Spring 2020 University of Michigan
We know that the current pandemic will evolve and our lives will continue to change in the time it will take for this publication to reach you. Please know we have done our best to address this rapidly changing situation based on the information we had available prior to mailing. Stay safe, stay strong, GO BLUE!
FROM THE DIRECTOR
CEW+
CEW+ STAFF
In this issue of CEW+ News, we are highlighting our scholarship program, as we prepare to mark the 50th anniversary of the CEW+ Scholar community. When our founder, Jean Campbell, set out to start the scholarship program she ultimately revolutionized financial aid at Michigan. Our Scholarships were the first financial aid awards to part-time students at U-M and they lifted up the stories of women returning to school after a gap in education or while raising their children.
Tiffany Marra, Director Sarah Cissell Angela Ebreo Gloryvee Fonseca-Bolorin Morgan Tibble Sarah Keovongsak Erin Lane Tiffany Marra Alicia Marting
Marchelle Moore Doreen Murasky Sarah Prince Courtney Reid Janice S. Reuben Shalynn Vaughn Jamie Zawistowski
SPRING CONTRIBUTOR
Crista Da Via
DIRECTORS EMERITAE Vivian Rogers* Louise Cain* Jean Campbell*
Carol Hollenshead* Gloria Thomas
STUDENT INTERNS/RESEARCHERS Anna Billiard Sarah Ghee Lee Kenny Heindel Varna Kodoth
Ana Manzano Laura Rall Cindy Tejada Tasha Torchon
LEADERSHIP COUNCIL Barbara Anderson Christine Black Mischa Boardman Andrea Darden Lee Gorman
Susan S. Gutow Caroline Lee Ciara Merriman Don Vereen
EMERITAE COUNCIL Menakka M. Bailey Lisa Baker Nancy Barbour Norma C. Barfield Ellen M. Byerlein Jean W. Campbell* Lois P. Cohn Julie F. Cummings Martha Meier Dean Beverly B. Denbo* Anthony Derezinski Molly H. Dobson Carol Doll Anne Duderstadt Susan S. Florsheim Geraldine B. Ford* Tiffany Ford Twink Frey Beverley Geltner Christine Green Matina Souretis Horner Margaret Kephart Constance M. Kinnear Rani Kotha Judith H. Lax
Anne Lehker Ashley M. Maentz William Martin Rebecca McGowan* Virginia Patton Moss Robert D. Oliver Karen O’Neal Ann V. Parfet Lana B. Pollack Sheila Potiker* Kathleen K. Power Mary Princing Desma Reid-Coleman Margaret A. Riecker* Karla Scherer Ann Sneed Schriber Martha R. Seger Gil Seinfeld Carol S. Smokler Maxine J. Snider Elizabeth Stranahan* Alicia Torres Nellie M. Varner Erica A. Ward Marina v. N. Whitman
* in memoriam
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has always served as an advocate for underserved communities. During these trying times, the need for CEW+ to be a voice for nontraditional students at U-M has increased. The negative health, emotional, and economic impacts of COVID-19 have a larger impact on the communities we serve.
Today, as we navigate the shifting challenges of the pandemic and the resulting economic impacts, we find ourselves creating systems and services to meet the immediate needs of those we serve. But as I write this letter unsure of when
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When our founder, Jean Campbell, set out to start the scholarship program she revolutionalized financial aid at Michigan.
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this pandemic will end and what the summer and fall will bring, I am sure that this work will serve nontraditional students at Michigan better for the longer-term, not just now. We invite you to learn more about the Emergency Fund partnership agreements we have forged across campus and how we have taken our programs and services virtual during these days
of social isolation and working from home. Jean was certainly a champion of nontraditional students and we are all thankful for her tenacity and grit. As we work to serve students today, we think she would be proud of the similar resolve that our staff is demonstrating now. In honor of the 50th anniversary of awarding scholarships, donors to the Center created the Potential Made Possible fund. During this pandemic, our Scholars are showing remarkable resilience. Join us in marking sure that this fall we can welcome even more students into the CEW+ scholar community by making a gift today. Be safe. Be healthy. And in the words of Jean Campbell - onward and upward my friends! Sincerely,
Tiffany Marra CEW+ Director * We know that the current pandemic will evolve and our lives will continue to change in the time it will take for this publication to reach you.
