DEI Leadership Training
The next training for the Fall 2022 semester will focus on Preventing Cyberbullying and Addressing Hostile Environments. Stay tuned for dates and speaker line up!
Please use the video links to access the most recent Diversity and Equity Training on Gender and Equity from Spring 2022. Gender and Equity Leadership Week offered a series of workshops and leadership training to explore gender inequities in the United States and abroad. These diverse and powerful lessons spawned inclusivity and promote gender justice. Participants were invited to experience unique inclusivity events that include an artist talk and art display, international teaching and learning processes, mindfulness, and a leadership event to support strategies to enhance gender rights for populations of women who have been historically silenced or ignored.
All workshops leading up to the main event were be streamed via Zoom. If you have any issues accessing the Zoom link, please contact the Office of Diversity and Equity.
Monday, April 4, 2022 | Scarborough Library | 9 a.m. and 6:30 p.m. | Flyer
Presented by the Shepherd University Center for Appalachian Studies & Community and the Department of Sociology, Criminology, and Criminal Justice
Creating positive social change by empowering human capital transmission and positive identity formation through art.
This original acrylic art exhibit (2021-2022), by Dr. Chiquita Howard-Bostic, featured an ecopoetic discourse of the physical and spiritual power of Black women.
The acrylic figures in each painting signify a fusion of Black women’s personal and cultural ties to the four elements—Earth, Air, Fire, and Water—as well as the Void. The display pays tribute to nine significant Black women who have excelled in history and civil rights, sciences, math, education, the arts, engineering, medicine, business, and sports: Oluwatoyin Salau (History and Civil Rights), Wangari Maathai (Science), Katherine Johnson (Math), Mary McLeod Bethune (Education), Nina Chanel Abney (Arts), Mary W. Jackson (Engineering), Dr. Muriel Petioni (Medicine), Debra Lee (Business), and Serena Williams (Sports). The paintings celebrate the connection between art, culture, history, and this powerful group of Black women who have excelled in these interdisciplinary fields.
Presenter Background: Dr. Chiquita D. Howard-Bostic is the Associate Vice President of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusivity and department chair of Sociology, Criminology, and Criminal Justice at Shepherd University (SU).
Monday, April 4, 2022 | Byrd Center Auditorium | 11 a.m. – 12 p.m. | Flyer
This Collaborative Online International Learning (COIL) Presentation hosted two International Scholars from Brazil to discuss student learning from an international perspective: Dr. Monica Sapucaia Machado is the Department Chair at Säo Paulo Law School and Permanent Professor at Instituto Brasileiro de Ensino Desenvolvimento e Pesquisa (IDP). Dr. Denise Almeida de Andrade is a Permanent Professor in the Master of Law and Law School at UNICHRISTUS in Brazil and a professor at FGV Säo Paulo. The event was recorded via Zoom and can be viewed here.
Tuesday, April 5, 2022 | Recording | 6 – 7:30 p.m.
Presented by Shepherd University Counseling Services and Community Partners
Consciousness of self is an exploration of values, emotions, attitudes, and beliefs that cause an individual to take action.
As a result of societal conditioning, cumulative stress, and patterns of personal and political oppression, many of us struggle to feel at home in our bodies and deeply connect to the truth of our worth and our value. Through mindful movement, breathing practices, and reflection, participants will be offered the opportunity to enhance their consciousness of self. Using stories, guided visualization, and moment-to-moment awareness we will practice the art of nourishing and tending our true home within our mind, body, and spirit (Koch, 2015; Nussbaum, 2015).
Presenter Backgrounds: Wendy Baracka is the Director of Counseling Services at Shepherd University in Shepherdstown, West Virginia. She recently completed her 200-hour Yoga Teacher Training through Jala Yoga and is in the process of completing her requirements for certification through Yoga Alliance. Baracka is a Certified Trainer in the Nurtured Heart Approach, a social-emotional methodology for transforming difficult intensity in children and adults to develop inner wealth and promote school, social, familial, and community growth and success. Baracka received her Master’s in Social Work through West Virginia University and her Bachelor of Science in Sociology through Shepherd College. Her specialty areas of focus include trauma-informed care, mindfulness-based stress reduction, and increasing bodily awareness and integrity through yoga and breathing practices.
Lynntresa Atkinson is a Gospel Artist from Buffalo, New York. She began singing at the age of 4 in the Antioch Baptist Church choir. She attended Performing Arts Highschool. She inspires people with her voice which is soulful and moving.
