Buffalo, NY - Devonya N. Havis, PhD, associate professor of philosophy and women and gender studies at Canisius University, was selected as a 2021-22 University at Buffalo Center for Diversity Innovation Distinguished Visiting Scholar. Members are selected based on excellence in their fields,commitment to student mentoring, and ability to have the greatest possible influence on the University at Buffalo, SUNY and local communities.
Distinguished Visiting Scholars are exceptionally accomplished individuals who through their record of scholarship and/or creative endeavors, teaching, mentoring, and service, as well as their skills, experiences, underrepresentation, and areas of scholarly and/or creative expertise, can substantially advance diversity, equity, and inclusion at the University at Buffalo.
Charged with exposing students, faculty, and staff to new ideas and perspectives, engaging with undergraduate and graduate mentoring circles, linking to the community through talks, exhibits, scholarship and/or creative projects, the Center for Diversity Innovation’s Distinguished Visiting Scholars program contributes to the university’s existing commitments to groundbreaking research, transformative educational experiences, and deeply engaged service to its communities.
Havis’ scholarly engagements utilize insights from U.S. Black cultures and Michel Foucault to explore issues in Critical Philosophy of Race, Contemporary Continental Philosophy, and Critical Disability Studies. Her publications include: “‘Now, How You Sound’: Considering a Different Philosophical Praxis” in Hypatia; and “‘Seeing Black’ through Michel Foucault’s Eyes: ‘Stand Your Ground’ Laws as An Anchorage Point for State-Sponsored Racism,” in Pursuing Trayvon Martin: Historical Contexts and Contemporary Manifestations of Racial Dynamics. Havis has also been developing decolonial models for service and experiential learning.
For more information, please visit https://www.buffalo.edu/diversity-innovation/distinguished-visiting-scholars/cohort.html.
One of 27 Jesuit universities in the nation, Canisius is the premier private university in Western New York. Canisius prepares leaders – intelligent, caring, faithful individuals – able to pursue and promote excellence in their professions, their communities and their service to humanity.