CEW+ MISSION-FOCUSED DURING THE PANDEMIC
CEW+
is proud to help navigate the shifting landscape of living through a pandemic and the resulting impacts. The Center is providing services virtually and evolving to meet the changing needs of U-M students, staff, faculty, the community and you. One silver lining of COVID-19 forcing the Center to be virtual is you can now take part in CEW+ programming no matter where you live. Look for email invitations to weekly mindfulness sits and the ongoing Carol Hollenshead Inspire Award Winners’ informative talks. The Women of Color Task Force has also moved to virtual events and programming. In the weeks to come, even more programming will be reorganized for virtual sharing and connecting. All emergency funding, career, and education counseling appointments are taking place via phone. Calls for appointments are predominantly from students experiencing emergency funding needs or individuals concerned about COVID-19 interrupting their educational or career pursuits. Students are now remote learners, seeing their jobs eliminated or hours cut short, and find
themselves isolated from their traditional campus support. For student parents, the challenge of becoming a remote learner is further complicated by changes in childcare availability and suddenly becoming home-school teachers for their children. CEW+ has created campus partnerships so that for the first time ever, students can make one point of contact to find emergency funding at U-M. Prior to these agreements, students from these schools and colleges had to make an average of four calls to access emergency funding throughout U-M’s decentralized campuses. During a time of crisis, this meant students had to retell their stories of trauma over and over as they sought to find funding for their entire unmet need.
CEW+ has established these partnerships so that funding can be pooled to ideally meet each student’s allowable expenses. Thank you to those of you who have contributed to the CEW+ Emergency Fund; there is great demand for these critical dollars. As of this printing, CEW+ has agreements with U-M Dearborn and U-M Flint, the Dean of Students Office, Engineering, LSA, the Medical School, Public Health, IN THIS ISSUE »» Rackham, Social 2» Letter From the Director Work, and 3» COVID-19’s Impact On Student Finances Music, Theatre, 4» COVID-19’s Impact On Four Scholar Alums and Dance. 5» Student Parents at U-M Additionally, 6» 50th Anniversary of CEW+ Scholarships CEW+ staff 8» Scholar Alumni Spotlights is exploring 12 » 2019 CEW+ Advocacy Symposium additional agreements 13 » Carol Hollenshead Inspire Awards with the 14 » Varna Kodoth: Making Waves Students with 15 » SGP & RD Awards Disabilities 16 » 50th Save the Date Office, School of
Education, School for Environment and Sustainability, School of Information, and Taubman College. Throughout all of these challenges, CEW+ students and their families are showing incredible resilience. By offering supportive, licensed counseling, virtual programming, and the willingness to create student-centered partnerships, CEW+ will continue making a difference one person at a time during this pandemic, and long after.
CEW+ PODCAST STRENGTH IN THE MIDST OF A PANDEMIC: ADAPTING TO CHALLENGING SITUATIONS, ONE STEP AT A TIME Resiliency is best demonstrated in times of challenges. Join CEW+ Director Tiffany Marra as she talks to students, staff, faculty and community members in CEW+’s new podcast, Strength in the Midst of the Pandemic. Through this podcast, CEW+ seeks to create a safe place where you will be inspired by the stories of everyday people as they adjust to the challenges resulting from COVID-19. The first episode features Emily Fletcher who demonstrates how what drives us can actually fluctuate as the result of a crisis. “A positive that has come out of it... is a good shift in perspective and putting problems and challenges that I am grappling with in perspective…” - Emily Fletcher from her interview on Strength in the Midst of the Pandemic
Listen at cew.umich.edu/stories.
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COVID-19’S IMPACT ON FOUR SCHOLAR ALUMS
Dr. Joanne Disch
Dr. Alvin Thomas
Dr. Ximena Zúñiga
Joanne Disch’s work as the chair of two major boards of directors has been impacted by COVID-19. She has had to transition to all meetings being held virtually, “I’ve been challenged to develop strategies to conduct effective board meetings in this new format with some board members being comfortable in moving online, while others are not. The work still has to get done - and some of it is heartbreaking, knowing what nurses and doctors are experiencing on the front lines, and what nursing students are facing as they want to get on the front lines. But I’ve learned that one of my life mantras helps in these times: ‘Information is power, but relationships are the key.’ People are unfailingly eager and willing to help however they can.”
