Defining "REAL" Skills, Meet Founder of Global Citizen Year, Abby Falik

The Future of Work is Diverse, Inclusive, Just and Equitable

GlobalMindED closes the equity gap by creating a capable, diverse talent pipeline through connections to role models, mentors, internships for low-income students, returning adults, First Gen to college and inclusive leaders who teach them, work with them and hire them.

Meet Founder of Global Citizen Year, Abby Falik - Defining ¨REAL¨ Skills

Abby, what is your personal narrative? What key moments in your life led you to where you are?

When I finished high school, I was hungry for an experience that would stretch me beyond my comfort zone and teach me things I knew I wouldn’t learn in a college lecture hall. I’d been a good student, checked the boxes, and gotten into Stanford — but I knew in my gut something was missing. I was terrified that I’d let school interfere with my real education. I called the Peace Corps asking if they’d take me; and my heart sunk when they told me I needed a college degree before applying. It didn’t make sense that we funnel millions of 18-year-olds into military or religious service each year — where was the secular and civilian opportunity to teach us who we were and who we wanted to become as adults?

I ended up going straight to college, but after two more years of classroom learning I was itching to test what I was hearing through real experiences out in the world. I took a leave of absence from school and headed to Salvador, Brazil with a backpack, a book of Portuguese verbs, and a slip of paper with the name of an NGO my professor thought might take me as a volunteer. Finding an apartment, making friends, and navigating a foreign city before the age of smartphones and GPS was enormously challenging — and ultimately, enormously rewarding.

In hindsight, my time outside the classroom was the most formative part of my education, but it had nothing to do with my formal education. I learned a new language through immersion, identified the things that get me out of bed when there’s no alarm clock, and uncovered the questions I wanted to answer even when there was no syllabus or final exam. In short, these formative experiences set the compass I’ve been following ever since.

What inspired you to create Global Citizen Year? What problems and gaps did you see in our society that led you to create this company to address leadership?

We’re facing unprecedented, intersecting global crises that can’t be solved by one country or community alone: racial injustice, rising inequality, deepening division, and a planet teetering on the brink of environmental catastrophe.

These challenges demand a new kind of leadership. Young people are up to the task, but today’s educational paradigm is outdated and failing to prepare them to become the leaders our world needs. Too often, young people are shuttled along a narrowly defined path to success. High-achieving students hustle toward an abstract finish line; they're discouraged from stepping off the treadmill – let alone adjusting the incline or speed.

If the next generation is going to build a future that’s better than the present, they need a new playbook. Global Citizen Year is addressing the leadership crisis by changing the composition, mindset, and impact of our next generation leaders. We’re on a mission to develop a critical mass who believe leadership is a lifelong practice rather than a position or job title.

Why is having a global network and community important? How does Global Citizen support emerging leaders in this pursuit?

Global Citizen Year is launching a generation of leaders with the perspectives, skills, and a global network with the potential to solve humanity’s most urgent challenges. Each year we recruit a diverse corps of talented young people from across the world, and use the formative transition into adulthood to shape their values, identity, and purpose in ways that classroom learning alone cannot. We combine curriculum, coaching, and lived experience to light up our students’ leadership potential.

Our experiences – an immersive Fellowship and a virtual Academy – create opportunities for young people to understand and fulfill their potential as leaders. We give them a structured curriculum, a diverse cohort of peers, and an inspiring coach to guide them. In turn, they stretch beyond their comfort zones as they navigate divergent worldviews and explore their identity, values, and purpose. Our students build powerful and connected communities across lines of difference, as they develop the “REAL” skills of the 21st century:

Resilience to find comfort in ambiguity, and problem-solve in an uncertain world
Empathy to connect with people from a range of cultures, backgrounds, and economic classes
Agency to define their own path and the confidence to choose it
Leadership to drive real change with curiosity, conviction, and courage

As a result, when our alumni graduate they have more than a diploma – they have a purpose. They know their “why.”

The Academy offered by Global Citizen Year is designed to equip students to find their purpose, people and power to make an impact. How does this experience support our diverse leaders? What are the most powerful skills for future leaders to have as they begin their leadership journey?

Global Citizen Year engages talented young people from around the globe who are committed to positive impact. They aren’t discouraged by social, environmental, and political challenges; they see opportunities where others see challenges. They possess the curiosity, conviction, and courage necessary to lead — and we create opportunities for them to hone the real-world skills they’ll need to succeed.

At the heart of those opportunities? A global perspective. Whether on the ground through our hands-on immersive components or steeped in our virtual leadership training, we connect young people to a cohort of their peers from around the world. Our programs are designed to spark empathy and understanding across cultures . And through structured curriculum and coaching, we help them develop a lifelong practice around leadership that includes:

Practicing curiosity before judgment
Building empathy by connecting across difference
Aligning one’s life with one’s convictions
Championing equity and opportunity
Having the courage to do hard things

We empower young people to choose a different path — to pursue a life in service of something bigger than themselves. Our alumni become advocates for change in their own communities, with an impact that reverberates around the world.

What advice would you give to future Inclusive Inspirational Leaders?

Humility and confidence are not opposites; they grow together and in equal proportion.
A good student learns from every teacher; the onus is on each of us to find the learning in every disappointment, failure, or roadblock.
People are people are people. When we can look past pedigree or position to recognize that we are all, ultimately, human — we never feel bigger or smaller than anyone else.
Ultimately, things take the time they take! Social innovators must “nail it” before we “scale it”; and often we must go slow to go fast.

