Dr. Bethany Letiecq NOTE: Participation from distance is enabled by Zoom via this web link.  Unchecked donor influence is corrupting public higher education, particularly across institutions that lack mechanisms of transparency. At George Mason University, donors with political, economic, and social change agendas have been granted outsized influence in faculty selection and retention as well as research production and dissemination. For this talk, Dr. Letiecq will discuss undue donor influence and the ways in which faculty and students can push back to uphold or regain shared governance, academic freedom, and academic independence. ***************** Bethany Letiecq is an associate professor in…