APPENDIX 5: COLLEGE DIVERSITY SUMMIT, COLLEGE SI SE PUEDE! – 2014

APPENDIX 5: COLLEGE DIVERSITY SUMMIT, COLLEGE SI SE PUEDE! – 2014

Haunted by the decision she had almost made the night before, Kristina decided to abandon her patterns of self-abuse, and embraced gratitude. She got involved in volunteer work and sports. Even though her family still struggled financially, Kristina found things she could excel at and ways to keep herself positive.

Her first day of her freshman year of high school, Kristina’s mother sat her down and told her, “You have four years to figure out what you’re going to do with your life because you’re on your own financially after graduation. I’m telling you this because I love you, and I believe in you. You are not meant to live in poverty, and I know that if you work hard, you can go to a great college and start fresh. The choices you make now will impact you for the rest of your life.”

Kristina took that challenge and ran with it. She devised a plan to find a college and scholarships despite average grades and limited athletic ability. She immersed herself in research, working to figure out what made a person successful in the scholarship application process and how she could stand out.

Her strategy allowed her to win the title of Miss Indiana Teen USA, travel to Haiti as a volunteer, win two Gold Medals in the Junior Olympics for gymnastics, coach a 45-member gymnastics team at age 16, and start a fundraiser that sent shoes to Tanzania and Haiti.

Kristina’s efforts really paid off when she was awarded over $500,000 in scholarships for college and was able to attend her dream school, Vanderbilt University, for free! Now Kristina is on a mission to help students find similar or even greater success!

Kristina encourages students to believe in themselves. She offers an inspiring message.

David G. Marker, Provost. Previously served as interim provost of the University of West Florida. Dr. Marker has a Ph.D. in physics from Pennsylvania State University. He has held numerous interim posts in recent years, including serving as president at St. Gregory's University, provost and president at Pacific Oaks College and vice president for academic affairs at Assumption College.

For 21 years, he served in a variety of administrative positions including Assistant Principal at Babylon Jr./Sr. High School, High School Principal in Plainedge School District, and Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction and Deputy Superintendent. From 1990 to 2000, he was Superintendent of Schools in West Babylon, New York.

In spring 2013, he served as editor and co-author of Leadership for a global economy: A pathway to sustainable freedom (North American Business Press). This book offers developmental guidance for moral leaders of social agencies, business and government in a global economy.


Your Host:

Dr. Elsa-Sofia Morote

Institute of International Studies and Diversity (IISD)

International scholar. She has done consulting activities in several countries such as Peru, Mexico and El Salvador. She has presented research papers at international conferences including India, Italy, Canada, Mexico, France, China and Peru. Currently, Dr. Morote is a Full Professor at Dowling College in the Department of Educational Administration, Leadership, and Technology. Research interests are related to educational technology, economics of education, multicultural education, finances, and “Gross National Happiness.” Before Dowling, she was at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (2001-2003) as a senior post-doctoral researcher, and Entrepreneurship and Finance professor at Monterrey Institute of Technology (1993-2007). Dr. Elsa-Sofia Morote is committed to promoting higher education for all, and she is your host today in "College? Yes, You Can!" More info about her: http://www.internationalprofessor.com. http://instituteisdiversity.com

YOUR CAREER CHOICES at Dowling College

Business BBA in Accounting BBA in Finance BBA in Management and Leadership BBA in Marketing BS in Criminal Justice Management

Aviation BS in Aerospace Systems Technology BS in Aviation Management

Arts & Sciences BS in Applied Mathematics BA or BS in Biology BA or BS in Chemistry BA in Communications Arts BS in Computer Information Systems BS in Computer Science and Mathematics BA in Earth Science BA in Economics BA in English BS in Environmental Science BA in Gerontology BA in Graphic Design & Digital Arts BA in History BA in Humanities BA in Mathematics BA in Music BS in Natural Sciences and Mathematics BA in Philosophy BA in Political Science BS in Professional and Liberal Studies BA in Psychology BA in Romance Languages BA in Social Sciences BA in Sociology/Anthropology BA in Visual Arts

Education BA in Early Childhood Education BA in Elementary Education BS in Physical Education BS in Special Education BS in Sports Management BS in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL)

And
Special invitee:

Our Facilitator: Dr. Stephanie L. Tatum (Board member of IISD) Stephanie L. Tatum earned her Ph.D. in Sociology of Education, and MA in Educational Policy Analysis from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. Her BA in Political Science is from Texas Southern University. Currently, she is an Associate Professor in the Graduate Department of Educational Administration, Leadership, and Technology at Dowling College in Long Island, New York. Prior to joining the Dowling Faculty, she was the Principal at an elementary school in Urbana, Illinois. Dr. Tatum’s research interests include: multicultural education, multiculturalism in social organizations, African Americans and educational expansion, culturally relevant pedagogy, women in leadership, sociological-historical analysis of low educational achievement, the role of families in educating students placed at risk of academic failure, and instructional technology. She has publications in national and international journals, as well as a book chapter in an edited volume funded by the Ford Foundation. Dr. Tatum has received numerous awards for outstanding leadership and social justice, including the Martin Luther King, Jr. Drum Major Award for the City of Champaign in Illinois. She is the recipient of the New York State Association for Women in Administration (NYSAWA) Ann Meyers Award that recognizes individuals committed to mentoring educational leaders. Dr. Tatum was recognized by the 2010 and 2011 President and Executive Director of the American Educational Research Association (AERA) for her outstanding research skills on the peer review panel.

