33 ACADEMIC ENGAGEMENT THE COLLECTION AND COURSEWORK IN COLLABORATION WITH MUSEUM STAFF, Smith faculty from various disciplines integrate art in the museum’s collections and exhibitions into coursework. Each class visit aims to engage students in various ways of experiencing art firsthand, to provide models for teaching and learning with art and to strengthen students’ visual and museum literacy skills. A few examples: EDC 340: Historical and Philosophical Perspectives and the Educative Process Taught by Carol Berner, lecturer in education and child study, this senior capstone seminar in education and child study focused on diversity, inclusion and equity in teaching and learning contexts. The students experienced SCMA’s col- lections and gallery spaces to examine the potential of art and the museum in advancing culturally responsive curricula and pedagogy and the construction of inclusive learning environments. In addition to the course’s main text, Beverly Tatum’s Can We Talk about Race?, students read articles about inclusion and museum practice to prepare for museum visits planned and facilitated by ac- ademic educator Charlene Shang Miller. Discussion and activities focused on the opportunities and challenges for SCMA as an environment for inclusive learning; the opportunities for affirming identity, building community and cultivating leadership through critical assessment of an exhibition’s elements; and strategies for encouraging dialogue across differences through engagement with individual works of art. AFR 289-01: Race, Feminism and Resis- tance in Movements for Social Change “How can centering attention on the experi- ences, practices and insights of the most marginalized generate a politics and way of being in the world that liberates all people?” Africana studies assistant professor Samuel Ng posed this central question to his students in their exploration of black feminism from a theoretical, historical and prac- tical perspective. The original impetus for the museum visit to the Cunningham Study Center was to look at two works by Kara Walker in order to dive into issues of race, gender, sexuality and identity. Additional works by black feminist artists of the previous generation provided further context, deepening students’ understanding of Walker’s work and expanding the dialogue. Since the museum visit immediately followed their focus on incar- ceration, specifically the case of Angela Davis, students were also able to compare two depictions of Davis—one by Charles White, the other by Wadsworth Jarrell—and explore differing intentions and artistic styles. AMS 253: Native Literacies: American Indian History and Culture to 1880 Christen Mucher, assistant professor of American studies, requested a selection of Native American baskets and textiles such as leggings, bags and a dance apron for consideration by her students, who were exploring networks of literacy within Native communities in the Americas. Although the course “stopped” in 1880, the class was also immersed in current-day debates over ACADEMIC ENGAGEMENT: THE COLLECTION AND COURSEWORK