The 20th annual J. Paul Taylor Social Justice Symposium April 29 through May 1 at New Mexico State University will focus on the theme “Justice for Knowledge.”
“It is a little different this year because usually it’s a very specific group that we focus on,” said Spencer Herrera, NMSU Spanish professor in the Department of Languages and Linguistics, who organized the symposium and will be among its speakers. “’Justice for Knowledge’ is a little abstract maybe, but one of the things we want to accomplish this year is to really communicate the value of a college education to the general public.”
The symposium was founded by J. Paul Taylor, an NMSU alumnus and prominent figure in both New Mexico politics and education.” Tayor remained active with the symposium until he passed away at his home in Mesilla in 2023, at age 102.
“Through this year’s J. Paul Taylor Social Justice Symposium, we want to express major areas of the College of Arts and Sciences: the arts, humanities, social sciences and sciences,” Herrera said. “We want to represent every category, every division with different professors to talk about what they do, why it’s important and the value of those fields of study in 2025 and beyond.”
The three-evening event will begin at 5 p.m. Tuesday, April 29 with presentation of colors, a welcome and the 2025 Social Justice Awards at the Health and Social Services Auditorium, Room 101. All three evening’s events will be held at the same auditorium.
NMSU’s Department of Government will present the Social Justice Award for a member of the NMSU student body, staff or faculty who has volunteered to help create a more just society. There is also a social justice award presented to a member of the community involved in social justice activism.
Larissa Lury, NMSU associate professor in the Department of Theatre, will lead the group in “Activating Empathy: Building Shared Experiences and Connection through Theater” from 5:30 to 6 p.m. From 6 to 6:30 p.m., Nicholas Natividad, associate professor in the Department of Criminal Justice, will speak about “Education Across Lines: The Urgent Need for Human Rights Curriculum and Re-Humanizing Learning in a World of Borders.” The evening will conclude with a question-and-answer session from 6:30 to 7 p.m. with Lury and Natividad. Zoom webinar access to day one of the symposium is available at https://nmsu.zoom.us/j/81327731701.
“At NMSU, one of the things that we try to emphasize is how scholarship influences our teaching,” Herrera said. “Our research should influence our teaching and should become part of the classroom experience. During the symposium, we want to share the ways we bring our scholarship into the classroom.”
Wednesday, April 30, day two of the symposium will begin with a social mixer from 5to 5:30 p.m., followed by a talk by Patricia MacGregor-Mendoza, professor in the Department of Languages and Linguistics, titled “Language and Bilingualism: Myths, Realities, Persistence and Resilience.” At 6 p.m., Elba Serrano, regents professor in the Department of Biology, will present “Bridging the Gap: Strengthening Science and the Public Trust.” After the talks at 6:30 p.m., the speakers will have a question-and-answer session. Zoom webinar access to day two of the symposium is available at https://nmsu.zoom.us/j/89830940491.
“As the state’s land-grant university, everything we do has an impact on the community,” Hererra said. “Teaching, research and service overlap at NMSU. Our students gain knowledge that they can apply to their work, to their community and to their own personal lives. We are all striving to improve ourselves, improve the workplace, improve society.
“Not everyone may quite understand what professors do. So, it’s important for professors to communicate what we do,” Hererra added. “It’s important that as we share these ideas, our community gains an understanding of who we are, what we do and why it’s important.”
Thursday, May 1, day three and the final evening of the symposium, will begin with a mixer from 5 to 5:30 p.m. followed by a presentation by Hererra titled “Ser Sincera: Sharing Our Stories to Remember, Connect, and Create Knowledge.” After Hererra, Phame Camarena, dean of the William Conroy Honors College, will give a talk titled “Critical Thought and the Value of Higher Education in 2025 and Beyond.” The talks will be followed by a question-and-answer session with the presenters. Zoom webinar access to day three of the symposium is available at https://nmsu.zoom.us/j/84104888524.
Each day of the symposium will be both in-person and via Zoom video conferencing. The remote audience is invited into the dialogue with speakers during the question-and-answer sessions.
“With the webinar, there’ll be a chat available,” Herra explained. “The audio will be shut down for them during the speaking time, but we’ll have someone moderate the chat. When it’s time for Q and A, we’ll be happy to address as many questions as we can from both the webinar audience and the live audience.”
Parking is free on campus after 4:30 p.m. You may find the most convenient place to park on the campus parking map.
Details about the speakers and more about the J. Paul Taylor Social Justice Symposium is available at the symposium website.
-30-
CUTLINE: This year’s J. Paul Taylor Social Justice Symposium will express major areas of the College of Arts and Sciences: the arts, humanities, social sciences and sciences. Poster shows overview of the NMSU campus featuring the ASNMSU Center for the Arts. (NMSU image)