Diversity Summit schedule

Presenter: Shanna (Shay) Strauss, M.D.

Co-presenters: Alison Szarko

We can dismantle institutionalized "-isms" for ex: racism, sexism, classism, etc. through the utilization of evidence-based frameworks. We will provide you with tools to proactively address "-isms" with intention value-aligned actions.

About the presenters

Shanna (Shay) Strauss, M.D. is a first-generation doctor. She will be starting her emergency medicine residency at Brown University this summer. She completed her master's at Georgetown University and her bachelor's at the University of California, Berkeley.

Alison J. Szarko, M.A. is a doctoral student in the behavior analysis program at the University of Nevada, Reno, working under the advisement of Dr. Ramona Houmanfar. Alison is also a graduate research and teaching assistant for the University of Nevada Reno School of Medicine. Her work is rooted in contextual behavioral science, specifically relational frame theory and acceptance and commitment training.

Presenter: KaPreace Young, M.A.

Co-presenters: Sheena Harvey, Whitney Hughes, Christine Adelaja, Jody Lykes

Black at The Pack is an Affinity Group for Black Faculty and Staff, by Black Faculty Staff. This presentation will provide insight into the importance of this space in relation to employment, personal-mental health, and serving our students.

About the presenters

KaPreace is the Outreach Coordinator for the Center for Student Engagement, a member of the Black at The Pack Affinity Group, and the Black Leadership Committee. KaPreace was born and raised here in Reno and is now raising her son here as well. Along with being a University of Nevada, Reno two-time Black alumni, KaPreace is also a devoted community member being the President of the Northern Nevada Black Cultural Awareness Society, and the Co-Founder of Shades of Queening Women’s Empowerment Group.

Sheena Harvey currently serves as the Associate Director for the Fitness & Recreational Sports Department at the University of Nevada, Reno. As a member of the Black Leadership Committee on campus, she is also currently enrolled as a doctoral student in the College of Education and Human Development. Her area of work and research interest resides in collegiate fitness and recreational sport, and its role in college student success, and with the work-driven towards helping first-generation student populations persist to degree completion.

Whitney Hughes is a Coordinator in the Office of Student Conduct. When she’s not working, you can find her studying for a Master's in Equity and Diversity in Education. She hopes to use her degree and years spent in the field of education to focus on policy and policy implementation to create a more equitable campus and community that centers on marginalized faculty, staff, and students.

Jody Lykes a is Hip Hop scholar and received his bachelor's from Brigham Young University, Provo in Political Science with a Spanish minor and earned his master's from the University of Nevada, Reno in Educational Leadership. He earned his Ph.D. from the University of Nevada, Reno in Education, Diversity & Equity. Dr. Lykes teaches several diversity courses on campus along with being the Coordinator for the African Diaspora Program in The Center Every Student Every Story.

Christine is an Academic Advisor in the College of Business here at the University of Nevada, Reno, and a member of the Black Leadership Committee who helps lead the Black at The Pack Affinity Group. She has earned both a Bachelor's of Science in Nutrition(Dietetics), as well as a Master's in Business Administration from the University of Nevada, Reno. As a staff member, she has had the pleasure of advising a couple of student clubs, served as a committee member for various university and college initiatives, and has also had the privilege to teach a course in the College of Business for Juniors and Seniors about diversity in the workplace.

Presenter: Dr. Yvonne Stedham, Foundation Professor, Professor of Management, UMASS Center for Mindfulness, Qualified MBSR Teacher, University of Nevada, Reno

This session focuses on the impact of mindfulness practice on implicit bias.It includes a short introduction to what mindfulness is, a summary of the neuroscientific foundation for mindfulness, and the many benefits associated with mindfulness.

About the presenter

Yvonne Stedham is a Professor of Management and 2010 Foundation Professor in the College of Business at the University of Nevada, Reno and serves on the faculty for the Social Psychology Ph.D. program. She teaches international business and mindful leadership and publishes in top journals on both these topics. Dr. Stedham is also a Center for Mindfulness trained Mindfulness Instructor and works with the US Judiciary teaching mindfulness programs for Judges.

Presenter: Dr. Micaela Rubalcava

An interactive workshop to explore Culture Conscious Listening, a personal and professional antibias practice for equity in diversity collaborations during problem-solving resilience. Workshop participants practice visual and kinesthetic activities.

About the presenter

Dr. Micaela Rubalcava is a Professor of Education at Truckee Meadows Community College (TMCC). She is the recipient of the 2019 Regent's Award for Creative Activities and was a 2017 Fulbright-Hays Scholar abroad in Chile. She is the founder of F.R.E.E., TMCC's longest-standing interdisciplinary learning community, operating continuously since 2003 to engage diverse students and faculty in imaginative big picture sensory-based thematic learning experiences. She is writing a textbook, Teach to Transform, about antibias education for diverse student success.