Students discussions at Global Citizen Year

UPCOMING EQUITY EVENTS IN HIGHER EDUCATION, K-12 AND HEALTH - JOIN US:

3/22 Taking the Cape Off: Getting Real with Women CEOs

3/23 Celebrating Outstanding K-12 Female Educators

3/28 Women Leaders for Health Equity

Taking the Cape Off: Getting Real with Women CEOs

Join us Tuesday March 22 4:00 EST Register here

Dr. Ryan Ross Associate Vice Chancellor Student Affairs, Equity, & Inclusion Colorado Community College System. An educator, speaker, and actualization coach, Dr. Ross is committed to access, equity, and the development of leaders.

Janet Salazar President, Foundation for the Support of the UN. Janet has built an ecosystem of deep connections and influencers in the global diplomatic community, and is a strong voice for public-private partnerships at the UN.

Dr. Angie Paccione Executive Director, Colorado Department of Higher Education. Dr. Paccione has over 20 years of experience in secondary and postsecondary education.

Simone D. Ross CEO, Colorado Women’s Chamber of Commerce. A trusted thought leader, international speaker, facilitator, business executive, and community servant, Ross has a passion for operational development, workforce equity, and the advancement of women in work.

Karen Ashworth-Macfarlane Co-Founder and CEO, Digame Spirits PBC. Karen is an entrepreneur, wealth manager, fin-tech and impact investor, a senior level consultant and the founder and CEO at Women of Wall Street, a financial advocacy and educational consulting firm.

Dr. Jessica Rothenberg-Aalami CEO, Founder, Cell-Ed. For over 20 years, Jessica has designed and delivered accessible, affordable, and inclusive mobile learning worldwide through Cell-Ed, a customizable messaging platform effective at teaching and coaching today’s workforce lacking even the most basic skills through mobile.

Celebrating Outstanding K-12 Female Educators

Join us Tuesday March 23 4:00 EST Register here

Dr. Pierre Theodore VP Global External Innovation, Johnson & Johnson. Dr. Theodore is responsible for accelerating innovation, advancing the standard of care within early stage science, and elevating existing and adjacent technologies.

Dr. Anna Landau Clinical Asst. Professor, Banner-University Medical Center. Dr. Landau was drawn to Family Medicine after working as a promotora for a community clinic in Tucson.

Dr. Timian Godfrey Clinical Assistant Professor, University of Arizona. Dr. Godfrey oversees two grant programs at U of A Health Sciences to bring underrepresented groups into nursing, including an Indian Health Services grant to increase the presence of Native American nurses in tribal communities.

Dr. Tarnia Newton Clinical Assistant Professor, University of Arizona. Dr. Newton has a deep-rooted interest in improving outcomes in patients with chronic disease as well as empowering healthcare teams to provide patient-centered care utilizing the Institute for Healthcare Improvement Model framework to accelerate transformative change.

Dr. Lisa Kiser Clinical Assistant Professor, University of Arizona. Committed to health equity and improved access to healthcare along the border, Dr. Kiser is on faculty practice, working part-time as a women’s health nurse-practitioner at a rural health center.

Women Leaders for Health Equity

Join us Monday March 28 4:00 EST Register here

Dr. Anna Landau Clinical Asst. Professor, Banner-University Medical Center. Dr. Landau was drawn to Family Medicine after working as a promotora for a community clinic in Tucson.

Watch Building the Talent Pipeline: Girls and Women in STEM

Paula Garcia Todd; Global Strategic Marketing Manager Pharma Solutions, IFF and AAAS If/Then she/can STEM Ambassador leads the conversation with Danisha Allen; Senior Program Manager, VIZIO, Vitoria Moreno-Costa; Process Safety Management Engineer IFF Health & Biosciences, Claire Meaders; Assistant Teaching Professor, Cell & Developmental Biology University of California San Diego and AAAS If/Then she/can STEM Ambassador, and Samyukta Iyer Senior, Wheeler High School Center for Advanced Studies

Join us for GlobalMindED 2022 in Denver on June 22-24

The most diverse education, business, government, tech, health, STEM conference with First Gen to college students in attendance. We will have pre-conferences and the Inclusive Leader Awards Dinner June 22.

Submit to Speak

Recap of Black History Month

Last month we celebrated the culture, community, and lives of various Black leaders, several of whom will be at GlobalMindED in Denver June 22-24. In case you missed any of our stories from the past month, you can find links to each here:

GlobalMindED Black History Month Equity Events:

Watch The Long Tail of COVID: Impact On Health, Livelihood, and Wellness for African Americans

Dr. Monique Butler; Chief Medical Officer, HCA Healthcare, and Dr. Pierre Theodore; VP Global External Innovation, Johnson & Johnson lead the conversation with Dr. Sheila Davis; Director of Health Equity, State of Colorado, Dr. Stacie Walton; CEO, The Diversity Doctor, and student Olamide Ogunnika; Nursing Student, San Jacinto College

Watch Building the Talent Pipeline; Black Students In STEM

Paula Garcia Todd; Global Strategic Marketing Manager, Pharma Solutions IFF and AAAS IF/THEN STEM Ambassador leads the conversation with Jason Raines; PD designer, STEM expert, Dr. Janne Hall; Adjunct Professor, Texas Southern University, Kwesi A. Vincent; STEM Educator, The Workshop School, and Sokhna Wane; Senior Computer Science Student, The Pennsylvania State University Building the Talent Pipeline; Black Students In STEM

Watch Why We Need More Educators of Color

Dr. Paul Miller; Principal and CEO, Green Tech High Charter School leads the discussion with Michael Logan; Instructor, The Fortune Society, Dr. Makini Beck; Assistant Professor, Rochester Institute of Technology, Dr. Rita Carol Gaither; Educational Consultant and Founder, Pearl Resources, and Dr. Brent Mitchell; Executive Vice President, The Sonny Walker Group

Watch Black History Month: Relevance, Reality, and Celebration; Perspectives from Those Doing the Work

Dr. Ryan Ross; Associate Vice Chancellor Student Affairs, Equity & Inclusion, with Dr. Vern L. Howard; Chairman Dr. MLK Jr Colorado Holiday Commission, Kimberly Grayson; Principal, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Early College, and Omar Montgomery; Director of Equity, Culture, and Community Engagement, Cherry Creek School District

The National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine and the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative just launched the Science Diversity Leadership program, which aims to increase representation among early career faculty in the biomedical sciences and related engineering. The grants are for $1M over 5 years and can be used for both research and outreach efforts. Applications accepted now through May 19, 2022.

