Dr. Jane Dickie, a retired member of the 熊猫在线视频 psychology faculty who was the founding director of the college鈥檚 women鈥檚 and gender studies program, will present the college鈥檚 2024 Affirming LGBTQ+ Students Lecture on Thursday, March 21, at 4 p.m. in the Maas Center auditorium.
The public is invited. Admission is free.
The lecture will be based on Dickie鈥檚 current paper, 鈥淭he Call and Response for Justice: 50 Years of LGBTQ and Allies Struggles 鈥� 熊猫在线视频, 1972-2022.鈥� As outlined in the paper鈥檚 abstract, 鈥淗ow has 熊猫在线视频 worked to be truly welcoming and inclusive of gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgendered, queer (LGBTQ) folks and allies? Much of the movement for social justice occurred out of the public eye beyond formal administrative actions. As we look at the history of the last 50 years, we see an uneven march toward full inclusion and celebration; beginning with underground support groups and ending with a fully recognized affirming student group. This paper tells the story, not previously told, through the eyes of LGBTQ and allies actively involved at specific moments when action and reaction occurred, The Call and the Response for Justice.鈥�
The doors will open at 3:45 p.m. There will also be an opportunity for the audience to participate in a question-and-answer panel discussion following the presentation.
The lecture is being presented by the college鈥檚 Center for Diversity and Inclusion (CDI), which is currently celebrating its 40th anniversary and is incorporating the theme throughout the 2024 Diversity Lecture Series. CDI is using the 2024 Diversity Lecture Series to celebrate and honor those who have put their time and effort into creating a diverse and inclusive community at Hope. The celebration will continue through presentations scheduled across 2024, including most immediately the college鈥檚 C茅sar Ch谩vez Lecture on Wednesday, March 27.
鈥淥ur theme for this time of celebration and reflection is 鈥�40 years of Belonging and Growing Together: 1984-2024,鈥欌�� said Jevon Willis, director of the Center for Diversity and Inclusion. 鈥淯tilizing CDI鈥檚 distinctive diversity spring and fall lecture series, each lecture will focus on the legacy of work and personal experiences connected with past and present leaders of CDI at 熊猫在线视频.鈥�
Dickie was a member of the Hope faculty from 1972 until retiring in 2012. Her teaching responsibilities included Developmental Psychology, Developmental Research Laboratory, Introduction to Women鈥檚 Studies, Psychology of Women, Feminist Visions of Justice, Psychology of Peace and Gender, and the Women鈥檚 Studies Keystone Seminar. The college鈥檚 women鈥檚 and gender studies program 鈥� initially named the women鈥檚 studies program 鈥� began with courses she developed in the 1980s and grew to became a minor in 1991 to include a major in 2005.
It was through her work that she developed a calling and passion to seek justice for all people regardless of gender, race, sexual orientation, gender identity, class and ability. She truly feels that God nudges her and calls not so subtly, to speak out on these issues and to act as an ally.
Dickie has been a member of Hope Church in Holland ever since the RCA decided to ordain women at a synod in the mid-70s. Her community involvement has also included serving on the board of Room for All and as vice president of the board of the Center for Women in Transition.
She involved students as collaborative researchers in her research throughout her time at Hope; through the years they received a variety of regional and national honors, including a national Undergraduate Research Award from Psi Chi 鈥� The International Psychology Honor Society in August 2012. Across her career, she received honors including the Hope Outstanding Professor Educator (H.O.P.E.) Award presented by the college鈥檚 graduating Class of 1996; the Janet Andersen Award for Excellence in Teaching presented by college鈥檚 provost鈥檚 office in 1998, and a citation from the Great Lakes Colleges Association in 1996 in recognition of her work in the field of women鈥檚 studies. In March 2013, she was one of 18 women from West Michigan honored as 鈥淢ichigan Makers 鈥� Women Who Inspire鈥� by WGVU Engage: Women and Girls Lead.
Born and raised in central-city Chicago to social workers, Dickie arrived at Hope as a new Ph.D. and the young mother of a three-year-old to teach Developmental Psychology. She notes that 50 years, one more child and four grandchildren later, she really understands development, for it is in practical applications and real life that the theories and research come alive. Her great joy is living on a 20-acre farm and traveling and living internationally with her life partner, Larry.
The lecture is being presented by the college鈥檚 Center for Diversity and Inclusion in collaboration with Prism, the Office of Culture and Inclusive Excellence, and the GROW Diversity Council.
To inquire about accessibility or if you need accommodations to fully participate in the event, please email accommodations@hope.edu. Updates related to events are posted when available at hope.edu/calendar in the individual listings.
The Maas Center is located at 264 Columbia Ave., between 10th and 13th streets.