Presenter: Clarissa Cota

Co-presenters: Erica Romero, Federico Zaragoza, Veronica Zepeda

A panel discussion on the significance of the Hispanic Serving Institution(HSI) federal designation by the United States Department of Education. You will hear from national, state, and local leaders as to the impact this designation has on higher education institutions.

Presenter: Mary Anne Christensen

Co-presenters: Dr. James Cherney, Dr. Jeff Hutsler, Karl Fendelander, David Branby, Zhizhong Li, Andrea Juillerat-Olvera

The new Neurodiversity Alliance seeks to improve social wellness, resiliency, and professional success for the 1 in 4 at the University who identify as neurodiverse. This panel will clarify and seek feedback about its role, strategic plan, and mission.

About the presenters

Mary Anne Christensen is an Assistant Director at the Disability Resource Center(DRC0 at the University of Nevada, Reno. She is the program coordinator for the DRC Peer Mentor Program and is the co-chair of the Neurodiversity Alliance at the University of Nevada, Reno.

Dr. James Cherney is an Associate Professor in the Department of Communication Studies at the University of Nevada, Reno. His primary area of research is the rhetoric of ableism, particularly as it operates around sport and visibility. He is the author of Ableist Rhetoric: How We Know, Value, and See Disability.

Dr. Jeff Hutsler is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Nevada, Reno. His expertise is in the organization of the human cortex, and his current research is focused on the microanatomical organization of the human brain in individuals diagnosed with autism spectrum disorders.

Karl Fendelander is the Content Strategist and Editor-in-Chief for the Office of Marketing and Communications at the University of Nevada, Reno. He is a co-chair for the Neurodiversity Alliance.

David Branby is the Creative Director for Creative Services at the Office of Marketing and Communications at the University of Nevada, Reno. He is a current member of the Neurodiversity Alliance.

Zhizhong Li is an Assistant Professor, and an Assistant Dean, for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the Orvis School of Nursing (OSN) at the University of Nevada, Reno. He chairs the OSN Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee and co-chairs the OSN Strategic Planning Committee. He is a member of the University's Presidential Diversity & Inclusion Taskforce, Faculty Diversity Committee, and the Faculty Advisory Committee of the Ozmen Institute for Global Studies.

Andrea Juillerat-Olvera is a Staff Sign Language Interpreter/DRC Training Specialist at the Disability Resource Center at the University of Nevada, Reno. She is currently co-developing Universal Design for Learning modules for Student Services.

Session 7A: Diverse Peer Mentor Group: A Model for New Hires

Presenter: Christina Miskey

Co-presenters:  Brittani Sterling, Mayra Corn, Rebecca A. Orozco, Stephanie Fell

Comprising ten colleagues from intersecting identities and professional backgrounds, our cohort is a unique peer support network that benefits from diverse voices, experiences, and shared goals around allyship and navigating a new work environment.

About the presenters

Christina Miskey is a Scholarly Communication Librarian for Research Infrastructure and Assistant Professor at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas(UNLV). She holds a Masters degree in Library and Information from the University of Washington and has worked in UNLV Libraries since 2017. Her research interests include research impact, scholarly reputation management, and creating more equitable and inclusive hiring and retention practices.

Brittani Sterling (she/her) is the Social Sciences and Interdisciplinary Studies Librarian at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. She holds a bachelor's degree from Wittenberg University, a master's degree from Capella University, and an MLS from North Carolina Central University. Her scholarship includes the intersections of diversity, equity, and inclusion, and information equity.

Mayra Corn is an Assistant Professor, Undergraduate Medical Education Liaison Librarian, and Technology Manager at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. She holds a Master in Library and Information Sciences with a focus in Information Systems. Her research interests include diversity, equity, and inclusion in librarianship, library programming pedagogy, and makerspace technologies in library settings.

Rebecca A. Orozco holds a Master in Science in biology and a MILS. Her academic background is in plant physiology and climate change as well as science librarianship. Rebecca's research interests lie at the intersection of science librarianship and cultural identity.

Stephanie Fell is the Specialized Collections Catalog Librarian at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas. She holds a B.A. in American Studies from Scripps College and an M.I.St. from the University of Toronto. She has over a decade of experience in special collections and rare materials cataloging and archival processing.

Session 7B: Empowering Minority Learners Through Mentoring 

Presenter: Anne DeClouette

Co-presenter: Byron Dickens

Presenting a midwestern program that produces award-winning results for its minority student participants through mentoring and by building resilient learning communities. Positive results in every metric across ethnicities. Join us for details!