See the website for details and application process.

GlobalMindED 2021 Year In Review

As COVID kept us inside and productive, we continued to pivot to meet the needs of our partners, constituents, colleges, and the students we serve. Here is a summary of our year and our outcomes:

Second Year Virtual - 2021 GlobalMindED Conference over 10 weeks with 226 diverse leaders. Launched with Earth Week in April and concluded in late June. Presented 46 sessions the majority of which were led by people of color featuring students/panelists. Sessions averaged 100 virtual registrants each and garnered 5,500+ views on YouTube.

Conducted 41 Virtual Equity Sessions with 205 diverse leaders which aired monthly in Health, Tech, STEM, K-12 Higher Education and Foundations and Funders with viewers including students, staff, faculty, and corporate partners attending to learn how to be more culturally responsive, direct and positive resolving some of our most difficult equity issues across the disciplines. Sessions averaged 80 registrants each and garnered 6,300+ YouTube views.

2021 Inclusive Leader Awards (virtual). 2,500+ signed up to watch live and 1,000+ viewed on YouTube. These dynamic, diverse, inclusive leaders across 15 sectors, introduced by the 2020 winners are the mega role models for the students we serve. Watch the trailer and full event.

Served 400+ First Gen students nationally through individual students at 26 colleges and 10 college specific collaboratives (4 Hispanic Serving Institutions, 3 Historically Black Colleges, 1 Native American Serving college, and 2 state colleges serving primarily First Gen to college students). Some colleges selected the Strong Summer Start Leadership Programs, some chose self-directed KEYS to SUCCESS content, some selected coaching training and others deployed GlobalMindED professional mentors to guide their students in personal and business skills. Several college partners leveraged all these resources for their First Gen, diverse and minoritized freshmen virtually during COVID. The basis of these results provides the foundation for our work in 2022, delivering colleges the option of an integrated program that provides the bridge into college, leadership training, freshmen year success, and professional guidance from diverse business leaders serving as mentors.

Published our First Gen Student Leaders Speak report with Every Learner Everywhere in May. 25 First Gen GlobalMindED Ambassadors shared their insights for college presidents, policy makers and CEO’s – their needs, COVID impacted struggles, their hope for the future, and what services they want.

Published 365 daily newsletters of the diverse role models who are the examples for the students we serve, with cumulative views of 4,000,000+ readers in all social media channels.

Led 10 sessions virtually with partners from GlobalMindED’s network of leaders: Davos with FQ, the World Education Summit, the World Academy of Art and Science Future of Education Summit, Female Quotient Africa International Dinner, Points of Light Foundation Corporate Service Council Opening Session, United Nations 76th Anniversary, Pearson Gulf Region Training, ASU Remote, Grantmakers for Education annual conference, and launch of the Amazon Board Bound Diverse Board Series.

Virtual Events this year in all channels. 10,400+ registrants + 12,800+ YouTube = 23,200+ viewers.

Join us at our LIVE conference in June to connect First Gen, diverse, minoritized and poverty affected students to the “hidden curriculum,” role models, experiences, internships, and jobs. Our technology team is masterminding the AI to scale these programs.

We are grateful to our sponsors, individual donors, GlobalMindED Board members, Executive Leadership Council, and each of our committees and advisory teams who made the initiatives above possible, especially the expansion of college-specific student programs during COVID times. We also thank our business mentors who dedicated countless hours helping GlobalMindED students succeed by providing a much-needed professional bridge from academia to the world of work, inclusive leadership, and financial security.

Watch the Inclusive Leader Awards to hear their inspiring stories

and thoughts on what actions are needed now to create a more diverse, inclusive, just, and equitable future.

Watch "Closing the Equity Gap: How Global Leaders Can Take Action"

Panel Leader: Carol Carter, Founder and CEO of GlobalMindED with panelists Karen Worstell, Senior Cybersecurity Strategist, VMWare, Karen Ashworth-MacFarlane, Women of Wall Street and CEO/Co-founder, Digame PBC, Raquel Tamez, Esq. Chief Inclusion and Engagement Officer, Charles River Associates International, and Harini Gokul, Leader, Customer Success, Amazon Web Service.

Watch "Energizing, Invigorating, and Supporting K-12 STEM Students"

Dr. Paul Miller; Principal and CEO, Green Tech High Charter School and Paula Garcia Todd; Global Strategic Marketing Manager, Pharma Solutions, IFF & AAAS IF/THEN STEM Ambassador lead the discussion with Dr. Dana C. Giles; Principal, Pebblebrook High School, Jason Coleman;

Co-Founder/Executive Director, Project SYNCERE, Pastor Lyndrell Randle; STEM teacher, Green Tech Middle School, and Jennifer Makins; Director of STEM Education, Parish Episcopal School

Join our monthly equity events in STEM, Higher Education, K-12 Education, Health, and Board Diversity. See past sessions below.

Watch "Various Pathways to Get to a STEM Career"

Dr. Ryan Ross; Associate Vice Chancellor Student Affairs, Equity, & Inclusion, Colorado Community College System - an educator, speaker, and actualization coach and Paula Garcia Todd; Global Strategic Marketing Manager, Pharma Solutions, IFF & AAAS IF/THEN STEM Ambassador - passionate about helping schools and organizations introduce STEM to children with Dr. Siobahn Day Grady; North Carolina A&T - advocates for more women and minorities in computer science, Toi Massey; Founder & CEO ANM Innovative Solutions - Her Speak series includes Success on Purpose and Think Like a Girl, Eric Knapp; DeKalb County Schools - brings classrooms, communities and corporations together, and Jason Pugh; Gensler, President of the National Organization of Minority Architects - passion for helping underserved communities.

