Academic Freedom in Policy, Curriculum, and Classroom Practice: A Faculty Conversation In-Person
The Office for Faculty Excellence and the Dialogue Across Difference Working Group invite all faculty members to join a conversation that brings together faculty perspectives on how academic freedom operates across the multiple spheres that shape the process and praxis of higher education. These include the legal frameworks that define its boundaries and the disciplinary, curricular, and instructional contexts in which it is exercised. The speakers, Dr. Francesca Laguardia (Justice Studies) and Dr. Blanca Elizabeth Vega (Educational Leadership), will highlight arguments and uncertainties to inform professors and departments who may be considering how to navigate the tension between individual freedom, civic alignment, and institutional responsibility.
- Date:
- Thursday, November 13, 2025
- Time:
- 12:00pm - 1:00pm
- Time Zone:
- Eastern Time - US & Canada (change)
- Location:
- Cohen Lounge DI 178
Dr. Blanca Elizabeth Vega currently serves as an associate professor and graduate program coordinator for the MA in Higher Education at Montclair State University.
Dr. Vega was selected as a Higher Education Academic Leadership (HEAL) Fellow at Montclair State University, where she will explore racially responsive and equity-minded frameworks for new HSI faculty. Dr. Vega's body of work critically examines the pervasive impact of racism on the experiences and outcomes of students, administrators, and faculty alike, solidifying her role as a leading voice in these vital areas of study.
Francesca Laguardia is the Chair of Justice Studies. Former Director of Research, Center on Law and Security at NYU School of Law. Prof. Laguardia has published on domestic terrorism, torture, and domestic counterterror policies, as well as criminal law, criminal justice, abortion, and civil rights and liberties more broadly. She was a contributing editor to the Criminal Law Bulletin from 2016-2025, and a fellow at the Center on National Security at Fordham Law School from 2022-2025.
Dr. Vera Senina is a cross-disciplinary teacher and scholar in the humanities, critical theory, medical narratives, and computational linguistics. Vera has experience teaching in diverse modalities, designing innovative student-centered courses, and organizing conference panels and workshops on inclusive curriculum development, assessment strategies, and project-based learning. She also has top-company industry experience in language AI, team development, and project management.