"I don't deserve to be here." "I'll be found out!" Imposter Phenomenon is a common occurrence that can keep us from feeling a sense of belonging and accomplishment, especially in spaces where societally reinforced expectations of who belongs or who succeeds are pervasive. What does recognizing your own strengths look like in a world that’s set up to not always clearly recognize them? How do you identify when your imposter voice takes over? In this interactive workshop, we'll dive into how to navigate imposter phenomenon and learn to identify triggers, as well as understand the roots of imposter phenomenon in inequity.

About the Speaker

Dr. Willie Blackmon

Willie Blackmon currently works at UC Riverside and serves as the Asst. Director of Academic Mentoring Programs in the Academic Resource Center.  He has worked in higher education for the last 15 years. He obtained his doctorate at Drexel university in educational leadership and management administration. His dissertation is titled, " a sequential explanatory mixed method study of the impostor phenomenon experiences of first-generation students of color at a predominantly white institution".   The Impostor Phenomenon is a subject that is near and dear to his heart as he has researched the phenomenon and applied his lived experiences to the research.  You may be asking what the difference is between the Impostor Phenomenon and the Impostor Syndrome.  The answer is there is no difference.  However, words are impactful and referring to something as a syndrome alludes to their being a cure; whereas referring to something as a phenomenon it gives to the experience.  Dr. Blackmon is extremely knowledgeable and passionate when it comes to addressing feelings of self doubt and identifying coping mechanisms to move through the Impostor Phenomenon. A true hope that Dr. Blackmon has for the future is for leaders to realize the Impostor Phenomenon is situational and will continue to surface but can be managed.