Thursday, April 7, 2022 | Virtual | 5 – 8:30 p.m.
Presented by Shepherd University, Hood College, University of Virginia-Wise, Instituto Brasileiro de Ensino Desenvolvimento e Pesquisa (IDP) in Brazil, and UNICHRISTUS in Brazil
The Gender Rights and Equity Leadership Conference focused on positive social change; consciousness of self; consciousness of citizenship; common purpose; contend with civility; commitment; congruence; collaboration.
This training offered DEI leadership strategies for empowering gender rights and equity from academic, spiritual, and international perspectives. The conference was focused on building knowledge about spiritual empowerment, international gender inequities, teamwork on campus, and inspiring success for BIPOC populations.
Core Competencies: Participants of this workshop learned how to engage inclusivity leadership focusing on gender equity via presentations that applied the following eight core diversity, equity, and inclusivity competencies:
- Positive social change
- Consciousness of self
- Consciousness of citizenship
- Common purpose
- Contend with civility
- Commitment
- Congruence
- Collaboration
This DEI training addressed DEI leadership success strategies about civility principles, managing change, emotional capital, and self-assessment and reflection.
Presenters: Dr. Monica Sapucaia Machado, Instituto Brasileiro de Ensino Desenvolvimento e Pesquisa (Brazil) and Dr. Denise Almeida Andrade, UNICHRISTUS (Brazil)
Competency: Consciousness of citizenship is responsible for individual connectedness to the interdependence of all involved in the leadership effort through effective democracy.
Description: This presentation explored potential to encourage a deeper understanding of women’s rights and national legal systems that impact vulnerable groups such as indigenous populations, enslaved black people, and women.
The Inter-American System, constituted by the Inter-American Commission and the Inter-American Court of Human Rights, lends itself to monitoring the implementation of human rights in the States Parties. In 2006, Maria da Penha’s Law was published in Brazil as a response to the condemnation of Brazil by the Inter-American Court of Human Rights for the negligence in the trial of Maria da Penha’s ex-husband, which took more than 20 years to convict him for attempting to murder his wife, leaving her paraplegic. The Brazilian state nearly lost the right to prosecute Maria da Penha’s ex-husband because of the statute of limitation for the crime. At that time, there was a favorable political scenario for the protection and promotion of the rights of vulnerable groups, such as women. Numerous milestones have been achieved, but much remains to be done, especially at the internal level of South American States. It is unequivocal that, in addition to guaranteeing international recognition of the legal and conceptual aspects of human rights, that it must be ensured that this translates into their incorporation in the national normative system of States.
Presenter Backgrounds: Dr. Denise Almeida de Andrade has a Post-doctorate in Political and Economic Law from Universidade Presbiteriana Mackenzie. She has a Ph.D. and master’s degree in Constitutional Law from the University of Fortaleza – UNIFOR. She is a Titular Professor of the Masters in Law, Development and Process and Undergraduate Law School at the Christus University Center – UNICHRISTUS and Professor at Fundação Getúlio Vargas – FGVLaw São Paulo. She develops academic activities focused on Human Rights, with emphasis on Access to Justice, Conflict Management, Women’s Rights, Gender Justice, and Family Planning. She is the author of the book Family Planning: Coparenting and Gender Equality. She is one of the editors of Women’s Rights, International Studies on Gender series with 3 volumes already published. She was born and raised in Fortaleza, the capital of Ceará, a northeastern Brazilian state. From 2013 to 2019 she lived in São Paulo, the biggest capital of Brazil where she conducts her research about feminism and the importance of gender equality for the Brazilian Society.
Dr. Monica Sapucaia Machado has a Ph.D. and a Master’s degree in Political and Economic Law from Universidade Presbiteriana Mackenzie, with both titles recognized by Universidade Nova de Lisboa in Portugal. She holds an MBA in Public Administration from Fundação Getúlio Vargas (2008) and a Law Degree from the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro (2005). She is a Professor in the Master’s Program in Law and the Law, Justice, and Development Program at the Brazilian Institute of Education, Development, and Research (IDP). Dr. Machado is also the Law School chair at the Brazilian Institute of Education, Development, and Research (IDP) in São Paulo (SP). She is the author of several books, including Women’s Rights: Higher Education, Work, and Autonomy. Monica is one of the editors of the collection Women’s Rights and a Founding Partner of the International Center for Studies, Applied Research and Innovation (CIEIA) in Lisbon, Portugal.