About the presenters

After a career in financial analysis at Fortune 500 companies, Anne DeClouette transitioned to higher education as business faculty, then a dean of business and a vice president of academics. She then transitioned back to corporate, was impacted by the pandemic and is happy to be back in higher education as full-time faculty.  Dr. DeClouette teaches a range of business topics and her research interests are mainly related to corporate governance. She is happy to collaborate with her former colleague, Bryon Dickens to co-present this session.

Bryon Dickens serves as the director of the nationally-recognized mentorship program at Oklahoma City Community College (OCCC).  Before joining OCCC, Bryon founded Covington Image Consulting and has conducted training internationally for corporations, academic institutions, and non-profit organizations.  He is passionate about helping students successfully navigate the rigors of higher education.

Presenter: Paul Mitchell

Co-presenters: Ricardo Lopez, Nick Coltrain, Rebecca Kitchen, Alexa Ard, Shah

Several former students currently in the media talk about the challenges of coverage during the Black Lives Matter protests.

Session 9A: Boundaries First-Generation Latinx Students Face

Presenter: Abigail Navarro Munoz

Co-presenters: Jessie Hanna Clark

Forming a large percentage of college dropout rates, Latinx cohorts face various challenges. This qualitative study with first-generation, Latinx students at the University of Nevada, Reno, shares the boundaries students identify and negotiate in their transition into college.

About the presenters

Abigail Navarro Muñoz is a senior at the University of Nevada, Reno majoring in secondary education, English, Spanish, and minoring in Geography. Her research analyzes the ways in which Latine first-generation students navigate their transition from high school to college through a geographic lens. Navarro Muñoz has tutored and taught students ranging from preschool to adult learners for a number of years. 

Jessie Clark is an Assistant Professor in the Geography Department at the University of Nevada, Reno. She teaches and researches in areas of cultural, political, feminist, and Middle East geography.

Session 9B: WNC Latino Leadership Academy Fosters Resiliency

Presenter: Lupe Ramirez

Co-presenters: Jeff Downs, Denise Stout

Learn how first-generation/bicultural college students are achieving success during their first year in college through the Latino Leadership Academy (formerly Latino Cohort). Students thrive in their journey by taking 15 credits per semester.

About the presenters

Lupe and her family migrated to the U.S. when she was 13 years old. As an adult, she pursued her educational dream and completed an associate degree in business from Western Nevada College (WNC) and a bachelor's degree in business management from Western Governor's University. She’s one of the longest-serving employees at WNC and currently serves as the Latino Outreach Coordinator & Chief Diversity Officer. Lupe has been married for 35 years and is a proud mom of her daughter, who is graduating this fall as a civil engineer from the University of Nevada, Reno.

Jeff Downs grew up in Bakersfield, California, and lived there through high school. Jeff earned a bachelor's in mathematics from California State University (CSU) San Bernardino and a master's in applied mathematics from CSU Fullerton. Jeff is currently working on a Ph.D. in instructional design and technology from Liberty University while serving as the Interim Vice President of Student Success and Support Services.

Denise has both her bachelor's degree from the University of Nevada, Reno, and master's degree from the University of New England in social work. She has been at Western Nevada College (WNC) for over 8 years as an academic advisor. Denise is also an adjunct faculty instructor at WNC in the areas of social work and substance abuse. Prior to working for WNC, she worked as a Licensed Social Worker in Child Welfare. Besides her duties with WNC, she has a 12-year-old son, Liam, who she enjoys skiing and camping with. 

Session 10A: BLM: Recruiting the Next Generation of Students

Presenter: Devin Williams

Co-presenter: Everett Jackson

A Dream Deferred: What the Black Lives Matter (BLM) Expression Project Taught Us About Recruitment of the Next Generation of Students

About the presenters

Devin Williams serves as an Admissions Recruiter and Retention Coordinator for Southern Nevada and Southern California.

Everett Jackson serves as the Director of the Las Vegas Office for Prospective Students and the Associate Director of Admissions.

Session 10B: Equity Through Awareness, Efficacy, and Action

Presenter: Dr. Jafeth Sanchez

Co-presenters: Dr. Cristina Lash

Leading for equity and social justice requires greater attention to awareness, efficacy, and action using a theory-to-practice approach. We share explicit, actionable strategies to lead for equity in K-12 settings and higher education.

About the presenters

Dr. Jafeth Sanchez (jesanchez@unr.edu) is an Assistant Professor of Educational Leadership in the College of Education and Human Development with the Department of Educational Studies. Her research includes school culture and improved student outcomes, as well as student success in a P20 educational pathway.