Despite COVID, Dr. Thomas’ work marches on. In addition to multiple publications and grants he is working on, Dr. Thomas has also participated in virtual panels, including Black Male’s Mental Health and Well-Being Facebook Live Support Group discussing black males’ physical and mental health during the COVID crisis. “Sometimes work is a great distraction, but I’m feeling the stress of knowing my family is so far away in the Caribbean and I can’t do everything I would like to for them,” he explained. “It’s like a swing of the pendulum—some days are stressful, some are less stressful. I’m trying to find ways to cope nonetheless.”
Faculty members across the world have had to transition quickly to online instruction and scholarly activities. The pressures to create this new learning environment for students has been challenging, yet rewarding for Dr. Zúñiga. She teaches courses in social justice education for graduate students and a multi-section intergroup dialogue undergraduate course. “For those in the field of diversity, equity and social justice issues in education moving online has meant making sure we have guidelines in place to ease everyone’s participation, time to check-in at the beginning of class, building more flexibility with course requirements, and make space to talk about self and community care. Scheduling oneon-one meetings with students has also been valuable,” Dr. Zúñiga shared.
Read more about Dr. Disch on page 8.
Read more about Dr. Thomas on page 9.
Read more about Dr. Zúñiga on page 11.
Dr. CLEOPATRA CALDWELL For Dr. Caldwell, there are many administrative challenges surrounding grading, coursework, and graduation that are constantly evolving. Student internships that provide valuable perspective and experience, as well as summer funding, are canceled. Faculty are working longer hours from home, inperson research is on hold and some are facing challenges with technology and internet connectivity. “There are many layers that provide stress to what people are going through right now,” Dr. Caldwell said. “As administrators, our job is to try to understand what some of the challenges are and see how we can mitigate some of those challenges for people.” In general, however, Dr. Caldwell says that students, faculty and staff have risen to the occasion to meet many challenges presented by COVID-19. “I’m very proud of how our educational community is handling this crisis.” Read more about Dr. Caldwell on page 10. 4 CEW+NEWS SPRING 2020
HONORING OUR FOUNDING PRINCIPLES: ADVOCATING FOR UNSEEN STUDENT PARENTS
CEW+students
students with children on campus and we need to do something.” The story’s exposure catalyzed a meeting of 15 stakeholders across campus joining at a common table in March to hear from student parents and strategize on policy change. Without the article, this meeting may not have occurred with urgency. Marra would like to see the University adopt priority registration for student parents. “People understand that studentathletes have practices and competitions. Since their time is crunched, they are allowed priority registration. Now, imagine getting your child to school or childcare and needing to pick them up with the possibility that your childcare facility may not be open after 6:00 pm… Student parents have a time poverty issue.” Using the same logic used toward studentathletes, accommodations should be Alexandra Ellard, Lyss Shumaker and Kerrigan Fitzpatrick are student parents at the provided for student parents. This would University of Michigan. Photo by Alec Cohen/Michigan Daily not incur the University any additional cost, and the population is small enough that he University of Michigan has a “Leaders and they will not over-tax the registration system. “Student parents Best” mantra, but that mantra’s perceptions and should be able to set an academic schedule that allows expectations present challenges for overlooked them to participate fully in the classroom while raising their student populations. Student parents are not typically children,” Marra expressed. In addition, Marra hopes U-M will recognized as a population on Ann Arbor’s campus, especially work with local childcare providers on a drop-in arrangement at the undergraduate level. Utilizing FASFA data and childcare for when exams are outside childcare facility hours. subsidy applications, U-M recently identified about 100 undergraduate and 550 graduate student parents. “Though not all-encompassing, this is the first time we have any real count. Since it’s a small population in terms of a larger one, it can be easy for the University to overlook them,” CEW+ Director Tiffany Marrra said. “It can be hard for student parents to find each other, congregate and identify needs. That’s where CEW+ is stepping in: to help tell their story and advocate for changes that make sense based on their circumstances.”