Presenter: Kristen Vernon, Shepherd University
Competency: Contend with civility is an ability to recognize and value inevitable differences in viewpoints and to allow such differences to be expressed openly and with civility.
Description: The chakra system can heal and strengthen the physical and spiritual body through ancient meditation practices. The presentation will examine emotions that correspond with each chakra and sentiments expressed when each is balanced or unbalanced. The audience will discover techniques that can help stimulate and activate the chakra system and possibilities of human potential when mastered. The audience will have an opportunity to consider this mental activity and identify their strengths with chakras while also experiencing a hand mudra meditation practice and discussion. The goal is to inspire energy that we can later use to refill our cups as we work to create social change. Participants will build capacity for congruence and change.
Presenter Background: Kristen Vernon is a Senior at Shepherd University pursuing her bachelor’s degree in Sociology with a concentration in Criminal Justice. She is also an intern for the Office for Diversity and Equity, WISE Student Leader, and Secretary of the Alpha Phi Sigma Criminal Justice Honors Society. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with her family, hosting paranormal expeditions, and practicing holistic healing practices such as reiki, yoga, and chakra meditation. Her mission in life is to help others find peace within themselves, foster a sense of belonging among her peers, and facilitate positive social change.
Presenter: Rev. Beth O’Malley, Hood College
Competency: Consciousness of Self, Congruence Controversy with Civility
Description: A growing number of young adults identify as having no religious affiliation (“nones”) but many have been influenced by faith traditions through their families and communities. Some intentionally disconnect from faith and religion because they’re dissatisfied with old biases and rigid structures and because higher education introduces them to perspectives that welcome diversity, equity, and inclusion. Others look for ways to create a hybrid of tradition and emerging beliefs. Most are searching for a compass to guide them on their journey to understand themselves and their purpose in the world. This presentation will introduce resources to help support religious/spiritual literacy and the healthy development of personal values and ways to live those out in service to a wider community.
Presenter Background: Rev. Beth O’Malley has served since 2008 as the McHenry Dean of the Chapel at Hood College. She received her BA in Religion and English from Hiram College and her M. Div. from Yale University. Ordained in the United Church of Christ, Beth has served churches in Connecticut, Ohio, and Maryland, and was the Interim Executive Director of the University Christian Movement in Cleveland, Ohio, a YMCA campus ministry serving Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland State University, and Cuyahoga Community College (Metro.) Beth completed a residency in Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) at Riverside Hospital in Columbus, Ohio, and holds certificates from the Pastoral Psychology Institute of Case Western Reserve University, the Mediation, and Conflict Resolution Center of Howard County (Maryland) in Community Mediation and Restorative Justice, and in mindfulness training with the Koru Mindfulness program at Duke University. Her greatest love is helping to create healing spaces and opportunities for people of different backgrounds and viewpoints to be surprised by what they hold in common.
Presenter: Josephine Rodriguez, Associate Professor of Biology, University of Virginia-Wise
Competency: Commitment, Collaboration, Change
Description: The National Science Foundation ADVANCE program aims to promote equity for women faculty, particularly in STEM fields. This current ADVANCE grant is a partnership award with SUNY Geneseo, UNC Asheville, Georgia College, and UVA-Wise. COPLAC (Council of Public Liberal Arts Colleges) administrators and women STEM faculty were given surveys that listed 14 different policies or programs known to impact faculty equity and were asked to rate the extent of agreement that the policy was having a positive impact on their campus. From these survey results, an equity toolkit has been developed with specific and evidence-based strategies to promote faculty equity. While the toolkit to be discussed and shared was tailored to COPLAC institutions, the contents and lessons learned to apply more broadly to primarily undergraduate institutions.
Presenter Background: Dr. Josephine Rodriguez is an Associate Professor of Biology at the University of Virginia’s College at Wise (UVA-Wise), the Liberal Arts Division of UVA located in rural southwest Virginia. She is a current Principal Investigator of an NSF S-STEM from the Division of Undergraduate Education and a Co-Principal Investigator of an NSF ADVANCE Partnership in collaboration with several COPLAC (Council of Public Liberal Arts Colleges) institutions. Prior to UVA-Wise she was a postdoctoral research fellow at the NSF-funded National Center for Ecological Analysis and Synthesis and received a doctorate from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign from the Department of Entomology. She lives in Big Stone Gap, Virginia, with her husband Lorenzo and their daughter Piper.
