TESU to Host University Day Dec. 4

Event will feature keynote speaker Dr. Rihanna Rogers

TRENTON — Thomas Edison State University (TESU) invites students, staff, alumni, and the broader community to join us on Dec. 4, 2024, at 1 p.m. for University Day as we commemorate our attainment of university status in 2015. This annual event celebrates TESU’s commitment to fostering dialogue, expanding perspectives, and cultivating critical thinkers at the intersection of society and higher education.

As the University reflects on its journey since achieving university status, it continues to prioritize innovation as a guiding principle. This year, TESU will welcome Rhianna Rogers, Ph.D., as the featured speaker. Rogers is an independent researcher and former director of the RAND Center to Advance Racial Equality Policy. With extensive experience in creating inclusive spaces, she will offer insight into how educators can build inclusive learning environments that spark creativity and foster holistic student development.

In her keynote presentation titled “The Transformative Possibilities of Technology in Higher Education: Case Studies from an Interdisciplinary Career Journey,” Rogers will delve into her career journey, highlighting how technology can be driving force for both innovations and inequities. By emphasizing her prior work in the digital equity (e.g., AI/Machine Learning, public policy, education, and broader technological equity) Rogers will discuss how interdisciplinarity in the tech-space has shaped her career trajectory and how it can be effectively harnessed in Higher Education. Through case studies from her work, audience members will explore opportunities the pros and cons of digital equity projects as well as explore ways to leverage technology in federal service.

Rogers will also explore strategies for engaging modern learners while prioritizing their health and wellness in higher education settings. This event promises to be an insightful session for educators, students, and anyone passionate about shaping the future of education through innovation and compassion.

“University Day is a moment for us to reflect on the incredible journey Thomas Edison State University has undertaken since achieving university status in 2015. It’s also a time to look forward with the same momentum, as we continue to prioritize innovation and inclusivity in higher education. We are thrilled to welcome Dr. Rhianna Rogers this year, whose expertise in diversity, equity, and technology will provide invaluable insights as we foster a high-tech learning environment that is both transformative and deeply inclusive,” said Dr. Merodie A. Hancock, TESU president.

The event is co-sponsored by the joint University-New Jersey State Library AI Taskforce and the University-New Jersey State Library Diversity Equity and Inclusion Council. It will take place in Prudence Hall, at Thomas Edison State University, 111 W. State St., Trenton, N.J.  Please register to attend.

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About Thomas Edison State University
Thomas Edison State University provides distinctive undergraduate and graduate education for self-directed adults through flexible, high-quality collegiate learning and assessment opportunities. One of New Jersey’s senior public institutions of higher education, the University offers associate, bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degree programs. Students earn degrees through a wide variety of rigorous and high-quality academic methods that can be customized to meet their individual needs. Identified by The New York Times as “the college that paved the way for flexibility,” the University is a national leader in the assessment of adult learning and a pioneer in the use of educational technologies. The New Jersey State Library is an affiliate. To learn more, visit www.tesu.edu or email admissions@tesu.edu.