English, Honors Program Aluma Returns to Discuss Book, Meet with Students

An assistant professor in African American literature at SUNY Oneonta returns to her alma mater to meet with students and discuss her forthcoming book, “Theory of Racelessness: A Case for Antirace(ism),” Thursday, Sept. 29.

Dr. Sheena (Garrant) Mason, who earned her undergraduate degree at SUNY Plattsburgh in English and served as the December 2007 student commencement speaker, will meet with students in the James Augustus Wilson Commons in Champlain Valley Hall where she’ll discuss her own undergraduate honors thesis from 12:30 to 2 p.m. At 5:30 p.m. in Krinovitz Recital Hall, Hawkins Hall, she’ll read from “Theory of Racelessness” and answer questions.

Born in Burlington, Vt., Mason’s young life was full of neglect, abuse, homelessness and the social services system. After bouncing from Burlington to Plattsburgh to South Glens Falls and back to Plattsburgh, she ended up enrolling at Plattsburgh High School, graduated and began her tenure as a SUNY Plattsburgh student.

She went on to earn her doctorate in English literature in May 2021 from Howard University and joined the Oneonta faculty three months later. She has taught at the College of William and Mary, California Lutheran University and at Howard. Her book is set to be released Sept. 23.

In addition to co-authoring “Harlem Renaissance: An Interpretation of Racialized Art and Ethics,” and contributing a chapter in the forthcoming “Oxford Handbook of Ethics and Art,” she is the co-founder and president of Theory of Racelessness, Together Research and Education Center, which educates organizations and institutions on how racism masquerades as race in society.

“We help people unify, heal and stop upholding racism,” according to the company website. “We do this by offering educational services, like through coaching, workshops and trainings, podcasts (i.e., on various topics), publications, speaking events and conferences, and workplace cultural policy assessments.”

For more information on Mason’s visit, contact Dr. Tracie Guzzio, director, SUNY Plattsburgh Honors Program, at 518-564-3075 or email [email protected].