Dr. Cristina Lash (clash@unr.edu) is an Assistant Professor of Educational Leadership in the College of Education and Human Development with the Department of Educational Studies. Her research examines school practices that contribute to or mitigate educational inequality and implications for school leaders and teachers.

Session 11A: Virtual Gamified Campus through Minecraft

Presenter: James Cho, M.F.A.

Co-presenters: James Cox, Ph.D.; Crystal Hu; Ethan Mahoney; Gino Nicosia; Paolo Nipay; Larson Rivera

Constructing a virtual gamified university campus to support students facing financial difficulties, and address challenges of access for student engagement regarding diversity, equity and inclusion.

About the presenters

James Cho has been with the Joe Crowley Student Union as the Coordinator of Technology Services since 2015, where he manages and assists 15 - 25 students per year with diverse identities for professional development. He proposed and has been providing guidance for the virtual gamified campus project since April of 2020. James has been supporting activism for diversity since 1992, such as serving as a founding board member for the San Diego Asian Film Festival. 

James Cox has served as the Associate Director, Programs at the Joe Crowley Student Union since July 2013. He has worked at several other institutions of higher learning prior to coming to the University of Nevada, Reno.

Crystal Hu is a senior at the University of Nevada Reno studying chemistry.  Currently, she is the Audiovisual Technical Supervisor at the Joe Crowley Student Union (JCSU), and she has been working on the vJCSU project since August of 2020.

Ethan Mahoney is a second-year student majoring in computer science and engineering at the University of Nevada, Reno. He has been working on the vJCSU project since August of 2020.  In addition to constructing the current buildings and landscapes of the Virtual Campus, Ethan has been assisting with incorporating plugins into the vJCSU Minecraft to increase its features, and he continues to learn and improve the development of the game's server.

Gino Nicosia is a sophomore at the University of Nevada, Reno double majoring in veterinary science and biology. He currently works as a student Audiovisual Technician and Building Operations staff at the Joe Crowley Student Union. He is from southern California, and he hopes to become a zoo veterinarian.

Paolo Nipay is a third-year student at the University of Nevada, Reno pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering and a minor in mathematics. He is a TRiO First Generation Scholar, and a general member of Phi Delta Theta Fraternity. He is also a student Audiovisual Technician at the Joe Crowley Student Union.

Larson Rivera is a sophomore at the University of Nevada, Reno studying computer science and engineering. His interests include computer programming, circuit design, 3D printing, and lighting. He has been a student Audiovisual Technician for the Joe Crowley Student Union since September of 2020, and he looks forward to being a long-term member of the department.

Session 11B: Telling Stories of Resilience: Our Human Library 

Presenter: Maureen McBride

Co-presenters: Annette Cooper, Amy Metcalf

This interactive presentation discusses our Human Library event and how it privileges individual stories of resilience to open communication and understanding between diverse groups of people and invites participants to consider their own stories.

About the presenters

Maureen is the director of the University Writing & Speaking Center. She researches intersections of reading and writing, including identity, peer-to-peer interactions, writing center studies, and mentoring. She has been participating in Human Library events for several years.

Annette is the administrative assistant for the Writing & Speaking Center and a Communication Studies graduate student. She has been involved with the Human Library organization for four years and believes every person she meets has something to teach her.

Amy has been working with international students on campus for over twenty years, teaching in the Intensive English Language Center until it closed last year.  She is currently teaching English 112.

Presenter: Linda Kopecky

University Libraries & Teaching & Learning Technologies intentionally support diversity, equity and inclusion, providing safe space, authoritative information sources, diverse collections, access to technology and expert researchers. Learn how these units actively break down barriers of distance, disabilities and dissonance.

Join Academic Support Units' EDI Initiatives on Zoom

About the presenters

Linda Kopecky joined the University of Nevada, Reno in 2020 as Associate Dean of University Libraries and Teaching & Learning Technologies, following 20 years at the University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee where she was Head of Research Services. She leads the teaching, learning and research-related departments and services of the Libraries in addition to access services, building operations, and collections management. She is a member of the University of Nevada, Reno Presidential Diversity & Inclusion Task Force and the Libraries' EDI Committee.

Chrissy Klenke has served as the Earth Science, GIS, and Map Librarian in the University of Nevada, Reno's DeLaMare Science & Engineering Library for 9 years helping users find, access, evaluate, and utilize resources to support learning, teaching and research needs. She created the GIS Depot, a GIS-focused computer lab in the Mary B. Ansari Map Library, located in the DeLaMare Library for consultation, instruction, and tutoring. Chrissy’s research interests include Data Literacies and Story Mapping, and she is an active member of the University of Nevada, Reno Libraries' EDI Committee.