Dr. Gracer Yung She is a professor at Monroe College, teaches MBA and undergraduate students in the Business Department. She emigrated from Hong Kong to begin my studies in the ESL program at SUNY Farmingdale. She earned my Bachelor from SUNY at Old Westbury in Accounting, Master in Banking and Financing and Doctor in Executive Leadership and Technology from Dowling College. Now, She can speak English. Recently, she decided to go back to school to continue my education in Acupuncture from New York College of Traditional Chinese Medicine. Her mission is to help students to succeed in their educational goals.

Dr. James C. Brown Dr. James Curtis Brown has dedicated more than 30 years of his academic, professional and community service experiences to raising the academic achievement and personal development levels of adolescent youth. He is currently the Interim Principal of Flushing High School, a racially-diverse comprehensive large urban high school in New York City. He is also an adjunct professor at Adelphi University, teaching courses to future teachers on the relationship of race and education, and the co-author of the book, “Raising Scholars from Infancy to Adulthood: Preparing Our Children for College and Demolishing Prison Walls.”

Mr. Hamid Ikram (Board Member IISD) Hamid Ikram is currently an international doctoral student at Dowling College. He earned his Master’s in Science Education and Bachelor in Science from University of the Punjab, Pakistan. Prior to coming to Dowling, he was teaching research and technology-related courses to undergraduate students in a public university in his country. His research interest is social media technologies and their use in education. He is also working for Institute of International Studies and Diversity as website developer. His goal is to become an educational practitioner and educational administrator in the future.

For Idalia Amaya Velasquez, her metaphorical journey of a thousand miles began with the first step in the tiny country of Belize, Central America. Taking a leap of faith, she emigrated to the USA as a young adult, knowing not where life would take her but knowing that her faith in God, her passion for learning, her work ethic, and her eternal optimism would let her soar in her new world. Indeed, she soared high. Idalia has earned a doctoral degree in Education at Dowling College. Despite all the obstacles, nothing dissuaded this avid learner. Each challenge and difficult episode that she overcame forged a stronger and more resilient person. Her philosophy is to learn from any situation, positive or negative.

Dr. Alexander Smirnov (School of Arts & Sciences) Dr. Smirnov is an Assistant Professor of Earth and Marine Sciences at Dowling College and the current chair of the department with majors in Environmental Science, Earth Science and Marine Studies. A native of Slovakia, he received his undergraduate degree in Geology from Comenius University in Bratislava and his PhD in Geosciences from Stony Brook University, focusing on nitrogen cycling on the early Earth. His current research interests are broadly focused on geology, geochemistry and environmental science and his research is regularly published in peer-reviewed scientific journals. At Dowling, Dr. Smirnov teaches courses in geology, astronomy and oceanography.
Dr. Joseph Kasten (Computer Information Systems & Management) Dr. Joseph Kasten is an Associate Professor of Computer Information Systems at Dowling College in Oakdale, NY. He earned a PhD in Information Science at Long Island University. Before joining academia, Joe was a senior engineer with Northrop-Grumman where he worked on various projects such as the X-29, Space Shuttle, and the Boeing 777. His research interests center on the strategic use of knowledge within the organization as well as the role of knowledge management in system design and project management. Professor Kasten’s recent research has appeared in the American Journal of Business and Industrial Management and International Journal of Knowledge Management, as well as a number of book chapters.
Dr. Richard Wilkens (School of Arts and Sciences) Dr. Wilkens of the Department of Biology is an ecologist studying the relationship between plants and animals living in the Long Island Pine Barrens. He has a passion for the ecology, evolution and conservation of our planet’s amazing biodiversity. In addition to teaching courses in Ecology, Evolution and conservation Biology, Dr. Wilkens also teaches Neuroscience and Human Anatomy & Physiology. Dr. Wilkens is the Pre-Medical/Pre-Health Professional advisor for Dowling College. Whether you are interested in saving the environment, studying the evolution of whales or taking care of the sick, Dr. Wilkens is happy to discuss your future in biology!
Dr. Marilyn Mather (Sport Management and Physical Education) Dr. Marilyn Mather is the Chair of the Department of Sport Management and Physical Education at Dowling College. She has been at Dowling for 13 years and has taught many of the Sport Management classes including Foundations of Sport Management, Sport Leadership, Sport Management, Event and Facility Management, Public Relations, Promotions and Sports Information, and Sport Law. Dr. Mather has presented at conferences in South Africa, Portugal, Scotland, Canada and most recently in Havana, Cuba on topics related to women in sports, Title IX and gender equity.