WHO: Christopher Emdin, assistant professor in the Department of Mathematics, Science, and Technology at Teachers College, Columbia University. The former teacher and national expert on improving urban education will speak to education faculty from URI, RIC, CCRI and teachers statewide at the “College Readiness Symposium.”

Emdin, who serves as director of Secondary School Initiatives at Columbia’s Urban Science Education Center, is also an expert on the intersection of hip-hop and education, STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) education, politics, race, class, diversity, and youth empowerment.

WHAT: Emdin will keynote the College Readiness Symposium and will speak about “The Crisis in Urban Education.” The Rhode Island Office of Higher Education and URI sponsor the symposium.

WHEN: Friday, Dec. 7, 2012, Professor Emdin will speak at 12:15 p.m.; the program runs from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m.

WHERE: URI’s Memorial Union, 50 Lower College Road, Kingston.

More information: http://www.uri.edu/news/releases/index.php?id=6475

COVERAGE ARRANGEMENTS: Contact Dave Lavallee, URI Communications and Marketing, 401-874-5862.