Diversity Discourse across the Disciplines provides an opportunity for Gregory residents to engage in an in-depth exploration of diversity issues through interactive discussions and activities with Penn faculty experts and notable university figures who represent a variety of academic disciplines.

Lisa Lewis, Faculty Director, Gregory College House

Diversity Discourse Across the Disciplines Program Faculty

• Email: lisaml@nursing.upenn.edu

2019-2020 Events

Affirmation Space Program, coordinated by Akudo Ejelonu

Wednesday October 2nd, 2019 at 6 PM

House fellows Byron Sherwood and Katie Barott’s apartment

Apt. # 107 at Class of '25 building

Come join House Fellows Byron and Katie and GA Akudo in the inauguration of Gregory’s Affirmation Space. We are hosting a space for FGLI students to come fellowship, eat good food and get access to important information. FGLI refers to first-generation, low-income, meaning, students who are the first in their families to go to college and/or who come from low-income households.

Our special guest is Afuah Frimpong Academic/Library Resource Coordinator of the FGLI Program at the Greenfield Intercultural Center. She is also a Penn alum and Ghanaian-American.

No need to RSVP. Just show up. 

After the successful FGLI space, we are hosting the second affirmation space this upcoming Monday for LGBTQIA+ students to come fellowship, eat good food and get access to important information. Our goal is to create a safe and inclusive space. Although we love and appreciate our allies, this space is just for LGBTQIA+ students. Please come as you are. We just ask that you respect the privacy of others.

Monday October 7th, 2019 at 6 PM

Chinese Dinner will be provided

Fellow Lance apartment (Apt. 316)

Our special guest is Malik Muhammad, Associate Director at Penn's LGBT Center. A Philly native, Malik completed his Bachelor's in Psychology with a Theater Arts Minor at West Chester University (WCU) of Pennsylvania. He obtained a Master's degree in Higher Education Counseling and Student Affairs. Malik served as the Coordinator of Sexual and Gender Diversity at Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania. Within that role, he had the honor of functioning as the LGBTQA Resource Center's Director; serving both the campus and surrounding communities. After two years at BU, Malik is graciously transitioning into his new role at Penn.

Tuesday, November 19th, 2019 at 6 PM

Faculty Director Lisa Lewis’ apartment (108 VP)

Jimmy Johns For Dinner

This space will be for students with any disability, but will also be open to students who need different types of academic support. We will have a guest from the Weingarten Center and Disability Services. 

Tuesday, December 3rd, 2019 at 7 PM

House Dean Chris Donovan’s apartment (405 VP)

Tuesday at 6 PM, we’ll be hosting our next Affirmation Space—this one for self-identified male students (including trans men and gender non-conforming students).  As always, the goal is to create a safe and inclusive space. Our guest will be Malik Washington, Director of  Penn Violence Prevention, and RA Michael Auble is helping coordinate.  There will be food!

Tuesday, January 28th, 2020 at 5:30 PM

House Dean Chris Donovan’s apartment (405 VP)

Hummus for Dinner

This Tuesday, January 28th, at 5:30 pm, we are hosting an affirmation space for international students in VP 405 (House Dean Chris and Margaret's apartment). This safe and inclusive environment will allow you to meet other international Gregorians, eat delicious international food, and learn more about the resources available to you. Ryan Villanueva, the Assistant Director of Integration and Community Engagement at the International Student and Scholar Services (ISSS) will be leading the discussion and will be an amazing person to ask questions you may have. 

Wednesday, February 26th, 2020 at 5:30 PM

Faculty Director Lisa Lewis' apartment (4108 VP)

Our guest this month is our own gregorian Jarek Azim, who will be representing PAACH (the Pan-Asian American Community House) and introducing us to the opportunities and activities Cultural Houses promote on campus.

Events from Prior Years:

Dinner with an Inter-Faith Chaplain Panel from the Office of the Chaplain

Title: Religious and Spiritual Diversity in the University Setting

Monday, September 26th at 6:00 pm in the Piano Lounge              

Please join us for dinner and a presentation/discussion with an inter-faith chaplain panel from the University of Pennsylvania Office of the Chaplain. 

Dinner with Dr. Jami Fisher, Program Coordinator for Penn's American Sign Language Program

Title: Deaf Culture

Monday, October 24th at 6:00 pm in the Piano Lounge

Please join us for dinner and a presentation/discussion on deaf culture.

Dinner with PENN’s Non-Cis Student Group

Title: Trans 101: Promoting Awareness of the Trans and Gender Non-Conforming College Student

Thursday, November 10th at 7:00 pm in the Piano Lounge

Please join us for dinner and a presentation/discussion with Penn's Non-Cis Student Group. Penn Non-Cis is the University's only student group dedicated to transgender and gender  non-conforming students. Non-Cis is short for Non-Cisgender, which is a term used to encompass trans* (transgender, agender, bigender, genderqueer, etc.), gender non-conforming, and questioning people. 

Women of Color in Science

Thursday, April 6th at 6:00 pm in the Piano Lounge

We have everything from alumni, current Penn faculty and students! Find information about our super-bad and extraordinary panelists below:

Dr. Maria Velasco, Pediatric Dentist

• native from Ecuador
• Master of Education, University of Pennsylvania Graduate School of Education (’10)
• Doctor of Dental Medicine, University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine (’10)
• Assistant Clinical Professor in the Department of Restorative Dentistry at the University of Pennsylvania
• Director of the Pre-doctoral Pediatric Dental Program
• involved with “Puentes de Salud”, a UPenn medical non-for-profit group that promotes the health and wellness of South Philadelphia’s rapidly growing Latino immigrant population

Dr. Archana Kasi

• Endodontist
• graduated magna cum laude from the University of Pennsylvania, majoring in the Biological Basis of Behavior
• Harvard School of Dental Medicine to earn her DMD degree in 2012
• recognized for her work in providing root canal treatment to homeless adults and youth throughout her 3 years of residency
• launched a project to provide free dental check-ups and oral hygiene education programs in Bangalore, India for underprivileged persons

Dr. Camille Henry

• Attending Physician and Instructor of Family Medicine, Department of Family and Community Health, Cooper University Health Care
• graduated from the University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine
•  Board certification: Internal medicine and pediatrics
• Special interests: Global health, newborn through geriatric care, diabetes care, preventive care

Dr. Christina Twyman-Saint Victor

• Assistant Professor of Medicine, Division of Gastroenterology University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine
• BS (Biology) from Duke University, 2002; MD from Johns Hopkins Hospital, 2007; MS (Translational Research) from University of Pennsylvania , 2016.
• Physician-researcher in the area of pancreatic cancer

D'Andra Williams

• Candidate, Doctor of Dental Medicine ’18, University of Pennsylvania School of Dental Medicine
• SNDA Social Chair

 Select 2015-2016 Events

Dinner with Vice Provost for Faculty and Law Professor, Dr. Anita Allen

Title: Equity, Access, Ethics, and the Law

Wednesday, October 28 at 6:00 pm in the Piano Lounge

Please join us for dinner and a conversation with PENN's Vice Provost for Faculty and Law Professor, Dr. Anita Allen. Vice Provost Allen, a distinguished scholar of law and ethics, will lead Gregory residents in a discussion on equity, access, ethics, and the law.

Campaign for Community

Title: Difference, Division and Discussion: A Film Series on Difficult Conversations in Contemporary Cinema

February 22-26 at 8 PM in the Gregory Cinema

Check out the Daily Pennsylvanian's coverage