Watch "Native American Education"

Ron Lessard, Executive Director for the White House Initiative on American Indian and Alaska Native Education, this year's Inclusive Leader Award winner, Julian Guerrero Jr.; enrolled citizen of the Comanche Nation, Director of the Office of Indian Education, U.S. Department of Education, and Dr. Donna Sabis-Burns, Ph.D.; Mohawk, Supervisory Education Program Specialist, Office of Indian Education, U.S. Department of Education join discussion lead by Dr. Paul Miller; Principal and CEO Green Tech High Charter School

Watch "Courageous Conversations: The Real Indigenous Experience"

Dr. Ryan Ross; Assoc. V. Chancellor Student Affairs, Equity, & Inclusion, Colorado Community College System leads the discussion with Dr. Cheryl Crazy Bull; President and CEO, American Indian College Fund, Jameson D. Lopez; Asst. Professor, Educational Policy Studies and Practice, University of Arizona, and Jasmine Neosh; Undergraduate Researcher, College of the Menominee Nation, Sustainable Development Institute

Watch "Building Allies for Diversity in STEM"

Paula Garcia Todd; Global Strategic Marketing Manager, Pharma Solutions, IFF & AAAS IF/THEN STEM Ambassador leads the discussion with Dr. Helen Tran; Assistant Professor, Department of Chemistry, University of Toronto, Dr. Indara Suarez; Assistant Professor, Department of Physics, Boston University, Dr. Sheryl Burgstahler; Director, Accessible Technology & DO-IT, University of Washington, and Anthony Newton; MSFT Alumni, Entrepreneur, Owner, Ancott

Watch "The Impact of Board Diversity"

Daryle Whyte; District Sales Manager, Amazon Web Services Startups at AWS leads the discussion with Sheldon Gilbert; Founder & CEO, Proclivity, Harini Gokul; Customer Success Leader (Global Cloud Strategy & Digital Transformation, Amazon Web Services, and Carol Carter; Founder & CEO, GlobalMindED

Watch Improving STEM Identities in Diverse Students

Paula Garcia Todd; Global Strategic Marketing Manager, Pharma Solutions, IFF and AAAS IF/THEN STEM Ambassador leads this panel with Robert Koch; Board President of REACH, S&P Global Platts, Aisha Lawrey; Training & Certification Global Lead for Education Programs, Amazon Web Services, Dr. Eric J. Jolly; President and CEO, Saint Paul & Minnesota Foundation, and Maria Reyes; Dean of Industry and Public Service, Phoenix College

Watch Educated Mindset: Mental Toughness

Dr. Paul Miller; Principal and CEO, Green Tech High Charter School leads the discussion with Keith L. Brown; Lead Consultant/Speaker, 2020 Enterprises and The I’m Possible Institute, SaJade Miller; Superintendent, Rocketship Public Schools, Texas, Olus R. Holder, Jr.; Executive Pastor, Fallbrook Church, and Erika Twani; CEO & Co-Founder, Learning One to One

Watch Facts Versus Fiction: Critical Race Theory and its Role in our Current Conversations on Race, Equity, & Justice

Dr. Ryan Ross; Associate Vice Chancellor Student Affairs, Equity, & Inclusion, Colorado Community College System leads the conversation with Omar Montgomery; Director of Equity, Culture, and Community Engagement, Cherry Creek School District, Regan Byrd; Founder and Principal Consultant, Regan Byrd Consulting LLC, and Dr. Dedrick Sims; CEO, Sims-Fayola Foundation

Watch "Mental Health and Resilience in Unscripted Times" Health Equity

Health Equity Session - Dr. Pierre Theodore; VP Global

External Innovation Johnson & Johnson leads the discussion with Liz Sweigart; Partner, PWC, workplace mental health advocate, Ron Lessard; Acting Executive Director, White House Initiative on American Indian and Alaska Native Education, Gurchaten Sandhu; President, UN GLOBE Program Officer of Non-Discrimination, International Labor Org. and Josh Lee; Principal, Life Sciences and Health Care, Deloitte Consulting

Watch "Building the Talent Pipeline:

Hispanic/Latinx Students in STEM"

STEM Equity Session - Paula Garcia Todd; Global Strategic Marketing Manager, Pharma Solutions, IFF and AAAS IF/THEN STEM Ambassador leads the conversation with Dr. Patricia Silveyra; Assoc. Professor

Environmental and Occupational Health, Indiana University, Mr. Aaron Cortes; Director, STEM initiatives, Center for College Access and Success, Northeastern Illinois Univ., Mr. Randy Blanco; Engineering senior, Penn State University, student officer SHPE, and Dr. Minerva Cordero; Senior Assoc. Dean, Research & Grad. Affairs, University of Texas at Arlington

Watch "Lifting the Hood on Disability Services—Time for a Tune Up!"

Higher Ed Equity Session - Get Comfortable Being Uncomfortable Moderated by Dr. Ryan Ross; Assoc. Vice Chancellor Student Affairs, Equity, & Inclusion, Colorado Community College System, Lesley Owens-Pelton; Director, Office of Disability Services, Susquehanna University, Catherine A. Carlson; Director, Office of Accessibility Services, Columbia-Greene Community College, and Emily Perry; Access & Equity Services Professional, Colorado Community College Online

Watch "New Beginnings: Starting School and Staying Safe in Uncertain Times"

K-12 Equity Session - Dr. Paul Miller; Principal and CEO,

Green Tech High Charter School, Lashara Evans; Principal, Flower City School, Crystal Andrews; Principal

Chimneyrock Elementary, and Dr. Shango A. Blake; CEO, TRU SK Consultants share their experiences and insights.