Presenter: Theri Wyckoff and Stephanie Espinoza Villamor

This poster presentation will focus on the successful partnership of an embedded eLearning Librarian in an Education Diversity course and how working with diverse College of Southern Nevada (CSN) specialists outside one's department can lead to greater success for students.

Join Build an Embedded Librarian into Your Course on Zoom

About the presenter

Theri Wyckoff is an Education professor at the College of Southern Nevada and teaches Valuing Cultural Diversity, Educational Psychology, and Classroom Management. She has presented at national, regional, and local conferences on the intersection of diversity and pop culture, using social media in education, and teaching English as a second language. Previously she was a teacher for 20 years in schools with historically underserved populations in Las Vegas, Nevada and Omaha, Nebraska. 

An eLearning Librarian at the College of Southern Nevada, Stephanie Espinoza Villamor helps online students with research and information literacy. She's served as 2017-2018 chair of CSN's Women’s Alliance, 2016-2019 member of CSN's Diversity Council, and previously presented at past Southern Nevada Diversity Summits on topics of literature and pop culture.

Presenter: Dr. Jennifer E. Dougherty

This study seeks to understand how employees describe their lived experiences reconciling cognitive dissonance in unethical/unfair situations with their supervisor and how these experiences impacted their working relationships.

Join Choice to Voice on Zoom

About the presenter

Dr. Jennifer E. Dougherty is the Program Manager for Retention and Equity at the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine in the Office of Diversity and Inclusion. Dr. Dougherty coaches, mentors, and consults, leads, trains, develops and coordinates leadership and diversity, inclusion, and equity programs and events, including conducting research focused on what brings joy to individuals in their work. If you would like to contact Dr. Dougherty, please email jennifer.e.dougherty1@gmail.com or connect with Dr. Dougherty on LinkedIn. 

Presenter: Anna Dobbins, Public Health Diversity Advisor and Kelly M. Morning, MPH 

The Nevada Public Health Training Center (NVPHTC) analyzed survey results and developed an action plan to train faith-based leaders as CHWs, support health messages tailored to people of color, and promote existing resources related to HIV, COVID-19, and health education/promotion.

Join Connecting Health and Faith to Design Action Plan on Zoom

About the presenter

Kelly M. Morning, MPH, Assistant Director, Nevada Public Health Training Center, School of Community Health Sciences, University of Nevada, Renokmorning@unr.edu

Presenter: Kian Assemi

Co-presenters: Dr. Jennifer E. Dougherty, Dr. Negar “Nicole” Jacobs, Dr. Jennifer Hagen

Multiple factors can facilitate or inhibit joy in work. This study sought to gain an understanding of (1) what enables and inhibits peoples' joy in their work and (2) what can be done to increase joy in work.

Join Cooperation and Resiliency Relating to Joy in Work on Zoom

About the presenter

Dr. Jennifer E. Dougherty is the Program Manager for Retention and Equity at the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine in the Office of Diversity and Inclusion. Dr. Dougherty coaches, mentors, and consults, leads, trains, develops, and coordinates leadership and diversity, inclusion, and equity programs and events, including conducting research focused on what brings joy to individuals in their work. If you would like to contact Dr. Dougherty, please email jennifer.e.dougherty1@gmail.com or connect with Dr. Dougherty on LinkedIn. 

Kian is a doctoral student in the behavior analysis program at the University of Nevada, Reno. His primary interests pertain to implicit bias, verbal behavior, cultural behavior, and the philosophy of science. His applied ambitions are concerned with the cultivation of nurturing environments.

Dr. Negar “Nicole” Jacobs is the Associate Dean for Diversity and Inclusion at the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine. She holds a Ph.D. in clinical psychology and is an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychiatry. Dr. Jacobs serves as the Western region representative on the Group on Diversity and Inclusion Steering Committee. Her research centers around the assessment of implicit bias and the development and evaluation of practices to mitigate bias in medical students, and faculty search and admissions committee members.

Dr. Jennifer Hagen is a professor of internal medicine and the senior associate dean for faculty and is a proud alumna of the University of Nevada, Reno School of Medicine, class of 1993. Her scholarship interests are mentoring and preserving joy in the workplace for faculty in academic medicine. She is a recipient of the Gold Humanism in Medicine Award and was a national fellow with the AOA medical honor society in 2019.

Presenters: Tailer Artis and Crystal Herrera 

Our presentation focuses on levels of vitamin D and cortisol in medical students as an indicator of stress. We look at differences in levels within various groups for such as differences between genders and differences between ethnicities.

Join Cortisol and Vitamin D Levels as Related to Stress on Zoom

Presenter: Luka Starmer

This presentation will look at ongoing projects by @One of the University Libraries to digitize 3D cultural artifacts, making them accessible to the general public, researchers, and the cultural communities from which they originated.

