Mission Statement
The mission of the Claflin University Conference on Languages and Cultural Studies is to provide a robust interdisciplinary forum for scholars and practitioners across the humanities and social sciences. Recognizing that language is the primary lens through which we interpret cultural, social, and political realities, the conference fosters a collaborative dialogue on the complexities of postsecondary education. We are dedicated to exploring how linguistic fluency and cultural literacy intersect to shape critical thinking, social equity, and global citizenship in an increasingly interconnected academic landscape.
Claflin University Conference on Languages and Cultural Studies (Participants not residing in the United States and those unable to travel may request a virtual option) *
October 21-22, 2026
Vice President of Institutional Effectiveness and Professor of English, Claflin University
Keynote address title:Beyond the Syllabus: Implementing Culturally Responsive Pedagogy in Higher Education
Dr. Zia Hasan serves as the Vice President of Institutional Effectiveness and a Professor of English at Claflin University. He holds degrees from Dhaka University and Indiana University and earned his Ph.D. in English from Oklahoma State University. Additionally, he is an alumnus of the Institute for Educational Management (IEM) program at Harvard University. He is the founder of this conference and has provided guidance for the organizers for 25 years.
An accomplished academic administrator, Dr. Hasan has secured grants from prestigious organizations, including HUD, the Bush Foundation, UNCF, and the Southern Education Foundation. His extensive research, publications, and presentations cover diverse fields, such as academic success, pedagogy, literature, fiction, film, world civilizations, and English as a Second Language (ESL).
Dr. Hasan is an active member of the Modern Language Association (MLA) and the Society for College and University Planning (SCUP). Deeply committed to civic engagement, he leads the Bangladesh Community of South Carolina and is a founding director of Interfaith Partners of South Carolina. He was also a regular commentator for the Voice of America. He resides in Orangeburg, South Carolina, with his wife Shahana. They have two adult sons and three grandchildren.
The two-day conference is sponsored by the Claflin University Department of English. Pedagogy is the study and process of teaching.
For more information contact Dr. Mitali Wong at wong@claflin.edu or pedagogyconference@claflin.edu.
*(Participants not residing in the United States may request a virtual option)
Scholarly and creative writing panel proposals, roundtable proposals, and paper abstracts on all aspects of reading, writing, and teaching modern languages are invited including papers and panels on
▪ Linguistic diversity & culturally informed pedagogy
▪ Models for international collaborations between either students or faculty
▪ All aspects of studying and teaching literature (including World Literature and travel literature)
▪ Creative writing/ Creative writing pedagogy
▪ Composition pedagogy
▪ Teaching foreign languages
Undergraduate and graduate students are encouraged to submit papers. Abstracts are limited to a maximum of 350 words. Brief bios of 175 words are required. Electronic submissions are requested. Presentations should be limited to 15 minutes. Panels are limited to four (4) presenters per panel. Papers and panels are solicited on:
Please submit abstracts and bios by clicking the form that follows: Submisson Form