Past Symposia

November 2023
Theme: Excellence on the Field and Beyond
Speakers: Nathaniel Hughes, Trevante Rhodes, Cynthea Rhodes-Patterson

November 2022
Theme: Intentional Solidarity: Transformation Through Cross-Cultural Unity
Speakers: Dr. Emmett Campos (host), Tamara Craver, Dr. Charles Lu

November 2021
Theme: Unnatural Causes: Health Equity is a Civil Right
Speakers: Dr. Ryan Sutton (host), Stephanie Hayden-Howard, Dr. Desmar Walkes

November 2020
Theme: Still Hidden Figures: Black Women in the Workplace
Speakers: Yamiche Alcindor

February 2020
Theme: Civil Rights 2020
Speakers: (February 27, 2020) Camron Goodman, Amie Jean, Hallease Narvaez, María Reneé Morales, Rudy Vela, Ashley Ikwuagwu, Brandon Okeke, Ben Crump, Esq., Dr. Leonard N. Moore

May 2019
Theme: The Unfinished Business of Civil Rights
Speakers: (May 1, 2019) Dr. Leonard N. Moore, Dr. Eric Tang, Gabriel Amaro, Mechele Dickerson, Elizabeth Mueller, Stephanie Lang, Funmi Ogunru, Rachel Winston, Volma Overton II, Dr. Juliet E. K. Walker, Averri “Tre” LeMalle II, Valorie Marks, Dr. Darren D. Kelly, Vera Hinojosa, Dr. Rodolfo Jimenez, Jr., Quincy Dunlap, Freddie Dixon, Lavonne Mason, De J. Lozada (moderator), Vi Nguyen, Nelly Garcia, Michael Manning, Rubén Cantú (moderator), Denisha Jenkins, Zuby Onwuta, Kehlin Swain, Joi Chevalier, Katie Fang, Roman Gonzalez, Vicky H. Sepulveda, Marina Bhargava, Tam Hawkins, Cruz Correa, Luis Rodriguez, Dr. John S. Butler, John Hope Bryant

March 2018
Theme: As We Saw It, The Story of Integration at The University of Texas at Austin
Speakers: (March 29, 2018) Leslie A. Blair, Virginia A. Cumberbatch, Dr. Richard J. Reddick, Ms. Martha P. Cotera, Colonel (Ret) Leon L. Holland, Dr. Mitchel Wong,

April 2017
Theme: Freedom of Speech
Speakers: (April 12, 2017) Dr. Gregory Vincent

February – April 2016
Theme: EnGENDERing Power on the 40 Acres: The Story of Integration at UT; Race and the Politics of Access: 1950 – Present
Speakers: (February 24, 2016) Fran Harris, Sherryl Griffin Bozeman, Judith Jenkins, Honorable Harriet Murphy, Virginia Cumberbatch
(April 28, 2016) Dr. Peniel Joseph, Michael Higginbotham, Virginia Cumberbatch

January-May 2015
Theme: Access and Opportunities
Speakers: (January 7-9, 2015) Mr. Maurice Clarett, Mr. Daron Roberts, Dr. Akilah Francique-Carter, Ms. Leslie Satchell, Dr. Harry Edwards, Mr. Ricky Williams
(May 15, 2015) Colonel Leon Holland, Ms. Chelsea Jones, Jr., Dr. Leonard Moore, Reverend Joseph Parker, Mr. William Powers

January-May 2014
Theme: Civil Rights Act 50 Years Later: Education and Empowerment
Speakers: (March 28, 2014) Mr. Joshua Civin, Ms. Sharon Davies, Mr. Ward Farnsworth, Dr. Joseph Fishkin, Dr. Cary Franklin, Mr. David Hinojosa, Dr. Kedra Ishop, Mr. Richard Kahlenberg, Mr. Douglas Laycock, Mr. Celina Moreno, Mr. Ranjana Nataranjan, Dr. Patricia Ohlendorf, Ms. Funmi Showole, Dr. Patrick Shin, Mr. Jordan Steiker, Dr. Marta Tienda
(April 8-10, 2014) The Honorable Jimmy Carter, The Honorable William Jefferson Clinton, President Barack Obama, First Lady Michelle Obama, The Honorable George W. Bush
(May 2, 2014) The Honorable Rodney Ellis, The Honorable Ron Kirk, Dr. Choquette Hamilton, Ms. Rosa Hunt, Ms. Jordan Metoyer, Ms. Ixchel Rosal,

January-May 2013
Theme: Future of Black Life in Austin
Speakers: (April 24, 2013) Ms. Bonnie Boswell, Ms. Lucy Johnson, Mr. Teddy McDaniel, Vincent, Mr. Mark Updergove,
(May 1, 2013) Dr. King Davis, Ms. Margo Frasier, Mr. Shannon Jones III, Ms. Damaris Nicholson, Dr. Eric Tang
(May 3, 2013) Mr. Ashton Cumberbatch, Ms. Jennifer Cumberbatch, Dr. Kevin Johnson, Ms. Lori Lewis-Conerly, Reverend Joseph Parker, Mr. Michael Williams

