Georgia Southern University hosts 17th annual Cross-Cultural Counseling and Education Conference

February 1, 2018

Georgia Southern University’s College of Education and Division of Continuing Education will host the 17th annual Cross-Cultural Counseling and Education Conference for Research, Action and Change on Feb. 9-10 at the Coastal Georgia Center in downtown Savannah, Georgia.

The two-day conference is aimed toward educators of all levels, professional and school counselors, psychologists, social justice advocates, volunteer service providers, social workers and anyone interested in women and gender studies, diversity and cultural issues. Attendees will discover how identity forms throughout the lifespan, from infancy to adulthood, and how this development impacts group dynamics.

In addition, the conference will provide a forum for meaningful discussions centered on topics including race, ethnicity, gender and sexual identity development. Conference keynote speaker Kathryn Norsworthy, Ph.D., is known for her international advocacy for women, LGBTQ and immigrant rights. Norsworthy has spent the past 20 years traveling to South and Southeast Asia to engage in peace and justice-focused projects. She will deliver her presentation titled “Mindful Activism: Building Bridges (Not Walls!) and Swimming Against the Stream.”

Peony Fhagen, Ph.D., will present during the William Cross Jr. Lecture Series. Fhagen is known for her expertise in cultural identity development across the lifespan. She is also part of the research team that developed the Cross Racial Identity Scale, which is the most widely used social assessment tool by the American Psychological Association’s Society for the Psychological Study of Culture, Ethnicity and Race and most recently developed the Cross Racial-Ethnic Identity Scale.

William Cross Jr., Ph.D., will conclude the conference with a 90-minute presentation on “Identity, Mental Health and Missing Scripts.” He will delve into the misinformation surrounding mental health in the African-American population and discuss the high school-to-college pipeline. Cross’ work, Shades of Black: Diversity in African-American Identity, is considered a classic within the discourse on black identity.

For a detailed schedule of speakers and sessions and to register for the conference, visit GeorgiaSouthern.edu/conted/ccissues.

For additional information about this conference, contact Yvette Crick at 912-478-5555 or crosscultural@georgiasouthern.edu.

Georgia Southern University, a public Carnegie Doctoral/Research institution founded in 1906, offers 142 degree programs serving more than 27,000 students through nine colleges on three campuses in Savannah, Statesboro, Hinesville and online instruction. A leader in higher education in southeast Georgia, the University provides a diverse student population with expert faculty, world-class scholarship and hands-on learning opportunities. Georgia Southern creates lifelong learners who serve as responsible scholars, leaders and stewards in their communities. Visit GeorgiaSouthern.edu.