, Harvard University; Mark Chaves, professor of sociology, University of Arizona
2004
Arts in the City: The Power of Culture
Presented by: School of Liberal Arts, Department of History
Luncheon speaker: Richard B. Pierce, Carl E. Koch Assistant Professor of History, University of Notre Dame
2003
Environmental Justice: Resurrecting Our Neighborhoods
Presented by: School of Liberal Arts, Department of Geography, The Polis Center, Center for Earth and the Environment
Luncheon speaker: Orrin Williams, community activist, Chicago, Illinois
2002
Community Building through Communication
Presented by: School of Liberal Arts, Department of Communication Studies
Luncheon speaker: Andrew Azukaego Moemeka, chair, Department of Communication, Central Connecticut State University
2001
Building Community: Civil Society in Urban America
Presented by: School of Liberal Arts, Department of Philosophy, Center on Philanthropy at Indiana University
Luncheon speaker: Obioma Nnaemeka, director of women’s studies and professor of foreign languages and cultures, IUPUI
About Joseph T. Taylor
Joseph T. Taylor was a visionary and pioneering educator. A longtime professor of sociology and the first dean of the School of Liberal Arts, he helped lead the development of the IUPUI campus. He was an expert consensus builder who was committed to dialogue and diversity. This symposium honors him for his many contributions to Indiana University and Indianapolis.
Support the Taylor Symposium
Help us continue to have these important discussions.
Give to the Taylor SymposiumContact us
Write to libaodea@iupui.edu.
