Michigan State University

College of Osteopathic Medicine

Dean's Update 2023-01

January 30, 2023

As we celebrate the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr. and look toward Black History Month in February, the Michigan State University College of Osteopathic Medicine is excited for its 23rd annual Dr. William G. Anderson Lecture Series, Slavery to Freedom: An American Odyssey.

Named in honor of our own William G. Anderson, D.O., who was a trailblazer in the Civil Rights Movement, the first African American member and president of the American Osteopathic Association Board of Trustees, and continues to serve as an advisor to the dean’s office, this series reflects on the legacy of African Americans in the U.S. During my time as dean, I have been grateful to be a part of this series and we at the college are honored each year to bring this gift to the MSU and greater communities.

The 2023 Dr. William G. Anderson Lecture Series, Slavery to Freedom: An American Odyssey continues with incredibly impactful speakers who bring their own stories and work to share with us. Now led by Marita Gilbert, Ph.D., MSUCOM associate dean for diversity and campus inclusion, this series continues to evolve while keeping its tradition of bringing amazing speakers to the university.

We, as a college, work every day to make a difference in the lives of people and in the communities we serve. This series is another opportunity for us to support our communities and to work toward a better tomorrow.

I’m excited for this year’s speakers and activities and have asked Dr. Gilbert to provide more information about the series.

First and foremost, we have an incredible trio of speakers,” Dr. Gilbert said. The 2023 speakers are:marita_gilbert.jpg

  • Marley Dias, who created #1000BlackGirlBooks at the age of 11 and collected over 13,000 children’s books featuring Black girls as the lead character. In addition to collecting books, Dias is also an author, was recognized by TIME in 2018 as one of the 24 most influential teens and was also named the youngest member of the Forbes 30 Under 30 list. Today, Dias is a student at Harvard University and is the executive producer and host of Bookmarks: Celebrating Black Voices on Netflix. She will kick off this year’s Slavery to Freedom series at 5 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 2, in the Pasant Theatre at the Wharton Center for Performing Arts.
     
  • Angela Davis, Ph.D., is the second speaker of the 2023 Slavery to Freedom series, 5 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 9, in the Pasant Theatre at the Wharton Center for Performing Arts. The university educator is well-known for her activism and scholarship, emphasizing the “importance of building communities of struggle for economic, racial and gender justice.” She is the author of 11 books and is known for helping to popularize the notion of a “prison industrial complex,” urging others to think about a world without prison systems.
     
  • The final speaker for this year’s series is Freeman A. Hrabowski, Ph.D., who will speak at 5 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 23, at the Kellogg Hotel & Conference Center Auditorium. Dr. Hrabowski served as president of the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, from 1992-2022. He also co-founded the Meyerhoff Scholars Program, received the American Council on Education’s Lifetime Achievement Award in 2018 and a $1.5 billion pledge from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute (HHMI) to support early career scientists and increase diversity in STEM through the Freeman Hrabowski Scholars Program.

“I can’t speak highly enough about the incredible group of speakers we are bringing in this year to share their stories and work with the MSU and greater community,” Dr. Gilbert said.

This year’s Slavery to Freedom series doesn’t only include speakers.

"Detroit-based artist Darnell Kendricks created a special piece, ‘This Joy That I Have,’ using paint and fabric to integrate another meaningful element of storytelling through art to our series,” Dr. Gilbert added. “What we hope is that others are seeing this work and recognizing that this lecture series is not only a celebration of black histories and herstories, but a time to purposefully plan for thriving black futures.”

Small lending libraries to hold some of the books collected in our book drive are the result of the support and partnership with the Michigan Regional Council of Carpenters, which is providing the materials and building the libraries for MSUCOM. The Socialight Society bookstore in the Lansing Mall is also a partner, providing information and purchasing support for the book drive. Other partners are joining us for community events, including Waverly Community Schools and Grit, Glam, and Guts, a Lansing area organization focused on empowering teen girls.

“We are so grateful for our community partners and sponsors who have joined us for this year’s series,” Dr. Gilbert said. “What we hope is that others are seeing this work and recognizing that this lecture series is not only a look back at the work that has been done for greater diversity, equity and inclusion, but it is also a look forward. We must look back to learn and look forward to continue the conversations and work to create a better world for all.”

The 2023 Dr. William G. Anderson Lecture Series, Slavery to Freedom: An American Odyssey speaker events are free and open to the public. Registration is required. Learn more about the speakers and events.

Dean Andrea Amalfitano, D.O., Ph.D.

Marita Gilbert, Ph.D.
Associate Dean for Diversity and Campus Inclusion