Parkersburg, W.Va. (February 12, 2021) – West Virginia University at Parkersburg will celebrate Black History Month with two virtual events, including a keynote talk about diversity with Dr. Rodney Smith, vice president for Access and Engagement at William Jewell College.

The first event, “A View from a Black Perspective,” will take place on Wednesday, February 17, at 11 a.m. WVU Parkersburg student Sedonie Beckford will interview Dr. Steven Smith about his journey through academia, challenges and opportunities facing the black community and the importance of Black History Month.

Dr. Steven Smith is the college’s first black vice president of Enrollment Management and Jackson County Center dean and CEO.

“This is an opportunity to share a perspective that is often lost in translation, and to provide truth and clarity about racial experiences that can sometimes not be clearly understood,” said Dr. Steven Smith.

The second event, “Let’s Talk Diversity,” will take place on Wednesday, February 24, at 12:15 p.m. Dr. Rodney Smith will provide insight into the implications of race and racism in American society, the Black Lives Matter movement and more.

In addition to his roles at William Jewel College, Dr. Rodney Smith is a graduate adjunct professor at the University of Missouri-Kansas City School of Education, where he teaches courses addressing racial and ethnic diversity and cultural understanding. He also published a book, “Are We Really Crabs in a Barrel: The Truth and Other Insights About the African American Community,” as well as a chapter in an anthology entitled “The Trayvon Martin in US: An American Tragedy.”

Both events will be streamed on WVU Parkersburg’s Facebook page and YouTube channel.