Ignite Talks Program Outline
Topic: Ethics by Design
The topic for the series is Ethics by Design. Design in this case refers not only to technology design, but also to the way our society is organized and structured. This approach focuses on the design of environments that can lead people to engage in more ethical behaviors rather than relying solely on their personal character and moral decision-making abilities. Ethical organizational design has proven to be more effective than conventional approaches such as compliance training and financial compensation. We hope this concept will generate conversations on how to implement fair, ethical and bias-free perspectives in our work as communication designers, researchers and educators.
Introduction (5 minutes)
- Welcome and overview of Ignite Talks
- Explanation of the format and rules
- Time to get food and refreshments
- Speaker guidelines
Talks (30 mins – 10 mins each speaker)
Each speaker has 10 minutes to present their talk. Talks can be on any topic. Visual aids are optional but not required.
Q&A and Discussion (10 minutes)
- Open forum for questions and discussion
- Speakers and audience members can participate
- Networking and refreshments
Ignite Speakers
Lourdes Fernandez
Lourdes Fernandezis a bilingual survey researcher with extensive experience in qualitative methods, including interviews and focus groups for youth and adults, survey design, and textual and narrative analysis. Fernandez has experience using participatory and community-engaged approaches in her work and currently supports Mathematica’s efforts to incorporate equity strategies into surveys and data collection. She has experience leading research teams, from study design to publication. Fernandez has developed and implemented professional development initiatives in higher education settings.
Sean Murphy
Sean Murphyis founder of the non-profit 1455 Lit Arts, and directs the Center for Story at Shenandoah University. He has appeared on NPR’s “All Things Considered” and been quoted in USA Today, The New York Times, The Huffington Post, and AdAge. A long-time columnist for PopMatters, his work has also appeared in Salon, The Village Voice, Washington City Paper, The Good Men Project, Writer’s Digest, and others. His chapbook, The Blackened Blues, was published by Finishing Line Press in 2021. His second collection of poems, Rhapsodies in Blue was published by Kelsay Books in 2023. His third collection, Kinds of Blue, and This Kind of Man, his first collection of short fiction, arrive in 2024. He has been nominated four times for the Pushcart Prize, twice for Best of Net, and his book Please Talk about Me When I’m Gone was the winner of Memoir Magazine’s 2022 Memoir Prize. To learn more, and read his published short fiction, poetry, and criticism, please visit seanmurphy.net and @bullmurph.
Jacob Gardenswartz
Jacob Gardenswartzis an award-winning reporter, writer, and multimedia journalist based in Washington, D.C. His journalism experience runs the gambit from covering presidential elections and the White House to reporting on health policy, the COVID-19 pandemic response, and the U.S. Congress. He currently serves as White House reporter/producer with Scripps News, covering the Biden administration and 2024 presidential campaigns. Throughout his career, Jacob has worked with NBC News, MSNBC and other networks. His work has been featured in The New Republic, Vox, Town & Country, the Times of San Diego, and The American Independent.
Maxwell Downing
Maxwell Downing is the lead organizer for Climate Defiance in the Washington D.C. metropolitan area. After graduating from American University, where he studied International Relations and Arabic, he chose to stay in Washington, D.C., to continue pursuing non-violent direct action against fossil fuels. Since joining Climate Defiance in May 2023, Downing has spearheaded high-profile protests targeting influential figures responsible for perpetuating our dependency on fossil fuels. Through provocative and fiery language, his protests have garnered millions of views and inspired others to take direct action and advocate for their futures.
Douglas Eyman
Douglas Eyman is an Associate Professor of Writing and Rhetoric at George Mason University and senior editor of Kairos: A Journal of Rhetoric, Technology, and Pedagogy. He teaches courses in digital rhetoric, technical and scientific communication, web authoring, new media, and professional writing. His current research interests include investigations of AI as a writing tool, new media scholarship, electronic publication, information design/information architecture, teaching in digital environments, and video games as sites of composition. His publications include Digital Rhetoric: Theory, Method, Practice (University of Michigan Press, 2015) and Play/Write: Games, Writing, Digital Rhetoric (co-edited with Andrea Davis, Parlor Press, 2016). He has won several awards for his scholarly work and mentorship to the computers and composition communities including the Charles Moran Award for Distinguished Contributions to the Field (2015, 2023) and the CCCC Technology Innovator award (2024).
Josh Kinchen
Josh Kinchen is the Director of the LGBTQ+ Resources Center at George Mason University. Josh’s portfolio includes overall management and strategic direction of the Center, advising the Queer Student Leadership Council, co-chairing the Chosen Name & Pronouns Policy steering committee, liaisoning with the LGBTQ+ Faculty/Staff Alliance, serving as the external contact with other LGBTQ+ Resource Centers across the country, leading assessment and benchmarking for LGBTQ+ institutional support, convening the LGBTQ+ departmental liaison group, and consulting with university entities around LGBTQ+ inclusion.