Date: Monday, May 11, 2026
Time: 6:30-8:30pm (doors open at 6:00)
Where: Bob Crane Community Center, 5th Floor, 3200 Tremont Road, Upper Arlington

 

 

Join us for a timely discussion on Ohio Senate Bill 1 and how it's reshaping higher education across the state. Hear from Rachel Coyle about the legislation, Dr. Hassan Jeffries on the effect on faculty and academics, and Hana El Nemr about the environment for students.  Stay informed, ask questions, and be part of the conversation.

Sign up to sponsor this event.

 

Dr. Hasan Kwame Jeffries is a distinguished historian and a leading voice in the study of the African American freedom struggle. His work bridges the gap between rigorous academic research and public education, challenging how we remember—and misremember—the past. He is the College of Arts and Sciences Alumni Associate Professor of History at The Ohio State University, specializing in the Civil Rights and Black Power Movement. A Brooklyn native and Morehouse College alumnus, he earned his PhD from Duke University

He is the author of Bloody Lowndes: Civil Rights and Black Power in Alabama’s Black Belt and editor of Understanding and Teaching the Civil Rights Movement. Beyond the classroom, Jeffries was the lead historian for the $27 million renovation of the National Civil Rights Museum and hosts the Southern Poverty Law Center’s "Teaching Hard History" podcast. His current work focuses on the Black experience in New York City from 1977 to 1993. examining the cultural and political shifts of his home city.

Rachel Coyle is a powerhouse in Ohio grassroots advocacy and a relentless champion for transparency, serving as the co-founder of "How Things Work at the Statehouse." Through this nonpartisan, high-impact initiative, she empowers everyday Ohioans to break through the noise, understand complex legislative processes, and effectively lobby for policy change.

Recognized as a dedicated policy expert and vocal advocate, Coyle currently holds key leadership roles, serving as Policy Director at Honesty for Ohio Education—a coalition advocating for truth in education—and Programs Director at Ohioans Against Extremism. With a career deeply rooted in state politics, she has previously managed grassroots mobilization for the ACLU of Ohio, acted as a communications director for Innovation Ohio, and served as press secretary for the Ohio Democratic Party.

Known for her "nuts and bolts" approach to statehouse activism, Coyle holds a bachelor’s degree from The Ohio State University and a master’s in political communication from American University.

Hana El Nemr is a recent graduate of The Ohio State University with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Journalism. As an immigrant from Egypt, she bridges worlds, fostering a deep passion for language, heritage, and advocacy. Her academic and professional interests focus on wrongful conviction, the intersection of religion and state policy, and conflict resolution and social justice in the Middle East.

Hana’s commitment to advocacy is demonstrated through action, including her time volunteering in the refugee camps of Samos, Greece. Currently, she serves as the Director of Communications for the Yay for Burriss: Ohio State Representative District 7 Campaign, where she leads video production and creative content creation, and as the Co-Social Media Chair for the Palestine Children's Relief Fund (PCRF), where she organized initiatives raising over $17,500. 

Following her graduation, Hana plans to spend two years as a Youth Development Facilitator in Morocco with the Peace Corps before attending law school to become a human and civil rights or public defense attorney