Building Your Resilience for Difficult Dialogues
Patricia Virella,
Educational Leadership |
Thursday, September 26, 1–2pm
An often unspoken challenge to supporting dialogue across differences in our courses is the challenge that such work presents for us. Fostering dialogue across differences can place instructors in a vulnerable position. You may reasonably have concerns about what individuals might say or that comments may be injurious or upsetting to you or others in the class. You may simply feel weary and unsure. In this workshop, Patricia Virella will offer instructors strategies for building resiliency and responding to difficult conversations.
Panopto Recording (access with Montclair NetID only) |
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Unify America College Bowl Challenge |
September 24–26 *** October 1–3 *** October 9
The Office of Civic and Voter Engagement invites faculty to encourage your students to join The Unify College Bowl Challenge — a dialogue program sponsored by Unify America. Participants are paired with others who may have differing perspectives, with the goal of finding common ground and fostering mutual understanding. Faculty might consider making this an assignment or an extra credit option. Unify America is a non-partisan, non-profit organization aimed at bridging the political and social divides in the United States through civil dialogue and shared experiences. The organization connects people from diverse backgrounds and political ideologies for meaningful, one-on-one or group conversations about key issues facing the nation. Unify America’s mission is to replace polarization with constructive conversations that promote unity, cooperation, and a healthier democracy.
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Building A Public Purpose University: Honoring The Legacy of Kenneth Brook
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Tuesday, October 15
Join us for a day of conversation and remembrance in honor of Dr. Kenneth Brook! In 1994, Dr. Ken Brook, along with close colleagues, began work to develop Montclair’s service-learning program as a first step toward integrating civic and community-engaged learning into the curriculum and institutional mission. Nearly three decades later, Ken Brook’s vision of a public purpose university, one committed to social justice and the public good, continues to flourish and expand. Breakfast and Lunch will be provided.
9am: Seeding Civic Education at MSU, w/Dr. Freyda Lazarus, Dr. Mary Beth Henry, and Bryan Murdoch, AVP of Community Partnerships
11am: Advancing the Public Purpose University, w/ President Jonathan Koppell & Dr. Ira Harkavy, University of Pennsylvania; hosted by Dr. Todd Kelshaw.
1pm: The 2024 Sheldon Pollack Lecture, Dr. A.J. Faas, Professor of Anthropology, San Jose State University; Dr. Neeraj Vedwan, Dept. of Anthropology, Montclair State University
2:30pm: History Harvest. Gather and share memories of Dr. Ken Brook.
View Full Schedule |
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Fireside Chat on Democracy
- Chuck Todd
- Lindsay M. Chervinsky
- President Jonathan Koppell
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Tuesday, October 15
6:30pm
School of Communication and Media
Presentation Hall
Join special guest Chuck Todd, chief political analyst at NBC, award-winning and presidential historian Dr. Lindsay M. Chervinsky, and President Jonathan Koppell as they come together to discuss an unprecedented election year, the historical context that has shifted the national conversations, and the vital role of higher education institutions in promoting and sustaining democratic values and practices. |
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Engaging Strategies that Center and Embrace Differences
Jason Williams
(Justice Studies)
Sandra Bodin-Lerner
(SCM)
Klara Naszkowska
(Gender, Sexuality, and Women’s Studies) |
Wednesday, October 16, 11am–12pm
ONLINE
The roundtable addresses the importance of centering and embracing differences in the classroom. Panelists will talk about best practices and provide examples used in their classroom. This panel will be interactive, so attendees are welcome to bring questions and suggestions. |
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Navigating Intersections: Examining Gaps & Building Bridges in Our Diverse Community
David Rivera,
Queens College, CUNY |
Monday, October 21, 9:15am–4:30pm
University Hall, 7th floor
The “Navigating Intersections: Examining Gaps and Building Bridges in Our Diverse Community” conference is a dynamic one-day event, designed to bring together Red Hawk staff, faculty, and administrators, to explore strategies for healing, renewing, supporting, and respecting the emotional well-being of Montclair students. Through engaging dialogues, interactive workshops, panel discussions, and consultations, attendees will delve into topics such as intersectionality, belonging, fostering inclusive campus communities, integrating mental health support into academic programs, equity gaps and mental health disparities, basic needs insecurity, and interfaith dialogue and healing. The conference aims to equip our community with practical tools and insights to create a more compassionate and supportive college environment, empowering students to thrive and succeed, academically, socially, and personally.
Navigating Intersections Conference Program Agenda Final (rev. 10/14/24) |
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Media and Gender in the Presidential Election
Harry Haines
(SCM)
Joel Penney
(SCM)
Martina Santia
(Political Science and SCM)
Jackie Vimo
(Political Science) |
October 30, 2:30–3:30pm
Presentation Hall, School of Communications and Media
Experts in Communication and Political Science will take your questions on the 2024 election, including the role that gender plays in the presidential campaign and how media shape voter evaluation of candidates.
Panel discussion and Q&A.
No registration needed. |
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The Election Watch Party |
November 5, 8–11pm
School of Communication and Media Lobby
Sponsored by the Department of Political Science and Law and the College of Humanities and Social Sciences
No registration needed. |
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Fostering Civil Discussion After the Election: Faculty Strategies
Jessica Brater (Theater)
Patricia Virella (Educational Leadership) |
Tuesday, November 12 (2:30-3:30)
Zoom
The post-election period creates new challenges and opportunities for dialogue across difference. Drawing on different disciplinary traditions, Emily Isaacs, Jessica Brater, and Patricia Virella will share their strategies for building connections and fostering dialogue. We will also review and discuss what to do when things go awry and suddenly the room feels very hot. How do we diffuse difficult moments without sweeping important conversations under the rug?
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Faculty and Staff Somatics and Self-Care Workshop
(Donna Scro Samori, Dance) |
Tuesday, November 19
Cohen Lounge, Dickson Hall 178
College students are not the only ones who experience stress and burnout! The demands of teaching and supporting our students can certainly take a toll on the faculty and staff. When we are in a giving profession, it is important that we take time to receive and refuel so that we have enough gas in the tank to keep going. Join Donna Scro Samori, licensed therapist, yoga and meditation teacher, and Wellness Coordinator for the Department of Theatre and Dance for a Somatic and Self-Care Workshop. The workshop will consist of conversation about “real self-care,” gentle stretching, breath-work and meditation. |
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Building Community with Trust and Empathy
Jessica Brater
(Theater Studies)
Brad van Eeden-Moorefield
(Family Science and Human Development) |
Wednesday, December 4
12–1pm
Sprague Library Faculty and Graduate Student Commons
Building a sense of community and belonging within our courses and across campus is related to a host of positive academic and personal outcomes. It is especially important in creating spaces where we feel a sense of safety in expressing our views and beliefs, particularly in ways that allow us to engage in dialogues across differences. Creating trust and empathy facilitate this process, which will be the focus of this session. |
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