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As Ronald A. Freeman Collegiate Professor of Sociology and Population Studies Barbara Anderson approached Marra to collaborate on the Ascend Initiative focused on student parent needs at the Aspen Institute, a group of student parents came to Marra regarding an organization they were starting. Alex Ellard, Lyss Shumaker, and Kerrigan Fitzpatrick, student parents at U-M, wanted to create a student organization so future student parents would have a support network. CEW+ recognized this need and joined them by providing financial support for hosting expenses. The Michigan Daily reporter Alice Tracey interviewed these three students and published “Hidden Population: Undergraduate student parents advocate for more resources” in January. “The article was huge,” Marra explained. “A student chose to write it and interviewed students willing to share their stories. That’s major leverage to show there are
we’re meeting the original promise that we made to the community at the Center’s founding: supporting students who are raising families.
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In addition to emergency funding, free counseling, and sponsorship of student-parent meet-ups, CEW+ launched an academic coaching program for student parents which will have its second term this fall. The “students with children’’ website is also being updated and migrating under the Center’s care. Marra is working with Theresa Anderson at the Urban Institute on an Aspen Institute grant proposal for the development of a student parent council. Why this work, and why now? “The large focus of CEW+ has been on women returning to school after or while raising families. So I see it as continuing the conversation,” Marra explained. “We’re not starting anew, but ensuring that we’re meeting the original promise that we made to the community at the Center’s founding: supporting students who are raising families.”
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CEW+SCHOLARSHIPS
THEN & NOW: CELEBRATING
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n 1969, the Center for the Continuing Education of Women (now CEW+) and our founder Jean Campbell decided to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the admission of women to the University of Michigan by helping to ensure that women could actually afford to attend. Campbell and the Center set out toward a bold goal they were determined to reach. “If the Center reaches its goal, the new CEW Scholarship program will be announced in November, with applications due in February. The winner or winners will be announced in spring 1970,” the Center’s 1969 fall newsletter announced. It comes as no surprise that the innovative, determined and strong women who paved the way for today’s Center and CEW+ Scholarship Program reached their goal. $7,500 was raised in private donations, allowing six outstanding women (selected from almost 200 well-qualified applicants in diverse fields) to receive the Center’s first merit scholarships in the fall of 1970.
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As we celebrate the 50th anniversary of the CEW+ Scholarship Program this year, the legacy of the early Center and the women who made the CEW+ Scholarship Program possible continues to burn bright. Last year CEW+ welcomed 72 Scholars to a community of over 1,800 CEW+ Scholars. These Scholars are student parents and primary caregivers, students who are returning to the classroom after a prolonged interruption, students who are underrepresented in STEM fields, first-generation, and international students, and students who have overcome great obstacles in order to achieve their dream of earning a degree in higher education. They come from all three U-M campuses and include 14 doctoral students, 27 master’s students, and 31 undergraduate students. CEW+’s Scholars have gone on to contribute their talents across the world, some as doctors, teachers, social workers, public policy experts, lawyers, artists, engineers, urban planners, scholars, or scientific researchers.
50 YEARS OF CEW+ SCHOLARS
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I have witnessed first hand the magic that happens when the Scholars come together. These moments bring joy, hope, and a sense of wonderful possibilities, which are needed more than ever at these difficult times.
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CEW+ is proud of all our outstanding Scholars and the meaningful ways they continue to shape and change the world. “It’s been an honor to work closely with Scholars for more than two decades. I am continually inspired by each Scholar’s persistence to pursue an educational and professional path that aligns with their passions, values, and talents. The world benefits greatly from their vision of what is possible and efforts to get the work done,” shared Doreen Murasky, CEW+ Student Program Manager. In 1970, CEW+ raised $7,500 in private donations for the Center’s Scholarship Program. In 2019, we awarded over $485,000 to our 2019-20 cohort of Scholars. We are immensely grateful to our supporters who prioritize the well-being of our Scholars and contribute in ways that allow CEW+ Scholars to thrive. Together, our CEW+ Scholars and generous supporters
are changing the world one life at a time. As one Scholar said, “It is one thing to believe in yourself, but it is truly rewarding to have someone else express belief in you as well. When I think about the scholarship you have rewarded me, I am reminded that someone else is rooting for me to succeed.” Murasky added, “I have witnessed first hand the magic that happens when the Scholars come together. These moments bring joy, hope, and a sense of wonderful possibilities, which are needed more than ever at these difficult times.” This October (Friday, October 2 through Sunday, October 4), we invite all CEW+ Scholars, CEW+ Scholarship supporters and members of the CEW+ family to join us as we celebrate the CEW+ Scholar Community and commemorate the strong legacy of the past 50 years of CEW+ Scholarships. While we don’t know if this will be an in-person or virtual gathering, we do hope you will save the date. As we move forward into the future together, we are excited to see what the next 50, 100, and 150 years of CEW+ Scholars continue to achieve. Together, we can make potential possible. Interested in supporting CEW+ Scholars and joining us on our journey of making potential possible? To find out more, contact Alicia Marting at 734-764-7258 or email her at amarting@umich.edu.