To view the complete Reboot Resilience to Rebound Remarkable GlobalMindED 2021 events see below which we call The Best of GlobalMindED IDE Programs in One Hour or Less!

All GlobalMindED 2021 events are also on our YouTube channel.

FIRST GEN WEEK

First Gen Role Models: What Does Success, Inclusive Leadership and Contribution Look Like?

Merritt McKenzie; President, Therapy / Applied Behavior Analysis Division, Aveanna Healthcare moderates the panel discussion with Zuleika Johnson; VP of Opportunity and Outreach, El Pomar Foundation, Vanecia Kerr; Chief Impact Officer, Mile High United Way, Kwesi Edwards; Board Member, Foundation for California Community Colleges, Lan Phan; Founder & CEO, Community of SEVEN, Anthony Newton; Microsoft Alumni Entrepreneur, Owner, Ancott, and Serita Liles; Senior Intern Coordinator, North Carolina A&T State University

What Industry Leaders Look for in Students/Graduates: Inside Secrets for Promotion Pathway Success

Ken Epps; CEO, ThreeNineteen moderates this panel with Ken McNeely; President, Western Region AT&T, Kathleen Schaum; Executive Director, University Talent Acquisition, KPMG, Guy Primus; CEO, Valence Community, Al Baker; Vice President, Siemens Enterprise Communications and Steve Zimba; Founder & CEO, Nulia

Where Are They Now? First Gen Leaders’ Insights as Young Professionals

Rocio Perez; Inclusion and Diversity Thought Leader and Trainer, Inventiva Consulting leads the panel discussion with Nima Shahab Shahmir; Application Developer, TC Energy, Betty Hailu; Research Assistant, George Washington University, Conner Sturgeon; Graduate Supervisor, Indiana University Residential Programs, and Amelia Mawlawi; Global Product Manager, HP

How to Be a Mentor and How to Be Mentored

Kwame Johnson; President and CEO, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Metro Atlanta leads the panel with GlobalMindED Ambassadors and mentors Shannon Stone; Senior Relationship Manager, AMG National Trust Bank, Hector Ramos Diaz; Mathematics Student, University of Portland, Yonus Harris, Aerospace Engineering student, University of Michigan, and Phuong Dinh; Population Health Program, Manager, University of Colorado Medicine

GlobalMindED/Every Learner Everywhere First Gen Student Ambassadors: Freshman Year Success Secrets

Alicia Sepulveda, PhD; Academic Coach, University of Colorado, Boulder leads the discussion with Tomozia Graves; Peer Advising Assistant and recent graduate, Harford Community College, Hannah Petronek; Undergraduate Research Assistant, recent graduate West Virginia University, and Sochima Ifedikwa; Computer Science Student, Texas Tech Student, Texas Tech

HEALTH WEEK

Isolation to Compassionate Connection, How Organizations Support Their Employees in Crisis and Beyond

Liz Sweigart, PhD; Partner, PwC leads the discussion with Zachary S. Nunn; Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Social Impact, SurveyMonkey, Tilak Mandadi; EVP, Digital & Global Chief Technology Officer, Walt Disney Parks, Experiences and Products, Lizette Ojeda, PhD; Founder, Work-Life Lab, Texas A&M University, Lisa Giuroiu; Vice President, Pharma & Life Sciences, Susan G. Komen, and Conner Sturgeon; Graduate Supervisor, Indiana University

Emerging Covid Strong: Resilient Connections and the Indomitable Spirit

Dr. Paul Miller; Principal and CEO, Green Tech High Charter School leads the discussion with Dr. Marck Abraham; CEO, MEA Consulting and Principal, Buffalo Public Schools, Rina Patel; Founder & CEO, The Thinkers, Dr. Joe Martin; Founder and Creator, Real Men Connect, and Dr. Latoya Johnson; Special Education Coordinator, Green Tech High Charter School

Women and Alcohol: Epidemic in a Pandemic

Ann Dowsett Johnston; Bestselling Author: Drink: The Intimate Relationship Between Women and Alcohol, moderates the discussion with Lisa F. Smith; Author: Girl Walks Out of a Bar, Saumya Bharat; Biology student, Georgia State, University, Monica Swahn; Dean, Wellstar College of Health & Human Services, Kennesaw State University, and Harshita Yepuri; Graduate Neuroscience Student, Georgia State University

Growing the Diverse Talent Pipeline Across the Health Professions

Carol Carter, Founder, GlobalMindED leads this panel discussion with Merritt McKenzie; President, Therapy/Applied Behavior Analysis Division, Aveanna Healthcare, Dr. Connie Kim Yen Nguyen-Truong, Assistant Professor, Washington State University, Dr. Sameer Sood; Primary Care Physician, Strive Health, Dr. Dula F. Pacquiao; Professor Emerita, Rutgers University, and student Hana Mawlawi; Colorado School of Mines

NSF INCLUDES WEEK

Next Steps for Increasing Minority Representation in Engineering: Systemic Change

Dr. Miguel Velez-Reyes; Professor and Chair, University of Texas at El Paso, Dr. Peter Romine; Associate Professor, Electrical Engineering & Computer Engineering, Navajo Technical University, Nader Vadiee; Professor, Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute, Dr. Mohamed Chouikha; Executive Professor and Executive Director, Electrical and Computer Engineering, Prairie View A&M University

NSF Includes and Other Broadening Participation Initiatives

Dr. Don Millard; Deputy Division Director, National Science Foundation, Dr. Christine Grant, Associate Dean Faculty Advancement, Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, NC State, and Dr. Tori Rhouloc Smith, Program Director, National Science Foundation

