Dear Colleagues,
We are excited to announce that we are now accepting applications for the Fall 2025 Staff as Students of Social Justice (SSSJ) Program. Now beginning its sixth year, this program allows staff members to engage with timely topics through readings and lectures from scholars on issues of race, ethnicity, and gender, while also exploring subjects of personal interest. It is a great way to build connections with faculty, students, and fellow campus colleagues.
Beginning on Monday, September 8th, we will offer the weekly seminar over Zoom, titled “Material Anti-Racisms,” led by the SSSJ Program Director of Pedagogy, David Maldonado. This seminar will provide a deep study of abolitionism and higher education, incorporating content from the previous SSSJ lecture series “Aspirations of Material Anti-Racism: What’s Next.”
The SSSJ Program is an important expression of the campus’s commitment to staff’s intellectual and professional development, especially around issues of diversity, equity, inclusion, belonging, and justice. This program is a keystone effort of the university’s work towards Becoming an Anti-Racist Campus. We hope that many of you will take advantage of this exciting opportunity.
Program Overview
- Beginning Monday, September 8th, participate in a 10 week course with weekly Zoom discussion sections led by the SSSJ Program Director of Pedagogy, David Maldonado, Ph.D. [excluding holidays]
- Anticipate 3-4 hours of class/discussion/lecture viewing per week, plus additional time to complete readings
- No exams, grades, or academic credit
- Must attend at least 80% of meetings, participate fully, and submit a final reflection to complete the course
- Upon completion, you will receive a certificate signed by Interim Vice Chancellor for Equity and Inclusion Fabrizio Mejia, Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education Oliver O’Reilly, and Associate Vice Chancellor for Human Resources and Chief People & Culture Officer Eugene Whitlock, and your achievement will be added to your HR personnel file.
Please indicate your preferred weekly meeting time on this application form. (The form is very brief and should only take a few minutes.) Applications are due by the end of the day on Tuesday, September 2nd. We will notify all applicants if they have been selected shortly after the deadline.
If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the Staff as Students of Social Justice Program Staff at sssj@berkeley.edu.
Sincerely,
Oliver M. O'Reilly (he/him), Vice Provost for Undergraduate Education
Fabrizio Mejia (he/him), InterimActing Vice Chancellor for Equity & Inclusion
Eugene Whitlock (he/him), Associate Vice Chancellor, Human Resources & Chief People & Culture Officer
David Maldonado (he/him), Course Instructor, SSSJ Program and Future of Higher Education Postdoctoral Fellowship Program
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