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CEW+ SCHOLAR ALUMNI SPOTLIGHTS Joanne Disch her PhD from the University of Michigan School of Nursing in 1985, Dr. Disch has continued to make her mark on nursing, leadership, and healthcare.
CEW+
Scholar Dr. Joanne Disch’s rich and impactful career in nursing has spanned over 50 years. Named a Living Legend by the American Academy of Nursing in 2018, Dr. Disch has held the roles of professor at the University of Pennsylvania and the University of Minnesota School of Nursing, chief nurse executive at two medical centers, Director of a Leadership Center for a School of Nursing, interim dean of the University of Minnesota School of Nursing, a board member and chair of AARP and has testified to the U.S. Senate advocating for the Prescription Drug Act and on how to improve the safety of the healthcare system. Since earning
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yourself and grow, and learn from different ways of thinking. Dr. Disch reflected on her career in nursing and in leadership roles, remembering moments when people had adamantly told her something cannot be done. “Through going out of my way to challenge myself and grow from different ways of thinking, I learned so much—I learned how to do things five different ways,” Dr. Disch explained. “When someone told me something couldn’t be done, I’d say, ‘I can appreciate that you don’t know how to do it, but I can assure you it can be done because I’ve seen it work three other places.’ So it really gave me confidence that I do have ideas that can be helpful.”
While earning her doctorate at U-M School of Nursing, Dr. Disch pursued three ways to fund her PhD—she was a sorority house mother, received federal funding, and applied for and received a CEW+ Scholarship. While Dr. Disch acknowledges how financially impactful her CEW+ Scholarship was, her scholarship did more than alleviate her financial burdens. “CEW+ Scholars introduced me to a lot of impressive, inspirational women. I met a number of very interesting women through my cohort. I really appreciated that when I studied at the Center or when I talked to some of the faculty and people associated with it, I was introduced to professional women in fields other than nursing,” Dr. Disch said. “That helped me be more eclectic in my thinking and problem-solving.” For future CEW+ Scholars embarking on their career paths, Dr. Disch has three key pieces of advice: find a mentor to learn from, become a part of a community where you can find opportunities to challenge
At University of Michigan, we learn from people all across campus and I think CEW+ is a microcosm of that at the University.
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Dr. Disch sees CEW+ and the CEW+ Scholar community as a place to challenge and promote innovation in different ways of thinking. “At the University of Michigan, we learn from people all across campus and I think CEW+ is a microcosm of that at the University. There are people with different backgrounds and different experiences,” Dr. Disch elaborated. “Part of the richness of my experience with CEW+ Scholars was encountering professional women who were really very inspirational. The money was so appreciated, but the program’s life value is also certainly the connections I made and exposure to ways of thinking differently.”