Diversifying Engineering - Deans’ Perspectives

Dr. Clay Gloster, Jr.; Dean of the Graduate College, North Carolina A&T State University moderates the discussion with Dr. Preselfannie E. Whitfield McDaniels; Dean, Div. of Graduate Studies, Jackson State University, Dr. Dana A. Williams; Dean of the Graduate School, Howard University, Dr. Oscar Barton, Jr.; Dean, School of Engineering, Morgan State University, and Dr. Stephanie G. Adams; Dean, School of Engineering and Computer Science, University of Texas, Dallas

Ubuntu: A Non-Western Perspective on How Collective Impact Can Broaden Participation in STEM

Moderator Dr. Kemi Ladeji-Osias; Professor, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Morgan State University interviews Keynote speaker Dr. Ivory Toldson; President and CEO, Quality Education for Minorities Network

Diversifying Engineering: An Industry Perspective

Dr. Kenneth Connor; Professor EMeritus, ELectrical, Computer & Systems Engineering, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Danyel Wimberly; Senior Director, NetApp, Victor S. Gavin; Head of Federal Technology Vision and Business Development, Amazon Web Services, Robin Getz; Director of Systems Engineering; Analog devices, Toffee Coleman; Global Sales & marketing manager, Fluke corporation, Tim Shepard; Vice president, Business development strategy & operations, Lockheed Martin Space

Innovations in the Engineering Curriculum: K-12 College Pathways

Dr. Kamal Ali; Professor, Jackson State University, Dr. Brittany Chambers; Manager of Corporate Social Responsibility, Verizon, Dr. Vemitra White; Education Specialist, NASA Marshall & Stennis Space Flight Centers, Dr. Oludare Owolabi; Assistant Professor, Morgan State University, Dr. Adam Carberry; Associate Professor, Arizona State University, Dr. Medha Dalal; Postdoctorate Research Scholar, Arizona State University

Success and Education in Graduate Mentoring

Dr. Clay Gloster Jr.; Dean, North Carolina A&T State University ; Keynote Speaker: Howard Adams; Founder and President H.G. Adams and Associates

Women in Engineering: Increasing Representation

Dr. Cindy Ziker; Executive Director, Ziker Research, Panelist: Dr. Cheryl Talley; Professor of Psychology at Virginia State University, Panelist: Dr. Heather Metcalf; Director of Research and Constituent Relations, Women in Engineering ProActive Network, Panelist: Dr. Roberta Rincon; Assoc. Director of Research, Society of Women Engineers, Panelist: Dr. Rochelle Williams; Sr. Director of Programs, National Society of Black Engineers

Broadening Participation in the Engineering Pathway: Research on Critical Transitions

Dr. Cindy Ziker ; Executive Director, Ziker Research, Panelist: Dr. Steve Efe ; Professor, Dept. of Civil Engineering at Morgan State University, Panelist: Dr. Pamela Leigh-Mack; Professor & Chair, Department of Engineering at Virginia State University, Panelist: Dr. Julius Davis; Associate Professor of Mathematics Education, Bowie State University

Creating a Climate for Post Pandemic Success for Minorities in Engineering

Keynote address by Dr. Gregory Washington, President of George Mason University

STEM Around the World: Student Led Success

Aaron Aaron Cortes; Northeastern Illinois University, Alexandra Agudelo Ruiz; Secretary of Education for Medellin, Columbia, Cüong Trän; NASA Electrical Power Systems Engineer, Dr. Alyssa Lenhoff-Briggs; Director of STEM Learning Ecosystems; Teaching Institute for Excellence in STEM, Jen Iriti; STEM Push Network, and Matthew Cua; Director of Innovation Help, NGO

ONE HE GLOBAL HIGHER ED WEEK

Person-Centered Learning: Teaching the Skills Needed to Support People

Olivia Fleming; Founder & Director of Partnerships, OneHE moderates the conversation with Dr. Erik Blair; Senior Lecturer, Higher Education Research and Practice, University of West London, Dr. Julie Hulme; reader in Psychology, Keele University, Cleo Keeling Ball; BSc (Hons) Psychology student, Keele University, and Emma Crabb; student, Keele University

Equity Unbound: Building Online Communities

Dr. Mia Zamora; Associate Professor of English, Kean University, Dr. Maha Bali; Associate Professor, American University in Cairo, Autumm Caines; Instructional Designer, University of Michigan

The Future of Higher Education: A Global Perspective

Olivia Fleming; Founder & Director of Partnerships, OneHE leads the conversation with Dr. Hilligje van’t Land; Secretary General International Association of Universities, Warren Kennard; Founder & CEO ConnectED, and Dr. C. Edward Watson; CIO and Associate VP, Association of American Colleges and Universities

Creating an Inclusive Community - New Faculty and Radical Empathy

Olivia Fleming; Founder & Director of Partnerships, OneHE leads the discussion with Dr. Terri Givens; Founder and CEO of Brighter Higher Education, Devin Gaines; Account Executive, SurveyMonkey, and Chantelle George; Founder and CEO of CG Consulting

Develop a Growth Mindset in Students: The Challenge and How to Meet It

Olivia Fleming; Founder & Director of Partnerships, OneHE leads the conversation with Dr. Steve Joordens; Full Professor University of Toronto, Scarborough, and Nadeem Abdi; 3rd Year Neuroscience Student, University of Toronto, Scarborough

HIGHER EDUCATION WEEK

Latinos as Inclusive Leaders in Higher Ed - Working with All People Creates the Strongest Latino Leaders

