About US
Our Speakers
Dr. J.W. Wiley– Author, Educator
Dr. J.W. Wiley received his doctorate in Educational Leadership from the University of Vermont in Burlington. He is the president and owner of Xamining Diversity whereby he keynotes, consults, facilitates film screenings, conducts cultural competency workshops, day/weekend retreats, and/or presents his interactive workshop “Diversity Enlightenment.” His Client list includes the Canadian Association of Principals, Vermont National Guard, National Center for Atmospheric Research, University of Notre Dame, Midwest Athletic Conference, Pfizer Pharmaceuticals, Los Angeles County Fire Department, Wyeth Pharmaceuticals, Southwoods Summer Camp, Princeton Jr. Scholars, Univ of San Francisco Medical Center, New York State Nurses Association, Homeland Security, PACE University, University of Vermont, Champlain Valley Physicians Hospital, Bombardier, Zone 9 Police Academy, Joint Council for Economic Opportunity (JCEO), North Country Legal Services, Fletcher Allen Medical Center, Plattsburgh New York Mayor’s Office, City Council, and Police Department, and countless other school districts, high/middle schools; businesses, universities, and colleges.
Dr. Wiley’s previous leadership experiences include serving as Chief Diversity Officer at State University of New York – Plattsburgh and Lecturer in Philosophy/Interdisciplinary Studies from 2000-2018. From 1993-2000–in his early academic career—Dr. Wiley served Claremont Graduate University in many different roles (Multicultural Admissions Counselor; Special Asst. for Diversity; Asst. Dean of Academic Affairs). Dr. Wiley also had three experiences of employment with Fortune 100 companies: Hughes Aircraft Co., Rockwell International, and McDonnell Douglas Corp.
In 2013, Dr. Wiley released the book, The Nigger in You: Challenging Dysfunctional Language, Engaging Leadership Moments (Stylus Publishing)
If you have attempted to avoid and/or escape oppression, been made to feel as if you are a problem, been treated as “lesser than” or even like a criminal, all just because you are different in a given context, then what Dr. J. W. Wiley asserts through the title of this book inescapably applies to you. Through any of our multiple identities—our socio-economic class, level of education, gender, disability, age, race, sexual orientation, or religion—we are all potential victims as well as perpetrators of denigrating language and discrimination. ~Harvard Book Review
If you have attempted to avoid and/or escape oppression, been made to feel as if you are a problem, been treated as “lesser than” or even like a criminal, all just because you are different in a given context, then what Dr. J. W. Wiley asserts through the title of this book inescapably applies to you. Through any of our multiple identities—our socio-economic class, level of education, gender, disability, age, race, sexual orientation, or religion—we are all potential victims as well as perpetrators of denigrating language and discrimination. ~Harvard Book Review
Dr. Thomas Keith – Author, Filmmaker, Educator
Dr. Thomas Keith received his Ph.D. in philosophy at Claremont Graduate University, specializing in American philosophy with an emphasis on issues of race, class, and gender. In 2008 and 2011, respectively, Dr. Keith wrote, directed, and produced the bestselling Media Education Foundation films Generation M: Misogyny in Media and Culture and The Bro Code: How Contemporary Culture Creates Sexist Men, which are used in classrooms around the world. His latest film, The Empathy Gap: Masculinity and the Courage to Change was released in 2015 and has been met with sensational reviews including:
“The Empathy Gap is an important contribution to the growing discourse on masculinities. Combining historical and media analysis. Thomas Keith makes a strong case for how so many of the ways in which we have been raising boys and developing men are harmful to people of all genders. His powerful presentation of the myriad ways our culture damages men makes a clear statement about need to redefine strength, courage, and manhood. To paraphrase Dr. Keith, as men, we can redefine the masculine script and find the courage to embrace love and empathy.”
– Tom Schiff | Director of the Men and Masculinities Center, University of Massachusetts – Amherst
In 2017, Dr. Keith published Masculinities in Contemporary American Culture (Routledge Press) https://www.routledge.com/Masculinities-in-Contemporary-American-Culture-An-Intersectional-Approach/Keith/p/book/9781138818071 , which is now used in gender studies courses around the world.
A valuable introduction to popular and academic approaches to understanding representations of masculinities and how men are gendered…engaging! ~ Henry Brod, University of Northern Iowa
In 2021, Dr. Keith published The Bro Code: The Fallout of Raising Boys to Objectify and Subordinate Women (Routledge Press). https://www.routledge.com/The-Bro-Code-The-Fallout-of-Raising-Boys-to-Objectify-and-Subordinate-Women/Keith/p/book/9781138624757
The Bro Code is an incredibly comprehensive and informed analysis of the many ways that our culture continues to indoctrinate young men with a set of misleading and misogynous ideas about manhood, gender and power. It’s a must-read for anyone who wants to help these young men develop healthier, more inclusive, and more adaptive identities and behaviors for their lives in the 21st century. ~ Jean Kilbourne, Author, Filmmaker and Activist
In 2019, Keith directed the film Bullied, which can be viewed on digital platforms worldwide, including Amazon Prime Video https://www.amazon.com/Bullied-Ron-Avi-Astor/dp/B08YCMYV5K.
Bullied is a compendious documentary that forces one to ponder the long-term ramifications
of bullying and why it still exists — and what can be done to minimize the risk of bullying and
suicide ideation. ~ Andrew Stover, Film Threat
In 2022, directed the film How Does It Feel To Be a Problem? (Gravitas Ventures), which can also be viewed worldwide on Amazon Prime Video https://www.primevideo.com/detail/How-Does-It-Feel-To-Be-a-Problem/0LU4V64VOW4ESY6JRNM0W4OQ2W.
Dr. Keith has spoken at the following universities and conferences:
- Wake Forest University
- University of Cincinnati
- Miami University-Ohio
- University of Colorado, Boulder
- Sonoma State University
- Santa Clara University
- University of California, Merced
- University of California, Riverside
- San Francisco University
- University of Oregon
- San Diego City College
- NCORE
- White Privilege Conference
- University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill
- University of Vermont
- Middlebury College
- Sierra College
- Union College
- Hamilton College
- St. Francis College
- SUNY Plattsburgh
- University of Montreal
- Central Connecticut State University
- Eastern Connecticut State University
- St. Joseph’s University
- St. John’s University
- Educating Children of Color Conference, Colorado College
- Carnegie Mellon University
- University of Pittsburgh