Join Digitizing 3D Cultural Artifacts for Equal Access on Zoom

Presenter: Teresa Schultz

Learn about the Knowledge Center's Wikipedia Edit-a-Thon - a collective event aimed at addressing gender and racial biases in Wikipedia while facilitating the creation of content by groups traditionally underrepresented on the popular site.

Join Editing Bias from Wikipedia on Zoom 

Presenter: Kathy Hanselman

The rapid move to online learning challenged many students in new ways. This presentation will focus on reaching at-risk populations and how to design and deliver online courses to promote resiliency in the face of disruption.

Join Fostering Resiliency Through Online Course Design on Zoom

About the presenters

Kathy is an instructional designer at the University of Nevada, Reno's Teaching and Learning Technologies office. She is also a Ph.D. candidate in the University of Nevada, Reno's Information Technology in Education program, with a research focus on engagement in online learning. She has worked in the online learning field for over ten years, both as an instructional designer and instructor.

Presenter: Tamara Telles

Co-presenters: Baldo Bobadilla and Sara Hanafi

A healthy, equitable and resilient society requires participation of all sectors of society. The Health in All Policies approach creates the framework for multi-agency collaboration to address factors influencing the social
determinants of health.

Join Health in All Policies for a Healthier Nevada on Zoom

About the presenters

Tamara Telles is a Public Health Diversity Advisor at the Nevada Public Health Training Center. Tamara has seven years of experience serving a variety of roles in program management, community engagement, evaluation and strategic planning for public health initiatives. Her professional interests focus around health equity, diversity and inclusion, and considers herself a lifelong learner in this arena.

Baldo Bobadilla is a graduate of the University of Nevada, Reno College of Civil Engineering and is the Founder and Executive Director of Future Kind, an international non-profit dedicated to promoting diversity and equality around the world. Mr. Bobadilla’s passion for public health lead him to develop and execute programs in various countries in South America and in the United States: Serving diverse and underserved native and regional communities. Mr. Bobadilla is pursuing his Master in Public Health and joined the Nevada Public Health Training Center in August 2019 as a Public Health Diversity Advisor.

Presenters: Casey Acklin and Jennifer Carson, Ph.D.

Vivid storytelling brings the lived experience of people living with dementia to life! Learn about the history of Dementia Friendly Nevada and the awesome power of inclusion to combat the systematic disenfranchisement of people living with dementia.

Join I Am Therefore I Am: Embracing Cognitive Diversity on Zoom

About the presenter

Casey Acklin serves as Program Coordinator for the Dementia Engagement, Education, and Research Program in the School of Community Health Sciences at the University of Nevada, Reno in Reno, Nevada. Casey graduated with his Bachelor of Arts in Human Ecology from College of the Atlantic in 2015. He is passionate about supporting the wellbeing of elders and people living with dementia by building inclusive communities in which all community members can thrive.

Jennifer Carson, PhD, Director, Dementia Engagement, Education and Research Program, School of Community Health Sciences, University of Nevada Reno, works with tribal, rural and urban communities to transform the culture of dementia as Director of Dementia Friendly Nevada. She also provides inter-professional education across Nevada as part of a Geriatrics Workforce Enhancement Program grant and co-leads the Nevada COVID-19 Aging Network (Nevada CAN) rapid response. In addition to serving as one of four statewide leads for the overall initiative, she also leads Nevada CAN’s Social Support Action Team and its program innovation, the NEST Collaborative (NEST = Nevada Ensures Support Together), which provides volunteer-hosted virtual social support to homebound elders.

Presenters: Alana Walls

Media analysis of public debates regarding the revision of sex education laws/curriculum reveals opposition to recognition of non-heteronormative identities based on the ideology of secularism.

Join Identity Recognition and Secularism in Sex Ed on Zoom

About the presenters

Alana is a former teacher and a current graduate student in the Anthropology Department and the Gender, Race, and Identity Department. Her research focuses on the intersection of race, gender, and neoliberalism in the design, implementation, and outcomes of sexual health education programs.

Presenter: Asif Siddiqui

Students, particularly international ones, do not always know how to navigate administrative channels when being treated unfairly by a department. They also often do not have the resources to fight back. This presentation will look at their options.

Join International Students: A Vulnerable Population on Zoom

About the presenter

Asif is an international student from Canada. He is passionate about student rights and is a member of the Student Advocacy Committee on the Graduate Student Association Council. In Canada, he taught "Diversity and Intercultural Communication" at MacEwan University in Edmonton.

