Complete Story
 

03/12/2026

2026 ECA Convention Voice of Diversity Interest Group Convention Program

Hi, all,

ECA is almost here! I’m looking forward to seeing everyone in Pittsburgh this April. We have a fantastic lineup of scholarship and several important items to share regarding the future of our community.

Voices of Diversity: Convention Schedule

First, here are the session times and locations for all VOD events:

Thursday, April 9th

  • 11:30 AM – 12:45 PM | Stoops Ferry
    • Top Papers in Voices of Diversity Interest Group (Paper Session)
  • 2:30 PM – 3:45 PM | Haselton 2
    • Liminal Voices: Rhetoric at the Threshold of Becoming
  • 4:00 PM – 5:15 PM | Elwood 2
    • “There Is No Such Thing as a Single-Issue Struggle...”: Critiquing the Emerging Ideas About Feminism and the Motivations Behind Them

Friday, April 10th

  • 1:30 PM – 2:45 PM | Haselton 1
    • Transnational Identities, Queer Resistance, and Kinship Beyond Norms: Exploring Contemporary Issues Through Voices of Diversity
  • 3:00 PM – 4:15 PM | Waterfront Room
    •  Voices of Diversity Business Meeting (See details below)

Saturday, April 11th

  • 1:00 PM – 2:15 PM | Elwood 1
    • Social Support in the Workplace for People with Disabilities: Managing Stigma Through Constructive Communication (Roundtable Discussion)

Important: Business Meeting & Vote on the Future of VOD

Our Business Meeting will take place on Friday, April 10th, from 3:00 PM to 4:15 PM in the Waterfront Room.

The primary agenda item is a formal vote regarding the future of the Voices of Diversity (VOD) Interest Group. For the past five years, VOD, along with the Intercultural and the Interpretation & Performance groups, has been managed by the same small group of dedicated coordinators. However, due to limited attendance and meeting participation, we have seen a stagnation in growth across all three areas.

To address this, a proposal was made at ECA 2025 to disband these three individual groups and integrate them into a singular, more robust Critical/Cultural Communication Interest Group. While the other groups voted on this last year, VOD was unable to due to timing. Therefore, we are moving forward with a vote this year to discontinue VOD and integrate our members into this new, larger Interest Group to ensure our scholarly community remains vibrant and sustainable.

How to Participate:

  • In-Person: Join us in the Waterfront Room on Friday.
  • Virtual: For those unable to attend in person, you can join via Zoom at this link: Meeting ID: 846 6996 3089
    Passcode: VOD2026 https://rowan.zoom.us/j/84669963089?pwd=HxwAfRpw7U3Pctbj8JfsgnvmtXnnY7.1

  • Feedback: If you cannot attend but wish to weigh in or provide input before the vote, please feel free to email me to share your thoughts.

Important Reminders & Logistics

Thank you again to our reviewers for the time they dedicated to carefully reviewing all submissions. Your expertise makes our programming possible!

I’m looking forward to seeing you in Pittsburgh in April!

Best regards,

Carla R. Richards
richardscr@rowan.edu
2026 ECA Voices of Diversity Interest Group Planner

Printer-Friendly Version