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Alvin Thomas
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hile pursuing his PhD in Clinical Psychology at the University of Michigan and preparing to start his clinical internships, Dr. Alvin Thomas found himself at a difficult crossroads-- he was facing at least one, potentially two, semesters without funding. As an international student from St. Lucia, very few funding opportunities were available to him, as grants were typically based on federal funding. With his family in the Caribbean and the possibility of no summer funding, he felt hopeless. Not only would he struggle to pay rent and cover living expenses, but he also faced transportation expenses since his clinical internships would require traveling back and forth multiple times a day from Ypsilanti to Ann Arbor. “There was no way I could travel back and forth by bus and not be late for every one of my clients,” Dr. Thomas said. When his advisor Dr. Laura KohnWood suggested he apply for a scholarship at the Center for the
As stressful as that year got, I could not imagine if I had not received my scholarship. I literally would not have been able to survive
Education of Women, Dr. Thomas was in disbelief. “I told her, this says ‘Center for the Education of Women’-- I can’t apply for that! She said the worst thing they can do is tell me no. So to appease her, I applied.” When Dr. Thomas opened a letter from the Center, he was in shock to see the letter contained not a rejection, but news he received a scholarship. Dr. Thomas, now a trailblazer in his research, blazed the trail as the first male CEW+ Scholar. “As stressful as that year got, I could not imagine if I had not received my scholarship. I literally would not have been able to survive,” Dr. Thomas expressed. While his scholarship allowed him to pursue his clinical internship, it also instilled in him a sense of confidence. “After getting that crazy scholarship from CEW+, I thought if that could work- anything could. That was my big lesson.” With his newfound belief in potential made possible, he applied for and received a Rackham grant that allowed him to pilot a short term intervention program with Caribbean juvenile boys and juvenile delinquents. Today, Dr. Thomas is an Assistant Professor in the Human Development and Family Studies department at the School of Human Ecology at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and a Visiting Scholar at Center on Poverty and Social Policy at Columbia University as part of U.S. Collaborative of Poverty Centers. His research
focuses on positive outcomes from father engagement with their children’s therapy and social issues, positive youth development and youth risk factors and risk communication, specifically with African American boys. “I look at factors such as social media use, violence, interactions with the police and exposure to violence in neighborhoods or in schools, and examine how these factors can show up as potential risks for African American boys and can reduce academic achievement and engagement while increasing violence, anxiety and trauma,” Dr. Thomas explained. “Parents can attenuate that by engaging in very specific risk communication with their children and engaging in racial socialization, especially for African American boys.”
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Throughout his academic career, Dr. Thomas has encountered senior colleagues and collaborators who have helped him navigate academia’s route as a scholar of color and international student. As he starts his tenure at University of Wisconsin-Madison, Dr. Thomas looks forward to aiding the next generation of scholars of color and first-generation academics as they navigate minefields and search for paths of support. “I’m most excited about the prospect of taking on students in the coming years,” Dr. Thomas shared. “I’m looking forward to providing the same type of support I received for the next generation of scholars.”
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CEW+ SCHOLAR ALUMNI SPOTLIGHTS Cleopatra Caldwell was challenging. CEW+ provided a support system—the Center was always there and you could go to them with any kind of challenge you were facing.”
Americans at the Institute for Social Research where she looks at the mental health of Black youth in relation to ethnic diversity that exists within Black populations.
Today, Dr. Caldwell is an expert in community-based participatory research and a lead researcher
Since receiving her CEW+ fellowship while earning her PhD in Social Psychology, Dr. Caldwell
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r. Cleopatra Caldwell, Chair of the Department of Health Behavior and Health Education, Professor of Health Behavior and Health Education, Director of the Center for Research on Ethnicity and Culture and Health, and Co-Associate Director of the Program for Research on Black Americans at University of Michigan, not only encourages her students at the School of Public Health to apply for scholarships at CEW+ and utilize its resources, but has a personal connection with the Center herself. “CEW+ is a tremendous resource that I feel very close to because of my experience with them as a graduate student and over the years as a faculty member,” Dr. Caldwell shared. “I was a student who came back for a PhD after working for six years, so I was a more mature student. Making the adjustment into graduate school
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Making the adjustment into graduate school was challenging. CEW+ provided a support system—the Center was always there and you could go to them with any kind of challenge you were facing.
in intervention programs, particularly surrounding the wellbeing of Black populations and adolescents. She is the Principal Investigator for the Fathers and Sons program which uses community engagement and intervention to enhance the parenting skills of nonresident Black fathers to provide an extra safety net for their children in preventing risk behaviors. Based in Flint, MI and in its twentieth year, the program has expanded into Chicago. In addition, Dr. Caldwell has conducted community forums with adolescents in Flint with the goal of developing a youth steering committee empowered as decision-makers who present issues that need to be addressed as part of the Flint water crisis. She is also working on a project interviewing teenage fathers and their families surrounding the experiences of pregnancy and fatherhood and is a part of the program for Research on Black
has stayed connected with CEW+. Once a graduate student who utilized the Center’s workshops, as a faculty member she has participated as a member of the CEW+ Scholarship Selection Committee, spoken at CEW+ Scholar research panels, and partaken in CEW+ development activities. On a personal note, the friend who introduced Dr. Caldwell to the Center, fellow CEW+ Scholar Dr. Ruby Beale, is one of Dr. Caldwell’s closest friends today. “To have a connection from so long ago that still remains— that’s an important part of the CEW+ network,” Dr. Caldwell said. “CEW+ provides a network of opportunities that allows you to stay in contact with CEW+ staff and exposes you to things you may not have considered. When I think of CEW+ Scholars, one of the most important things the program does is connect you with a network that follows you throughout your career.”
