Given the turmoil of the present age, one could argue that intercultural competence is desperately needed. Of all the sentiments that have the potential to alter what we do interculturally— and especially in higher education—none is more important than empathy, a concept that lies at the very core of our common humanity. This presentation will focus on the grammar of empathy and will examine key factors influencing intercultural competence in an increasingly global society. Carolyn Calloway-Thomas will discuss the importance of human empathy, introduce the concept of a pedagogy of empathy, and discuss key conceptual principles and practical approaches that increase intercultural communication competence, designed to help individuals craft an empathic sensibility in a world in crisis.
About the speaker
Carolyn Calloway-Thomas is a professor in the Department of African American and African Diaspora Studies at Indiana University Bloomington. She serves as an Intercultural Communication Competence Advisory Expert on the World Council on Intercultural and Global Competence and is past president of the World Communication Association. In 2023, she was named one of the "Top 25 Outstanding Women Listeners in the World" by the Global Listening Centre.
This program is partially supported by the C. C. Seetoo Family Fund to promote cross-cultural communication.