Practicing Radical Empathy in a Divided World: Challenges and Opportunities

In this talk, Dr. Terri Givens will discuss how she came to write the book Radical Empathy: Finding a Path to Bridging Racial Divides, and the importance of taking action in ways that help to bridge divides. Drawing on her experiences conducting research in Europe and North America, she will explain how issues related to structural racism impact us all, and how we can get to policy change. She will also give a preview of her next book, which will focus on people and organizations that are doing the work and using empathy to create positive change.

Terri Givens is a Professor of Political Science at McGill University and formerly the CEO of the Center for Higher Education Leadership. She is a sought after consultant and speaker on issues related to leadership and inclusion. She has more than 30 years of experience in higher education, politics, international affairs and nonprofits. Dr. Givens has held leadership positions as Vice Provost at the University of Texas at Austin and Provost of Menlo College (first African American and woman); as well as professorships at University of Texas at Austin, and University of Washington. She was the founding director at the Center for European Studies at the University of Texas and led the university’s efforts in Mexico and Latin America as Vice Provost for International Activities as well as curriculum development. Her most recent published books are Radical Empathy: Finding a Path to Bridging Racial Divides (Policy Press, 2021) and The Roots of Racism: The Politics of White Supremacy in the US and Europe (Bristol University Press, 2022).