Preeminent advocate, researcher, and educator will lead closing session of the virtual event focused on developing leadership skills in Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging (DEIB)

University of Phoenix is pleased to announce J. Luke Wood, Ph.D., as the closing keynote speaker of the University’s first annual Inclusive Leadership Summit and Career Fair, April 12-15, 2022. The free, virtual event is open to the public and focused on helping participants develop diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging (DEIB) skills as inclusive leaders and will provide opportunities for networking connection and employment.

Wood’s closing keynote speech is titled, "Racelighting: Addressing Inauthentic Allyship," and will lead a session discussing how racelighting manifests in the daily and consistent experiences of Black people, as well as Indigenous people and other people of color. Wood explains, “Racelighting refers to the process whereby People of Color question their own thoughts and actions due to systematically delivered racialized messages that make them second guess their own lived experiences with racism.” This session will highlight the ways that racelighting is evident in the experiences of students, faculty, and staff of color. Along with Wood, presenters will also discuss strategies that can be used to reduce the impact of racelighting on people of color.

Wood is Vice President of Student Affairs & Campus Diversity and Dean’s Distinguished Professor of Education at San Diego State University. He also serves as the Co-Director of the Community College Equity Assessment Lab (CCEAL), a national research and practice center that partners with community colleges to support their capacity in advancing outcomes for underserved students of color. Wood’s research focuses on factors affecting the success of boys and men of color's education, with a specific focus on early childhood education and community colleges. He has delivered over 1,000 scholarly professional and conference presentations, and his research has been featured by prominent national media outlets.

Wood has authored over 160 publications, including more than 70 peer-reviewed journal articles and 15 books. He earned his doctorate in Educational Leadership & Policy Studies with an emphasis in Higher Education, and his master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction with an emphasis in Early Childhood Education from Arizona State University (ASU).

Titled “Creating the intentional leader of today, tomorrow and beyond,” the University of Phoenix Inclusive Leadership Summit and Career Fair offers attendees access to a Career Fair as well as in-depth workshops, research presentations and choose industry-focused tracks: Leadership & Management, Healthcare and Education.

The Inclusive Leadership Summit integrates research findings from University of Phoenix Career Institute™ and Research Centers to influence topics addressed while highlighting academic fields of study offered at the University. Learn more about diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging at University of Phoenix here.

Register for the University of Phoenix Inclusive Leadership Summit here.

About University of Phoenix

University of Phoenix is continually innovating to help working adults enhance their careers in a rapidly changing world. Flexible schedules, relevant courses, interactive learning, and Career Services for Life® help students more effectively pursue career and personal aspirations while balancing their busy lives. For more information, visit phoenix.edu.

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. @UOPX is pleased to announce @DrLukeWood as the closing keynote speaker of the #InclusiveLeadership Summit & Career Fair, April 12-15, a free, virtual event open to the public and focused on helping participants develop #DEIB skills as inclusive leaders