Jose R. Rodriguez; Partner (ret.), KPMG LLP leads the discussion with David Lopez; First Gen Student, University of Colorado Boulder, Dr. Donna Blancero, Provost and VP of Academic Affairs Bentley University, Jeffrey Vargas; President & CEO Generationology, Dr. Cristina Alfaro; Assoc. VP for International Affairs, San Diego State University, and Carlos Contreras; Sr. Dir. Americas, Global Partnership and Initiatives Intel Corporation

Infusing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Across the Curriculum: How and Now

Dr. Susan Swayze; Founder & CEO, Diversity Think Tank leads discussion with Nadia N. Butt; Doctoral Student, The George Washington University, Dr. Wendy Cukier; Founder and Director, Diversity Institute, Ryerson University, Dr. Terri Hinkley; CEO, Academy of Medical Surgical Nurses, and Dr. Arlen Meyers; President and CEO, Society of Physician Entrepreneurs

HBCUs Leading Innovation, Inclusivity, and Ingenuity: Defining the New Normal Post COVID

Dr. Glenda Baskin Glover; President, Tennessee State University leads the discussion with Bernie Milano; Founder, PhD Project, Cece Rodgers; Student, Tougaloo College, and Dr. Harold Lee Martin Senior; Chancellor, North Carolina A & T State University.

Inclusive HR Directors Improve Life for Higher Ed: Celebrating the Unsung Heroes on College Campuses

Dr. Ryan Ross; Associate Vice Chancellor Student Affairs, Equity, & Inclusion, Colorado Community College System leads the discussion with Christina Cecil; Chief Human Resources Officer, Colorado Community College System, Cheng Yu Hou; Chief Human Resources Officer, San Mateo County Community College District, Bill Dial; Chief Human Resources Officer, College of Southern Nevada, and Kyra Welch; Student, Bethune-Cookman

Native Higher Education Leaders: Transforming COVID Caused Challenges

Dr. David Yarlott, President of Little Big Horn College leads the discussion with Dr. Twyla Baker, President of Nueta Hidatsa Sahnish College, Dr. Carma Claw, Assistant Professor of Management, Fort Lewis College, Dr. Billie Jo Kipp, Associate Director Research and Evaluation, Aspen Institute Center for Native American Youth, Dr. Joseph Gladstone, Professor of Business Management University of New Haven, and Dominik MorningDove, a current student from Fort Lewis College

K-12 WEEK

Building the Diverse Talent Pipeline in K-12, Master’s, and PhD: First Gen and Diverse Success

Dr. Tania Hogan; Director of Undergraduate Student Success, University of Colorado Denver leads the discussion with Richard Maez; IB Diploma Program Manager - Denver Public Schools, Dr. Maria A. Castro Barajas; Assistant Director, Pre-Collegiate Development, Univ. of Colorado Boulder, Dr. Robin Brandehoff; Clinical Assistant Professor, University of Colorado Denver, and Joselyne Garcia-Moreno; student, University of Colorado Denver

Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging in K-12: Moving the Big Rocks of Equity Forward

Jonathan Cooper; Superintendent - Mason City Schools leads panel discussion with Soroya Smith; DEI Learning Experience Designer - Mason City Schools, Kori Harris; Online Content Designer - Second Grade Teacher, Mason Early Childhood Center, Amie Switzer; 4th-grade teacher - Mason City Schools, Mariah Norman; Senior, Mason High School, and Bena Kallick; Co-Founder, Institute for Habits of Mind

Developing the Principal and Superintendent Diverse Pipeline in PK–12: Looking Ahead

Dr. Mort Sherman; Associate Executive Director - AASA, The School Superintendents Association leads this panel discussion with Dr. Maria Ott; Executive in Residence, University of Southern California, Dr. Michael Conner; Superintendent - Middletown Public Schools, and Dr. Khalid Mumin; Superintendent - Reading School District. Includes Kid Superintendent video

Latino Leaders as Learning Changemakers: The Future of Work is Diverse, Inclusive, Just, and Equitable

Adrian Rosado; President - Zion Leadership Group with Yecenia Tostado; Executive Director - Project Azul, Sixcia Devine; Business Development Specialist - Grow with Google, Alissa Santana; McNair Scholar, Senior, Business Major University of Wisconsin-Whitewater, and Jaime Ivan Lopez-Rivera; VP for Student Affairs - Antillean Adventist University, Puerto Rico. Register below Renay's story.

TECHNOLOGY WEEK

STEPS to Skills on the Go: Cell Phone Learning Advancing Equity for Adult Students

Waukecha Wilkerson; Director of Coaching, Cell-Ed leads the panel discussion with Vickie Hay; CalWORKs Coordinator, Student Success, Orange Coast College, David A. Croom; Asst. Director, Postsecondary Achievement, Aspen Institute, Portia Polk; Director of Learning and Advocacy, Generation Hope, and Rachel Mercott, Student, Cell-Ed STEPS

Driving Change through Intersectional Philanthropy: Increasing Representation and Leadership

Dwana Franklin-Davis; CEO, Reboot Representation leads discussion with Carina Weyer; Program Manager, F5 Global Good & F5 Foundation, Taliah Givens; Sr. Director, Student Professional Development, UNCF, Jamie Schwartz; Director of Major Gifts, American Indian College Fund, and Debbie Marcus; Senior Director, Break Through Tech, Cornell Tech

Student Leaders Speak To College Presidents, CEOs, and Government Leaders

Dr. Jessica Rowland Williams; Director, Every Learner Everywhere leads the discussion with GlobalMindED Every Learner Student Ambassadors Jair Flores; Student, Colorado State University Pueblo, Serita Liles; Student, North Carolina A&T State University, Hector Ramos Diaz; Student, University of Portland, and Kyra Welch; Student, Bethune-Cookman University

Advancing Equity in Highly Selective HS and College Admissions-Ed Equity Lab, Partners, and Students