January-May 2012
Theme: Awareness to Action: Advancing Solutions for Men of Color in Higher Education
Speakers: (February 8, 2012) Dr. Ronald Williams, Dr. Kevin Foster, Dr. Mario Garza, Mr. Neil Horikoshi, Mr. Michael Lofton, Dr. Victor Saenz
(February 29, 2012) Dr. Eric Tang, Dr. Mitchell Chang, Dr. Robert Teranishi
(March 11, 2012) Dr. James Moore, Dr. Leonard Moore, Dr. Richard Reddick, Mr. Larry Featherstone, Mr. Richard Franklin, Mr. Darren Kelly, Mr. David Robinson, Mr. Todd Suddeth, Mr. Anthony Whitlock
(April 11, 2012) Dr. Shannon Speed, Dr. Lee Bitsoi, Dr. Amy Fann, Dr. Michael Fire

January – May 2011
Theme: The 25th Anniversary Celebration
Speakers: Dr. Kevin Foster, Louise Iscoe, Gary Lavergne, Dr. Edward Sharpe, Dr. George Wright, The Heman Sweatt family

April 22-23, 2010
Theme: 60Years of Integration, Civil Rights Then and Now
Speaker: Dr. Edmund T. Gordon and Dr. Raymond Johnson

April 14-17, 2009
Theme: Sidelined: Racial Politics at Predominately White Institutions
Speaker: Jerry LeVias

March 25-28, 2008
Theme: The Powerless Majority: The Black and Latino Experience in America
Speaker: Ron Kirk

April 26-27, 2007
Theme: Bridging Economic Disparity Through Education
Speaker: Jackie Joyner-Kersee

April 24-28, 2006
Theme: Health Care Disparities: A Civil Rights Issue
Speaker: Dr. Deborah Prothow-Stith

April 25-29, 2005
Theme: Celebrating the 40th Anniversary of the 1965 Voting Rights Act
Speaker: U.S. Representative John Lewis

April 20-23, 2004
Theme: Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the Brown v. Board of Education Decision
Speaker: Dr. John Hope Franklin

April 23-25, 2003
Theme: Progression versus Regression: The State of the African American Community
Speaker: Ed Gordon

April 11-19, 2002
Theme: Reparations: Does America Owe African Americans a Debt?
Speaker: Johnnie L. Cochran, Jr.

April 17-20, 2001
Theme: Capital Punishment In Texas: Is Justice Served?
Speaker: John Artis

April 11-14, 2000
Theme: The New Civil Rights—Fifty Years After the Sweatt Decision
Speaker: Dick Gregory

April 12-16, 1999
Theme: The Role of Art and Artists in the Struggle: A Retrospective Look at Civil Rights in the 20th Century
Speaker: Nikki Giovanni

April 16-17, 1998
Theme: From Sweatt to Hopwood to Success: Solutions for Creating a Diverse University
Speaker: Wilhelmina Delco

April 17, 1997
Theme: Heroes in Action: Building a Community of Respect and Dignity
Speaker: Performance of Camp Logan

April 26, 1996
Theme: A Celebration of African American Music: Songs from the Soul in the Struggle for Justice
Speaker: Barbara Conrad

April 19, 1995
Theme: Civil Rights Revisited
Speaker: Jesse Jackson

April 1-8, 1994
Theme: Images of Blackness: Past, Present & Future
Speakers: Bell Hooks, Ossie Davis and Ruby Dee

March 24-25, 1993
Theme: Beyond Kente: A Cultural Continuum from Ghana to Texas
Speakers: Kofi Awoonor, Randall Robinson
Performance By: The Ghana National Dance Ensemble

April 2-3, 1992
Theme: A Sense of Origins – The African Global Presence
Speakers: Joseph E. Harris, Howard Dodson, Jr., Olly W. Wilson and Deborah L. Mack

April 3-4, 1991
Theme: Community, Self-Help and Entrepreneurship: The Roots of Civil Rights
Speakers: Robert L. Woodson: “Resurrection of the Black Self-Help Tradition,” followed by a panel discussion moderated by John Q. Taylor King

March 29-30, 1990
Theme: Multiculturalism: Different Cultures Sharing Common Ground
Speaker: Dr. Samuel D. Proctor: “Education and the Pursuit of Genuine Community in America,” followed by a panel discussion moderated by Betty Sue Flowers

March 30-31, 1989
Theme: The African-American Experience: The Paradox of Civil Rights
Speaker: William J. Wilson: “The Inner City Ghetto,” followed by a panel discussion moderated by Ray Marshall