Global Issues Colloquium examines equity issues laid bare by the COVID-19 pandemic around the world

McDaniel College’s annual Global Issues Colloquium, organized by the college's Global Initiatives, examines equity issues uncovered by the COVID-19 pandemic with a discussion led by Linda Semu, Sociology professor at McDaniel.

Titled “Inequalities Laid Bare: The Pandemic and Its Social, Economic, and Political Reverberations around the World,” the event takes place Thursday, Oct. 28, 6:30 p.m., in the Naganna Forum in the Roj Student Center with a virtual option available. Please indicate your preference by completing this survey.

After a brief presentation by Semu, who will take a deep dive to contextualize and examine equity issues uncovered by the pandemic around the world surrounding race, ethnicity, gender, work, health, and more, all attendees are invited to participate in a conversation.

Linda Semu, who has taught sociology at McDaniel since 2005, is a comparative international sociologist with research, publication, and teaching focuses on the intersection of gender, international development, social change, health, race, immigration, family as well as youth, orphans, and vulnerable children. She established the minor in Urban and Community Studies and was named a Charles A. Boehlke, Jr., Engaged Faculty Fellow in 2021.

As one of the founding members of the Malawi Washington Foundation (MWF), she was recognized with a Special Achievement Award in August 2020 by McDaniel College for her work in founding and leading the MWF and the Malawi Diaspora Network, where she assisted in cumulatively raising over $60,000 for various projects including girls’ education, personal protective equipment for healthcare workers during COVID-19, and famine/flood relief in Malawi. She has also received numerous Faculty Development Grants and a Faculty Book Award from McDaniel. In 2009, she was inducted as an honorary member into McDaniel’s chapter of Alpha Lambda Delta Honor Society. She is also involved with Alpha Kappa Delta, the international sociology honor society, and Heroes Helping Hopkins, a student organization at McDaniel that supports the Believe in Tomorrow Children’s House.

Global Initiatives expands McDaniel College's commitment to international education through academic programming, globally-themed extracurricular activities, and innovative approaches to travel learning, such as study abroad, as well as global experiential and civic engagement opportunities. McDaniel’s Global Fellows program is a structured three-year program offered in conjunction with Global Initiatives that is designed to enhance the understanding of global issues, develop heightened intercultural competency and cultivate the skills and attitudes important to leading successful lives in a global context. Students earn a Global Fellow designation on their transcript upon completion of the program.

Additional information:

• McDaniel College follows current CDC protocols and recommendations related to COVID-19 and ask that visitors adhere to all policies and regulations in accordance with the latest guidelines. Visit the college’s Return to the Hill (RTTH) webpage for the most up-to-date campus information.
• Requests for interpreters are welcome and can be made up to one week prior to the event by contacting interpretingservices@mcdaniel.edu. Other accommodation requests can be directed to Conference Services at 410-857-2212.