Alexandra Slack; Chief of Staff, National Education Equity Lab, leads this panel discussion with Asheley Siewnarine; Student Success Director - National Education Equity Lab, Di’Zhon Chase; Student, Columbia University, Michaell Santos; Student, The Bronx School for Law, Government, and Justice, and Favi Olmedo; Student, Bronx Career & College Prep. High School

Tech Empowering Students Before, During, and After Covid: Closing the Digital Divide

Dr. Michael Torrance; President, Motlow State Community College leads panel discussion with Elise Shea; Founder & President, Conversations Unbound, Robert Joseph; President, Team MindShift, Rishi Kanjani; Analyst, Data Insights, Salesforce, and Cala Estes; Director of Education, Blind Institute of Technology

The Benefits of Global Internships: How, Why, Where

Adrian Rosado; President, Zion Leadership Group leads panel with Mara Luna; Director, TRIO Upward Bound. Univ of Puerto Rico, Mitzi Damazo-Sabando; CEO, TinkerHouse Inc., Manila, Philippines, Tree Xu; Community Manager, Education First, Wuxi, China, Erika Aquino; Executive Director, Infinit-O Group Foundation, Raymond Cabrera; Director, TRIO Upward Bound, Univ. of S. Florida, Ayessa Weems; Student, TRIO Student Support, Purdue Univ. NW

EARTH WEEK

International Youth: Strategies for Inclusive, Just, and Equitable Climate Leadership

Ash Pachauri; Co-Founder and Senior Mentor, Protect Our Planet Movement and Drishya Pathak; POP Movement, India lead this panel of international students including Summer Benjamin; POP Movement Peter Gruber International Academy, US Virgin Islands, Caroline Sandberg; Tahoe Expedition Academy, USA, Tsague Dongfack/Willy Endelson; POP Movement, Cameroon, Ricardo Delgado; POP Youth Mentor, Arturo Michelena Univ, Venezuela, and Zoe Ricardo Rivera; CEI Univ, México

How Environmental Justice and Equity Can Help Solve the Climate Crisis Part 1

Courtney Knight; Founder and Managing Member, Capstone Capital Advisors and Susan Kidd; Executive Director, Center for Sustainability, Agnes Scott College lead discussion with Anamarie Shreeves; Environmental Education Programs Manager, West Atlanta Watershed Alliance, Eriqah Vincent; Network Engagement Director, Power Shift Network, Dr. Dana Williamson; EPA Environmental Health Fellow, Assoc of Schools and Programs of Public Health, and Gwendylon P. Smith; Exec Director, Collier Heights Association for Revitalization, Resilience, and Sustainability.

How Environmental Justice and Equity Can Help Solve the Climate Crisis Part 2

Dr. Kyle Whyte; Professor of Environment and Sustainability, University of Michigan, White House Environmental Justice Advisory Council, leads panel discussion with Ka’illjuus / Lisa Lang; Executive Director, Xaadas Kil Kuyaas Foundation, Dr. Kelsey Leonard; Assistant Professor, Faculty of Environment, University of Waterloo, Brittany Judson; Just Growth Consultant Partnership for Southern Equity, and AJ (Andrea) Grant; President, Environmental Communications Associates.

Student Leaders Speak 2021 Report Finds Shift to Remote Learning Hardest on BIPOC College Students

Diverse students felt they did not have a seat at the table when pandemic related decisions were made and call on college leaders to include them. The report is a joint initiative between Every Learner Everywhere and GlobalMindED with support from The Equity Project LLC

(DENVER, CO – May 6, 2021) — A new report based on data-driven surveys of 25 GlobalMindED Ambassadors representing a larger group of 102 students from 47 colleges in 22 states found that without exception, the shift from on campus learning to remote college instruction has most negatively impacted poverty-affected, first generation, Black, Latinx, and Indigenous students. Their voices are shared in the report, which concludes that college presidents, CEO’s and government leaders cannot solve problems for these students without including them at the table.

Student Leaders Speak 2021: Student Voices Informing Educational Strategies, conducted via surveys, interviews and informal feedback from mentors, illustrates a lack of national and collegiate preparedness to address the near-immediate shift from in-classroom to remote learning. Students reported a lack of access to an engaged faculty and essential technology while underscoring that their greatest support and strength has come from interaction and collaboration within their dedicated student community. Read the full report here: Student Leaders Speak to College Presidents, CEOs and Policymakers.

Highlights include:

Communities represented included BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Color), first generation, living with disabilities, white poverty-affected, LGBTQ+, Veteran, Online, and ESL/Immigrant.

100 percent acknowledged two or more barriers such as lack of internet access, lack of focused learning environment, no personal device, health concerns, unemployment, language barriers, learning from their beds/bedrooms and/or managing younger siblings.

100 percent described absent or unavailable campus support systems beyond the instructor, equating the learning experience and cost of same as being grossly out of alignment.

80 percent disapproved of the online learning experience, citing inconsistency in faculty ability to educate using technological tools and practices. In essence, the virtual environment was not mirroring or upholding the most important elements of the in-person environment, as some faculty were not adequately trained in the COVID-caused emotional/social needs of students.

70 percent relied on peer support as compared to more formal support systems. Students were learning and growing by being together – something critical to note during times of both social and physical distancing.

The report calls on college administrators to implement actionable steps to ease the challenging demands of remote learning and smooth the transition from college to professional careers.

Colleges should do a better job of providing a platform for the voices of poverty-affected and first generation students to be heard.

Faculty needs to gain a better grasp of digital tools, technologies and strategies.

Advisors should recruit student coaches and peers to help newer students from diverse communities.

Policy makers must improve access to transportation, housing, child care, financing, lower tuition/debt and career opportunities for first generation/diverse students.

GlobalMindED Programs helps with:

GlobalMindED | 303-327-5688 | contact@globalminded.org | www.globalminded.org

Stay Connected