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Ximena Zúñiga I started to reach out and apply for grants and teaching positions more widely. Applying for the CEW fellowship was the first daring act of my professional career at Michigan.”
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hree years after Dr. Ximena Zúñiga came to the United States from Chile to earn her PhD in Adult and Higher Education at University of Michigan, she found herself in need of funding. Dr. Zúñiga heard about the CEW+ Scholarship Program from peers and a faculty member mentor at the School of Education who encouraged her to apply. As an international student, Dr. Zúñiga did not think she would receive a scholarship. “As a foreign student who was also a parent, you know you’re going to be more on your own. You go to class and don’t really reach out much or spend time with your classmates —you keep to yourself and your family for the most part,” she explained. “When I received my fellowship, the funding affirmed that my voice and what I offered matter. It was the first time I applied for a funded opportunity at University of Michigan and was glad to receive it. After that,
For Dr. Zúñiga, her fellowship and connection to the Center provided more than financial support. “I received my fellowship at a very challenging time,” she said. “CEW+ was very helpful in terms of counseling and advising. I was very active in the Center’s international women’s group. From 1983 to 1985, CEW+ was my second home. I was struck by how the Center supported women international students.” While Dr. Zúñiga considers applying for her fellowship her first daring act in the US, it was far from her last. In 1985 she accepted a graduate teaching
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and first director of the Intergroup Relations program, a prestigious program that continues at the University today. In 1995, Dr. Zúñiga joined the faculty of the University of Massachusetts Amherst where she is a professor in the Department of Student Development in the College of Education teaching social justice education and intergroup dialogue. A 2020 recipient of the American College Personnel Association Lifetime Achievement Award, Dr. Zúñiga teaches students the importance of and how to scaffold and facilitate difficult dialogues across race/ethnicity and other group differences, and the value of reaching across the divide. She is a lead researcher in studying the postgraduate impact of intergroup dialogue facilitation
When I got my fellowship, the funding affirmed that my voice and what I offered mattered. It was the first time I applied for something at University of Michigan and received it. After that, I started to reach out and apply for things. Applying for my fellowship was the first daring act of my career.
position in the Women’s Studies department. This work eventually paved the way for a program coordination position within an undergraduate initiative where she was instrumental in codeveloping U-M’s Intergroup Relations program which launched in the Winter semester of 1988. Dr. Zúñiga was a founding mother
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on professional roles in higher education, K-12 and communities, and recently studied the impact of engaging faculty and staff in intergroup dialogues surrounding race, class, religion and gender and the powerful change that can be birthed from these conversations.
