DEI Seminar: Working Toward Socially Just Data Practices by Scott Tharp

The Armour College of Engineering and Department of Mechanical, Materials, and Aerospace Engineering present “Working Towards Socially Just Data Practices,” a lecture presented by Interim Director for Academic Program Review and Assessment at the University of Illinois Chicago Scott Tharp. This lecture will take place on Wednesday, October 2, 2024, from 12:45–1:45 p.m. in room 104 of the Rettaliata Engineering Center.

*This event is in-person only and open to the public.

Light refreshments will be served immediately following the seminar in the South Lobby.

Abstract

There is increasing scholarship about conducting data practices that support inclusion, equity, and social justice; however, educators may not know how to incorporate these practices into their own assessment, evaluation, or research projects. This lecture will synthesize and discuss literature related to socially just data practices based on contextual influences, frameworks, guiding questions, methodology, implementation, and utilization. Specifically, attendees will learn different approaches to socially just data practices and consider how to apply them to their own data practices on campus.

Biography

Scott Tharp is the interim director for academic program review and assessment at the University of Illinois Chicago. In his role, Tharp enhances students’ educational experience by partnering with academic degree programs, institutes, and centers to regularly assess student learning and implement campus-wide review processes. Prior to his current role, he served DePaul University as the assessment and effectiveness specialist in the Office of the Vice President for Student Affairs, and as the associate director in the Center for Intercultural Programs and Office of Diversity Education.

Tharp is an active scholar-practitioner and educational interventionist. His research interests focus on the development and assessment of social justice education curriculum and pedagogical practices. Tharp has published scholarly articles in the Journal of Transformative Education, Multicultural Education, Multicultural Perspectives, and Whiteness in Education. Additionally, he is the author of two books, Doing Social Justice Education: A Practitioner's Guide for Workshops and Structured Conversations (2020), and Decoding Privilege: Exploring White College Students' Views on Social Inequality (2022). Tharp is a regularly invited presenter at the National Conference on Race and Ethnicity in American Higher Education (NCORE) where he served as a member of the National Advisory Council from 2014–2017. He currently serves as an assessment mentor for the Higher Learning Commission’s Assessment Academy, and previously served on the national leadership team for NASPA’s Assessment, Evaluation, and Research Knowledge Community as the co-chair for the Professional Development team.

Tharp received his Ph.D. in Curriculum Studies at the University of Illinois Chicago, M.S.W. from the University of Michigan, and B.A. in Sociology and Philosophy from Elmhurst College. He holds an appointment as affiliated faculty in the M.S.W. program at DePaul University. 

View Flyer