Presenter: Sierra Santamaria, Berkeley County’s Sexual Assault Response Team
Competency: Contend with civility, positive social change
Description: Sexual assault, stalking, and human trafficking cases are increasing and the crucial need for prevention and education to help address and improve services to victims is at an all-time high. Providing prevention and education on the topic can help victims/survivors know they are not alone and can inform them about the different services available in the community to them; spreading awareness on this topic can also help increase bystander intervention.
Presenter Background: Sierra Santamaria has served as Berkeley County’s Sexual Assault Victim Advocate since 2020. She received her BS in Sociology from Shepherd University. Santamaria serves victims/survivors of sexual assault, stalking, and human trafficking within the Berkeley County area. She works at a non-profit organization called the Eastern Panhandle Empowerment Center (EPEC). She is the coordinator of Berkeley County’s Sexual Assault Response Team (SART), a multi-disciplinary team of professionals in the community that was developed to improve services to victims by minimizing trauma to those affected by sexual violence and promoting healing while keeping a victim-centered and offender-focused approach. Santamaria provides prevention and education outreach services to local schools and organizations. She serves services to all survivors in her county, regardless of age, gender, socioeconomic status, sexual orientation, and race. Her passion is to provide supportive services and resources to members of her community.
Presenter: Dr. Chiquita Howard-Bostic, Shepherd University
Competency: Collaboration, Controversy with Civility, Change
Description: The need to belong or belongingness is a human emotional desire to identify with and be accepted by members of a group. The presentation uses artwork about Black women as an example for faculty, staff, and students to create a sense of belonging for BIPOC students. Through paintings that celebrate the connection between art, culture, history, and a powerful group of Black women who have excelled in these interdisciplinary fields, we set an example for the recruitment and retention of BIPOC students. The acrylic figures in each painting signify positive images and a fusion of Black women’s personal and cultural experiences in the arts, sciences, engineering, education, business, sports, history, and politics. The goal of the presentation is to show how we can deconstruct negative public stereotypes and embrace a culture of respect. By establishing events and safe spaces on campus, faculty, staff, and students can work together to unmold historical structural barriers that impede the establishment of a sense of belonging on campus for BIPOC students. These teams can expose the campus to histories and positive practices and experiences of historical figures in at-risk and historically marginalized groups. The presentation will encourage faculty and staff to use their hobbies and disciplinary areas to connect the campus community and BIPOC students with untold or rarely told histories. This process is also a new process for universities to consider as a diversity, equity, and inclusivity (DEI) strategy aligning retention and recruitment. The process creates an inviting and welcoming campus environment that allows a safe space for students to express cultures, ideologies, and interests. An inviting campus has faculty, students, classes, organizations, clubs, and programs that BIPOC students can relate to.
Presenter Background: Dr. Chiquita D. Howard-Bostic is the Associate Vice President of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusivity and department chair of Sociology, Criminology, and Criminal Justice at Shepherd University (SU). She is a certified life coach, girl scout and 4-H leader, and founder of a program called “Help Bridge,” providing leadership and social justice education in the community. Howard-Bostic, who educates the community about anti-human trafficking, multicultural justice, dating violence prevention, and financial/environmental sustainability, was born and raised in Buffalo, New York, where she began serving the community at the age of fourteen working with city legislators and later working at community organizations as a grant writer and advocate for marginalized youth and adults. She earned a bachelor’s degree in Legal Studies and a master’s degree in Urban Planning at the State University of New York at Buffalo. She received a Ph.D. in Sociology, and a teaching certificate in Women’s Studies and Race and Social Policy research at Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University. Thousands of school-aged youth and community stakeholders have benefited from her workshops, justice trainings, intervention projects, food drives, service projects, and community workshops. Dr. Howard-Bostic was the first recipient of Shepherd’s Storer College Award, which recognizes faculty who incorporate diversity and social justice into their classroom, research, scholarship, and interaction with students. She also received the 2015 SU Outstanding Teacher Award. In 2017, Howard-Bostic received the Outstanding Service Award, and in 2020, she was awarded the Outstanding Academic Advisor Award. In 2018, she was honored as the 2018 Distinguished Alumni for the State University of New York at Buffalo Educational Opportunity Program (EOP). Howard-Bostic was recognized by American Mothers as the 2020 West Virginia Mother of the Year and is the 2021 recipient of the “WV Governor’s Living the Dream” award. Chiquita Howard-Bostic is also an extraordinary artist and irrepressible spirit.