Teaching, Learning, &

Global Engagement

Weekly News & Updates

Dr. Velez, Director of Health Programs, Continuing Education, is a native of Bridgeport, Connecticut. His family originates from Camuy, Puerto Rico. His ancestral lineage can be traced back to the Canary Islands in Spain. He holds native fluencies in both English and Spanish. He holds a Doctor of Philosophy in Leadership from Carolina University; a Master of Arts in Liberal Studies and Post-Baccalaureate Certificate in Global Studies from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro; a Bachelor of Interdisciplinary Studies from Winston-Salem State University; and an Associate in Applied Science from Lincoln College of New England. He has two foster sons, whom he enjoys taking care of alongside his partner Chad E. Harris. Dr. Velez enjoys baking, cooking, and finds great pleasure in all things that pertain to the arts and culture. 

Five Things to Know

1. Travel: In 2019, I visited Paris, France with my best friend. It was a wonderful experience that allowed me to explore the country and learn about Parisian life. I have an affinity for the French language although there is much I still have to learn about it. I have also lived and continue to visit the island of Puerto Rico. I love the tropical weather, the Caribbean way of life, and the warm spirit of the Puerto Rican people.  
2. Music: I often find myself listening to Bad Bunny’s playlist on Spotify. He is a Puerto Rican rapper who is known for promoting important social causes and bringing to light world issues, particularly within the Puerto Rican community.  
3. Food: One of my favorite dishes is Indian and it is chicken biryani. It consist of a variety of Indian spices, basmati rice, chicken, and side condiments, which make for an incredible culinary experience. I also love sweet plantains with milk, a delicacy in Puerto Rico. It reminds me of my maternal grandmother who would give it to me during snack time. Finally, I enjoy preparing and eating mofongo (mashed plantains). It is a savory dish in Puerto Rico and holds historical roots in African cultural cuisine. 
4. Shows & Movies: Recently, I have been watching the show Lego Masters on Fox. I also watched Disney’s Coco, a movie celebrating Mexican culture, which is beautiful in every way. I most like to watch Caso Cerrado, it is a Spanish-language court show, similar to Judge Judy, and it is on Telemundo. I really enjoy watching reruns of Anthony Bourdain’s cooking shows. He traveled the world and experienced many different kinds of dishes. I also like watching reruns of Will & Grace, the Golden Girls, and true crime documentaries. 
5. Joyful Experience: One of the most joyful experiences of my life was to have been present at the birth of my niece, Vivian. I consider life to be precious and to have witnessed her coming into this world was truly a blessing. I was nervous, scared, happy, and overjoyed all at the same time.

Upcoming Events

• 15,925,248 Ways to Improve the Equity of Grading Schemes: December 5 from 2:00-4:00 pm on Zoom. Register through the Piedmont Hub
• Culture Cafe: Christmas in Argentina, France, Ireland: December 8 from 10:30-11:30 am in Gee N139-142

Hello again after a long break!

For those I haven’t met or who don’t remember me, I’m Jeremiah Dahl, a part-time remote Instructional Designer in the Digital Accessibility & Learning Design department. I’d previously worked with a lot of you, however, I’ve been absent for the past year while away on military duty.

A few fun facts: I’m an alumni of Winthrop University in Rock Hill, SC, where I got my MEd; I’m currently living in Charleston while my wife (Maria) pursues her MS in Physician Assistant Studies; we have a daughter (Ophelia, after the Lumineers song) and two cats (Nova and Navi, Navi after the fairy in Zelda: Ocarina of Time). Nova is the tabby and Navi the darker grey.

I look forward to working with you all again!

By Gretchen Benton

During the last Academic Affairs meeting we reviewed the following Moodle updates:  

Upcoming Moodle Maintenance 

Moodle 4.1 Maintenance Pack 3 - Thursday, Dec. 28th 12:30 AM - 4:30 AM

Moodle will be down during this maintenance window. This maintenance pack should address/resolve issues with Question Statistics reports and the missing MathType & ChemType text editor buttons.

Other Moodle Changes (late December 2023) 

In order to streamline our Moodle tool options, support, and make our work more student-centered. I have included a list of features that will be removed from Moodle and an alternative (better) tool that you can use in Moodle instead.  

• Bb Collaborate - Use Zoom instead
• Lightbox - Use Database with the “Photo Gallery” template instead
• Survey - Use Feedback instead
• Pearson Block (deprecated) - Use the Pearson LTI instead by turning on Edit Mode, select “Add an Activity or Resource, and then select “Pearson” in the Activity Chooser window. 
• Open Forums (green icon) - Removal date TBD - Use Forums (orange icon) with “Whole Forum Grading” and/or Advanced Grading options turned on instead

Need support? 

Faculty: email edtech@davidsondavie.edu

Students: Visit 24/7 Moodle Helpdesk (linked on Moodle homepage)

By Sarah Wright

November is upon its finale, and most of us are sliding from holiday to holiday. Today, the final day of November, marks the end of Native American Heritage month, but I urge you to think about the history, present, future, and contributions of Native Americans throughout the year. One of the major criticisms of public perception of Native Americans is that Native Americans are part of the past and less part of the present and future, but that characterization is simply untrue and something that Native Americans work hard to overcome. 

In North Carolina, we have, as mentioned in the previous article, a few groups in this state. The federally recognized group is the Cherokee, but there is also the Lumbee in the eastern part of the state. While the Lumbee are not federally recognized, they are a large group with a significant influence in southeastern North Carolina. If you have heard about the fire in Stokes County at Sauratown Mountain, that is the ancestral home of the Sauras. The Sauras (Cheraw) do not exist in the present, and they serve as a cautionary tale for other groups. While the group does not exist, there are some who still claim to be descendants of the Sauras (and I am certain they are). Disease, migration, and assimilation are all factors in their demise.    

Another often associated connection to Native Americans are instances of pejorative language such as “indian giver,” “cowboys and indians,” “squaw,” and the list goes on. I understand that those phrases and words may not seem offensive, but as a general rule, let’s accept when people tell us that things are offensive to them and not immediately try to explain why they are not offensive. Listen to the reasons people offer–if they are willing to share. Listening and understanding are great gifts to offer humanity.

Would you be surprised to know that Native Americans, while the original caretakers and inhabitants of the land that now comprises the United States, were not actually citizens of the United States until 1924? Citizenship became a reality in large part due to Native American volunteerism for World War I–about 8000 people. World War II saw that number tripled, and the Navajo Code Talkers became infamous for their role in communications during the time. 

There are many facts and figures I could share with you, but instead, I want you to stay tuned for more information next November, and I will leave you with current bright spots and those also leading the movement toward a bright future. There are several currently writing, award winning authors: Sherman Alexie, Louise Erdrich, Tommy Orange, and Joy Harjo. There are politicians who have been elected to serve their native communities and the larger communities as a whole: Tom Cole (OK), Markwayne Mullins (OK), Sharice Davids (KS), Deb Haaland (NM), and Yvette Herrell (NM). Despite the near eradication of many groups of Native Americans, remember that Native Americans are here, contributing, and forging a path for the future.