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ETW 2026
Wilkinson College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences

»ETW: Leading the Conversation on People & Communities in Motion

Wilkinson College is committed to leading the conversation in our community on issues of humanity, unity, and justice. As such, the college has undertaken semester-long examinations of key societal issues, including the significance of race, environmental justice, ethnic studies, health equity, and gender and sexuality. These interdisciplinary, campus-wide conversations promote thoughtful dialogue; mindful reflection; social tolerance; awareness and respect; peace and kindness. Our purpose for the 2026 ETW series is to promote informed, impactful, and enriching interdisciplinary dialogues through an in-depth exploration of the social, cultural, political, and environmental impact of people and communities in motion. 

The ETW series will focus on how social, cultural, political, and environmental structures both shape and are shaped by people and communities in motion. Motion connotes physical displacement or environmental alteration, bodies in motion, along with thoughts and ideas that spur and initiate change.

The series will emphasize the following themes:

  • immigration and migration
  • community construction and destruction 
  • people in motion within public spaces 
  • social movements and collective action

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Fall 2026 Events

Wednesday, Oct. 14, 2026
Which Side Are You On: A Conversation with Novelist Ryan Lee Wong
Argyros Forum 201
4 p.m.
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Join Ryan Lee Wong for a reading and discussion from his novel, Which Side Are You On, which asks a powerful question: How can we live with integrity and pleasure in a world where police brutality and racism exist?

Thursday, Oct. 15, 2026
Gather: Black Food, Nourishment, and the Art of Togetherness with Dr. Ashanté Reese
Argyros Forum 209ABC
1 p.m.
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Join Dr. Ashanté Reese as she discusses food justice, Black geographies, and the power of community to create sustainable, systemic change, followed by a Q&A.

Wednesday, Oct. 28, 2026
Nadia Murad: I Choose My Beginning: A Story of Courage and Activism
Argyros Forum 209ABC
4 p.m.
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Nobel Peace Prize Laureate and Chapman Presidential Fellow Nadia Murad will discuss her new memoir in conversation with Wilkinson College Dean Jennifer Keene.

Thursday, Nov. 5, 2026
Crenshaw Dairy Mart-Bensussen Guest Lecture Series in Art
Beckman Hall 404
7 p.m.
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This panel and exhibition will feature Crenshaw Dairy Mart co-founders, whose artistic work reflects themes of community transformation, movement through public space, and collective action.

In addition to the November 5 event, you are also invited to visit Echosystems – Resonant Practices by Artists of the Crenshaw Dairy Mart, on view now through November 6 at the Guggenheim Gallery.
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Wednesday, Nov. 18, 2026
Journalists Roundtable: The World Cup and Olympics in Los Angeles
Beckman Hall 404
1 p.m.
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Los Angeles is serving as one of the host cities for the 2026 FIFA World Cup and is preparing to host the 2028 Olympic Games. What do these mega-events mean for local communities, public life, and the future of Southern California?

Thursday, Dec. 3, 2026
Llevando la Danza al Pueblo/Bringing Dance to the People with Miya Hisaka
Simon Center Performance Studio
4:15 p.m.
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Miya Hisaka is a humanitarian, dancer, choreographer, producing artistic director, urban planner, and educator who lived in El Salvador for 12 years, where she played a major role in rebuilding community and supporting urban renewal efforts through dance after the civil war. Dr. Mateo Jarquín will lead the discussion.

Saturday, Dec. 5, 2026
CoPA, "Bodies/Spirits/Minds in Motion"
Waltmar Theater
2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.
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The showcase will feature an evening of performance centered on movement, storytelling, and artistic expression with guest artist Miya Hisaka, Chapman students, and rehearsal assistant JP Flores.

Fall 2026 Past Events

October 2026


Caught in the Crackdown with A.C. Thompson

This event screened segments from the PBS and ProPublica Frontline special, Caught in the Crackdown, which traces the violence, protests, and arrests stemming from federal immigration sweeps across the United States, and was followed by a panel discussion.

September 2026

Homelessness in California: Pathways to Housing

Leading scholars Benjamin F. Henwood (USC), Chris Herring (UCLA), and Jennifer Nations (UCSD) discussed the homelessness crisis in California and the challenges and successes of getting people who are experiencing homelessness into housing. Moderated by Karen A. Snedker (Chapman).

Phi Beta Kappa Visiting Scholar Tomás R. Jiménez

Tomás R. Jiménez is the Joan B. Ford Professor in the Department of Sociology and the founding Director of Stanford's Institute for Advancing Just Societies. Professor Jiménez's research and writing focus on immigration, policy, assimilation, social mobility, and ethnic and racial identity.

The Deadly Deception at Sobibor

Participants viewed the acclaimed documentary film that explores the 10-year investigation of the Nazi cover-up of the Sobibor death camps, followed by a discussion with Director Gary Hochman.

International Day of Peace: Art as an Act of Memory and Return with Daniel Esquivia Zapato

Daniel Esquivia Zapata's presentation examined three public art projects that honor communities affected by political violence, displacement, and erasure. The event explored how public art preserves memory, challenges oppressive narratives, and supports social change, identity, and collective rebuilding.

Keynote: Solito: A Memoir by Javier Zamora

Javier Zamora spoke about his harrowing, 3,000-mile journey as a nine-year-old from El Salvador to the United States to reunite with his parents, a trip that was supposed to take two weeks but ended up taking two months.

Committee Members

Chairs:

Committee:

ETW Fall 2026 Schedule

ETW Fall 2026 Schedule

Learn More!

To learn more about this program, contact Associate Professor of Sociology, Associate Dean of Wilkinson College of Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences, Dr. Karen Snedker.

    Engaging the World Podcasts: 2026-2027

    A podcast series of informed and enriching dialogues to help us better understand our world – how we got here, who we are, and where we are going as a society. Produced in partnership with publicpodcasting.org. Subscribe now! Listen on Apple Podcast and Spotify!