Presenter: Brittiany Narvaez

Co-Presenter: Dr. Lorrrel Toft

Systemic racism permeates even the most vital and basic functions of our society, like learning Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR). In our study, we examine the lack of racial representation in CPR training videos and the broader racial inequities in cardiac arrest survival.

Join Lack of Racial Diversity in CPR Training Videos on Zoom

Presenters: Dr. Diana Moss, Dr. Claudia Bertolone-Smith 

Join us for a discussion on how learning math is an opportunity to build resilience, self-direction, and autonomy. As math educators, we will share how to use math to practice valuable life skills that increase social wellness.

Join Leveraging Math for Empowerment and Equity on Zoom

About the presenters

Dr. Diana Moss is a Teaching Assistant Professor in the Department of Mathematics and Statistics at the University of Nevada, Reno. She teaches courses in mathematics and mathematics for elementary school teachers. Her research interests include children’s mathematical thinking and teacher education.

Dr. Claudia Bertolone-Smith is an Assistant Professor at CSU Chico. She teaches math methods courses to credential candidates in the School of Education. She has 24 years of experiences as an elementary classroom teacher. 

Presenter: Olga Mesina

The COVID-19 pandemic has ravaged our entire world. We will talk aboutthe intensified injustices experienced by two diverse local communities andtools to empower them to thrive during this workshop.

Join Pandemic's Effect on Intersectional Communities on Zoom

Presenters: Pearson McIntire 

Lack of mentorship and resources creates barriers for underrepresented youth to pursue careers in STEM. University of Nevada, Reno summer research internships for WCSD high school juniors will provide the tools necessary to aid their transition to higher education.

Join Underrepresented Youth STEM Summer Internships on Zoom

About the presenters

Pearson McIntire, Integrative Neuroscience Graduate Program, Van der Linden Lab, Department of Biology, University of Nevada, Reno

Presenter: Mariela Castro-Hostetler

Co-presenters: Dr. Bethany Contreras and Ircia Kille

This study examines the perspectives from Latinx families receiving Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) services in Nevada and aims to raise awareness of how practitioners can help bridge gaps to provide more effective services to the Latinx population.

Join Understanding the Role of Cultural Values in ABA Service Delivery: Perspectives from Latinx Families on Zoom

About the presenters

Mariela Castro-Hostetler is a doctoral student and administrative faculty in the College of Education. Castro-Hostetler is also a Board Certified Behavior Analyst and her areas of research include providing equitable services for the Latinx population, Acceptance and Commitment Training, and parent training.

Dr. Bethany Contreras is an assistant professor in the Department of Psychology and is part of the Behavior Analysis Graduate Program. Dr. Contreras has a Ph.D. in disability disciplines from Utah State University and is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst. Her primary area of research and practice is in supporting young children with autism and their families.

Ircia Kille is a native to Northern Nevada and has been in the ABA field for 6 years working directly with the Hispanic community. Kille is a Board Certified Behavior Analyst.

Presenter: L.M. Young, Ph. D.

Philosopher Edith Stein posits that empathy occurs only through experiences wholly foreign to our own. This research situates the human imagination--one of the highest of cognitive faculties--as the bridge to empathic responses for self and world relations.

Join "What the worlds needs now,..." on Zoom

About the presenters

A scholar of mythopoesis, somatic knowing, and a lifelong concert dance artist, Dr. L. Martina Young has developed her practice and theory, A Grammar of Empathy©, over 20 years. Formerly the Director of Dance at the University of Nevada, Reno from 1987-1994, Dr. Young has served on the faculties of The College of William and Mary, California State University, Dominguez Hills, Los Angeles County High School for the Arts, and California Institute of the Arts. A multi-year Fellow of the National Endowment for the Arts, Dr. Young is the recipient of Nevada's highest arts honor, The Governor's Arts Award for Excellence in the Arts.

Presenter: Sherrie Scaffidi

Focusing on being a transgender individual in the world, the issues, the obstacles, and the prejudices we face. As well as how the academic, corporate and medical fields need to be accepting of transgender individuals.

About the presenter

My name is Sherrie Scaffidi, I am a transgender woman, a US Navy Seabee veteran, a Nevada Veterans Advocate, a widower, and the father of three grown children. I live in Carson City, NV. I came out as transgender, April 7th, 2015. I am the current president of Parents and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG) and the president of Transgender Allies Group (TAG).

I have been a non-paid lobbyist for LGBTQ rights in Nevada for the past few legislative sessions. I spend much of my time educating people on transgender issues, and I am the moderator of several groups that support LGBTQ individuals.

Presenter: Jay Cafferata

Co-presenters: Yoshi Castro, Frankie Perez, Minister Li Arnee, Jay Cambridge

A panel of Nevada Transgender People of Color discussing the impacts of COVID, family, loss, transition, and access to healthcare. The voices of trans people of color and their experience is a bellwether for the healthcare system.

