Two with School of Education ties — LaVar Charleston and Matthew Hora — express their thoughts on hopes for UW–Madison’s future in a recent article in On Wisconsin magazine.
The story, titled “Into the Unknown” and written by John Allen, shares perspectives from multiple UW–Madison staff and faculty members about what the future of the university looks like. Allen writes, “To find out what UW–Madison will be like in the future, I sought out experts in just about every aspect of university life and function. And I found people willing to admit that the future is unclear but who are doing their best to project from current trends.”
Charleston is a School of Education alumnus who is UW–Madison’s Deputy Vice Chancellor for Diversity & Inclusion, Vice Provost and Chief Diversity Officer, and the Elzie Higginbottom Director of the Division of Diversity, Equity, & Educational Achievement (DDEEA). Charleston received both his master’s degree (2007) and PhD (2010) from the School of Education’s Department of Educational Leadership and Policy Analysis.
Hora is an associate professor of adult and higher education with the Division of Continuing Studies and with the School of Education’s Department of Educational Policy Studies. He is also co-director of the Center for Research on College-Workforce Transitions (CCWT).
Allen asks Charleston about the future of the student body and diversity. “In order for students to be more successful,” Charleston says, “you have to have cultural intelligence skills. You must be able to engage in diversity and difference to be effective.”
Charleston adds: “My hope is that we are the destination of choice for students who have historically been marginalized: an ideal place to get a top-notch education and be prepared to be a leader in the world.”
Hora is asked about virtual learning and climate change. He says, “We need to be preparing our students across all disciplines about how climate will be affecting their lives, but we’re not.” He says that virtual learning has hindered student’s chances at securing internships and jobs, and education should be teaching students to be flexible problem solvers rather than “perform specific skills.”
Hora adds: “The world is going to be disruptive, like it has been for the last few years, and things are going to change in ways we don’t know. Look at the pandemic. Look at the climate. Things are going to happen, and you’re going to have to be ready for that.”
To learn more about what Charleston, Hora and other experts had to say, check out the full On Wisconsin story.