Keynotes

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Our Keynote Speakers

 

Davarian L. Baldwin

10:15-11:15 a.m., Wednesday, Oct. 8, 2025, Roanoke Ballroom

In the Shadow of the Ivory Tower: Rethinking the Community Engagement Model of Higher Education

Dr. Davarian L. Baldwin is an internationally recognized historian, cultural critic, and public advocate. He is the Paul E. Raether Distinguished Professor of American Studies and Founding Director of the Smart Cities Research Lab at Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut. His academic and political commitments have focused on global cities and particularly the diverse and marginalized communities that struggle to maintain sustainable lives in urban locales. Baldwin is the award-winning author of several books, most recently, In The Shadow of the Ivory Tower: How Universities Are Plundering Our Cities (2021) and served as the consultant and text author for The World of the Harlem Renaissance: A Jigsaw Puzzle (2022). His commentaries and opinions have been featured in numerous outlets from NBC News, BBC, and HULU to USA Today, The Washington Post, and TIME magazine. Baldwin was named a 2022 Freedom Scholar by the Marguerite Casey Foundation for his work in racial and economic justice.

In the Shadow of the Ivory Tower: How Universities Are Plundering Our Cities will be available for purchase at the conference and a book signing will be conducted at the conclusion of the keynote presentation.

Photo by VisionMerge Productions.

 

Mary Maker

9:15-10:15 a.m., Thursday, Oct. 9, 2025, Roanoke Ballroom

Ripples of Change: Scholarship That Reaches Beyond the Classroom

Mary Maker is a South Sudanese refugee, educator, and activist for refugee education, currently working with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). After fleeing her war-torn country as a child, Maker found hope and security through education at Kakuma Refugee Camp in Kenya. She has since become a dedicated teacher to young refugees in her community, believing that education is a critical tool for rebuilding lives and empowering a generation often denied access to the classroom. In 2021, Mary co-founded Elimisha Kakuma, a Swahili word for Educate Kakuma. Within one year, Mary and her team were able to partner with Virginia Tech, UNHCR, and Duolingo, from where Elimisha was awarded Best of Student Advocacy. In 2023, she was appointed a Goodwill Ambassador for UNHCR. In addition to her work in education, Mary is an actor, fashion lover, and writer, sharing her story on global platforms such as TEDx and United Nations summits to advocate for resilience, peacebuilding, and inclusion in education.  

Learn more about Maker’s work.

Virginia Tech photo.