About the presenters

Jay Cafferata is a Public Health Diversity Advisor at the University of Nevada, Reno, working with the School of Community Health Sciences to bring awareness about the LGBT or SGM Communities.  His primary work is in Cultural Competency Training for Healthcare Facilities.

Yoshi Castro an Afro Latino trans woman who has had a very diverse and unique experience coming into her work in the community.

Frankie Perez is an Air Force veteran and was the first trans person to serve openly in his squadron. He earned his Baccalaureate degree in Gender & Sexuality studies from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV), and is currently pursuing his Master of Social Work also at UNLV. Frankie is a foster parent to four amazing young children and does his best to model that no matter what one's gender identity, sexual orientation, skin color, socio-economic status, etc., we can still be empowered to change the world.

Minister Li Arnee, started both his ministry and transition from female-to-male (FTM) in 2011. It's important for him to remain visible to free others spiritually from church hurt.

Jay Cambridge is a prior military police veteran. Now the founder of The Intentional Movement and creator of Live outside the box. Trans, Non-Binary, POC, healer, Inspiring others to be their most truest authentic self!

Presenter: Linda Anngela-Cole, Ph.D., MSW LCSW

Co-presenter: Lana Sue Ka'opua, Ph.D., DCSW, LSW

Navigating the New Normal: Nurturing the Breath of Life and the Breadth of Death. This presentation is intended to acknowledge and honor the challenge (socially, medically, and end-of-life) since the pandemic outbreak, in the context of loss.

Join Navigating the New Normal: Nurturing the Breath of Life and the Breadth of Death on Zoom

About the presenters

Dr. Anngela-Cole is an Assistant Professor at the University of Nevada, Reno in the School of Social Work, and a licensed therapist in the community. The focus of her clinical practice is with clients suffering from grief and loss issues. Her scholarship and teaching pertain to death, dying, and culture, with emphasis on cultural death literacy. Having lived, worked, and studied in Hawaii for over 20 years, she is well-poised to present to you today about cultural issues related to end-of-life and related societal concerns.

Dr. Ka'opua is a renowned scholar with international acclaim based on her work with indigenous populations in Hawaii and throughout the Pacific Basin.  She is a retired professor from the University of Hawaii, School of Social Work, but has yet to acknowledge the "retired" part. She has spent her academic training and scholarship contributing to cancer research and interventions with indigenous populations. Dr. Ka'opua is a prolific writer, with hundreds of publications pertaining to culture, health, and death. She is a highly regarded and highly sought-after speaker, and it is an honor and a privilege to hear her present at this conference today.

Presenter: Cheryl Coleman, Ph.D., Coordinator, Volunteer Development 

Basic cultural competency involves self-examination toward developing accurate awareness, attitudes, knowledge and skills for understanding and interacting with others, whether in the workplace or our personal lives. This presentation will discuss basic cultural competency, as well as how to recognize and respond to microaggressions.

Join So, Who Are You Anyway? on Zoom 

About the presenter

Dr. Coleman earned her Ph.D. in public affairs at the University of Nevada Las Vegas (UNLV), where she developed an empirically based theory/framework for volunteer management; currently, she is the Coordinator of Volunteer Development at the University of Nevada, Reno Extension in Southern Nevada.  Dr. Coleman has researched the impact of race and racism on culture and relationships in the workplace, as well as in the mainstream of American society, including the American Christian church, for more than 20 years.  She is the original author of the global term “Identity in Christ” as well as “Eurotheism,” which are terms that give insight to the topic of race and race relations.”

Presenter: Lorilee Sutton

Co-presenter: Daniel Alvarado

This presentation will examine barriers to people of color, specifically African American and Latino individuals, accessing mental health treatment.

About the presenters

Lorilee Sutton currently serves as the Program Manager for Counseling and Psychological Services at the College of Southern Nevada (CSN).  Lorilee has over 20 years' experience in the mental health field working with diverse populations in a variety of settings. Lorilee holds a masters's degree in mental health counseling.

Daniel Alvarado currently serves as the Director for Counseling and Disability Services at the College of Southern Nevada (CSN) in Las Vegas, NV. Before his position at CSN, Alvarado served as Associate Director for Student Services at the North Carolina Community College System Office in Raleigh, NC, and previous to that served as Director for Counseling at Vance-Granville Community College in Henderson, NC. Alvarado holds an associate’s degree in business management, a bachelor’s degree in business administration, and a doctorate in education leadership from Wingate University. He is also a veteran of the U.S. Air Force and proud father of two sons, Timothy Jared and Jordan Emmanuel.