Seeking Justice in Arizona

Bringing an Arizona perspective to national issues of justice

The Seeking Justice in Arizona Fall Lecture Series, now in its 14th year, brings in experts from our local communities to discuss critical national issues in an Arizona context. Each lecture is followed by a question and answer period and time to interact with the speaker informally. Admission is free and open to the public. 

"Equity, Misinformation, and the Fight for Arizona's Public Schools"

Tuesday, September 11, 2018 

1:30 p.m. - 2:45 p.m., College Avenue Commons 359, Tempe campus

Sharon J. Kirsch
Director of Research, Save Our Schools Arizona

Sharon began her career in Higher Education Programs at the National Endowment for the Humanities in Washington, DC, and later served as Communications and Community Outreach director for a national healthcare management company. She is an Associate Professor of English and Rhetorical Studies at ASU. With more than 20 years of experience at public universities, she teaches and publishes on women’s literature, poetics, and public discourse. She is the mother of two school-aged children and believes that the people of Arizona, not out-of-state interests, should make decisions about public education in our state.

Dawn Penich-Thacker
Director of Communications, Save Our Schools Arizona

Dawn began her career as a U.S. Army Public Affairs Officer, serving in Strategic Communications at the Pentagon and elsewhere. She holds a Ph.D. in Rhetoric and Linguistics, with which she teaches and publishes on Political Rhetoric and Professional Communication. She has volunteered on local, state and national campaigns since 2006.

"Combatting the School to Prison Pipeline in Arizona Schools"

Thursday, October 4, 2018 

1:30 p.m. - 2:45 p.m., College Avenue Commons 359, Tempe campus

Anabel Maldonado
Lead Organizer, #Demand2Learn, ACLU-AZ

Anabel Maldonado is the lead organizer for ACLU of Arizona’s #Demand2Learn campaign, which is aimed at ending systematic practices that cause students to be pushed out of schools. Anabel is also a board member of Trans Queer Pueblo, an organization that serves migrant LGBTQ+ community through health & legal clinics, arts activism and housing for trans people coming out of immigration detention. Prior to her work with #Demand2Learn, Anabel served as Maricopa County field director for Proposition 206 which increased the state’s minimum wage and gave over 1 million families paid sick time and for the Arizona Wins Coalition where she helped design and implement a legislative advocacy program. She is an alumna of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute where she spent a year working on Capitol Hill advocating for her community and the New American Leaders Project which trains first and second generation Americans to run for political office.

"The Youth Will Win -- By Voting"

Tuesday, November 13, 2018 

1:30 p.m. - 2:45 p.m., College Avenue Commons 359, Tempe campus

Jamie Horowitz
Outreach Director, March for Our Lives-AZ

Jamie Horowitz is a freshman at ASU and part of the Barrett Honors College. She was one of the first members of March for Our Lives Arizona, and wrote the powerful letters to our state government officials, including Governor Ducey. She is the current March for our Lives Arizona College Outreach Director.

Dawn Motley

Communications Co-Director and College Operations Co-Director, March for Our Lives-AZ

Dawn Motley has been an activist since she was in middle school, by virtue of being LGBTQ identifying. In high school she worked with GLSEN as a member of their street team for their annual Day of Silence. She was looking for change after Parkland and stumbled into planning the Phoenix, AZ March for our Lives event and becoming a member of their organizing team. She is the University of Arizona director of outreach and the Political Communications director of co-director of communications for March for our Lives Arizona. She is a freshman at University of Arizona studying Communications and Public Relations.

Samia Muraweh

Outreach Director and East Valley Lead, March for Our Lives-AZ

Samia Muraweh is also a freshman at ASU studying engineering.  Samia has always devoted her time to a cause- to better her community, to better her world. From organizing blood drives to her school's walkout, she has always been participating in civic engagement opportunities. She is March for our Lives AZ’s Outreach Director and the East Valley region lead.