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CEW+ADVOCACY SYMPOSIUM
BLAZING THE PATH TOWARD
REDEFINING LEADERSHIP
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n October 29, 2019, a diverse group of activists, advocates, and allies including University of Michigan students, faculty, and staff and the local community gathered together to celebrate and learn from individuals who redefine and challenge normative modes of leadership. The occasion was CEW+’s third annual Advocacy Symposium: Redefining Leadership, an all-day advocacy affair featuring keynote conversations, workshops, panels, roundtables, and networking opportunities. CEW+’s Director Tiffany Marra captured the essence of the symposium during her opening remarks. “There is no single definition of leadership; there is no one way to lead,” Marra explained. ‘Today’s symposium will challenge normative ideas of leadership and our presenters will provide alternative models of leadership that you can look toward for inspiration. I hope that on this day-long journey you see a wider spectrum of leadership that you can identify with and look to as role models while remaining true to yourself.” This energizing day at the Michigan League kicked off with a keynote panel featuring Shannon Cohen, an awardwinning industry leader, and sought-after strategist, innovator, and inspiration leader and author of Tough Skin: Soft Heart, and Stephanie Land, a fellow for the Center for Community Change and the Economic Hardship Program and author of Maid: Hard Work, Low Pay, and a Mother’s Will to Survive. “I hope these inspiring individuals can help you along on your own personal journey toward acknowledging and recognizing how to demonstrate leadership in your own lives,” Marra expressed. Throughout the morning and afternoon, symposium attendees could choose to attend workshops and panels on topics including but not limited to staying grounded while navigating decision making and leadership, diverse voices, sex discrimination, and the role of media in advocacy, and how political climate can drive advocacy. Lunchtime featured
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lightning talks given by the 2019 Carol Hollenshead Inspire Award Winners for Excellence in Promoting Equity and Social Change. The day rounded out with a stimulating roundtable discussion focused on solving major HR challenges at the University of Michigan followed by a networking reception for advocates and allies to continue connecting with each other. In addition, CEW+ announced the launch of the COUNTS Toolkit for Student Success that was developed in collaboration with twelve different units and staff across campus to increase understanding surrounding the complex challenges of nontraditional students as well as highlight the important contributions and perspectives that non-traditional students bring to the campus. Organized in partnership with the Barger Leadership Institute and Poverty Solutions at the University of Michigan and made possible with funding from CEW+’s Frances & Sydney Lewis Visiting Leaders Fund and the CEW+ Mullin Welch Fund, the CEW+ Advocacy Symposium included a diverse group of scholars, community practitioners, and international activists who embody leadership in varied ways as they advocate for change. CEW+ hopes all who participated in the symposium left the day feeling more empowered and with a clearer idea of what it personally means for them to embody leadership. Please save the date and stay tuned for more information on CEW+’s fourth annual Advocacy Symposium on Thursday, September 10, 2020. We hope you can join us as we continue to explore what it means to be an advocate and work to advocate to empower individuals in times of need.
Interested in supporting the Advocacy Symposium and advocacy work at CEW+? Contact Alicia Marting at 734764-7258 or email her at amarting@umich.edu for more information on how to give.
CAROL HOLLENSHEAD INSPIRE AWARD WINNERS
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our U-M faculty members and one staff member were honored with the Carol Hollenshead Inspire Award for Excellence in Promoting Equity and Social Change at the 2019 CEW+ Advocacy Symposium. This $1,000 award honors the former CEW+ director’s 20-year tenure at CEW+. Honorees were chosen because, like Carol, they have proven that social change is possible through persistent hard work and demonstrate that one person can make a lasting difference in their communities. Each of the recipients presented a lightning talk about their work at the symposium. Marita R. Inglehart, professor of dentistry, School of Dentistry; and adjunct professor of psychology, LSA presented “Being a solo person in an organization – How to survive and create change.” Inglehart’s teaching of dental and dental hygiene students focuses on educating patient-centered and culturally sensitive future dentalcare providers who appreciate interprofessional collaborations. Her research focuses on the role of psycho-social factors in providing care and increasing access to care for underserved patient populations such as patients from socio-economically disadvantaged, or racial or ethnicminority backgrounds, patients with special health-care needs or those from LGBTQ+ backgrounds. Michelle A. Meade, associate professor of physical medicine and rehabilitation, Medical School, presented on “Healthcare Disparities Among Individuals with Disabilities – Taking Responsibility for Our Role as Healthcare Providers.” Meade is the principal investigator and director of federally funded interdisciplinary centers focusing on disability issues: the U-M Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center and “Technology Increasing Knowledge: Technology Optimizing Choice,” and the Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Investigating Disability
factors and promoting Environmental Access for Healthy Living. Meade also serves as co-chair of the Michigan Medicine Disability Council and as codirector for the U-M Collaboratory for Disability Health. David C. Michener, curator at the Matthaei Botanical Gardens and Nichols Arboretum, presented on “Seeds and Reconciliation.” Michener’s research addresses understanding the complex crosscultural heritages of ornamental peonies and conserving key living specimens. His work with indigenous seeds in museum collections is an unanticipated intersection of deep engagement with U-M’s Museum Studies Program and an ethical concern with the “voice” of indigenous communities in interpreting native plant collections
transportation and land use planning, stormwater infrastructure, vacant land reuse, and climate change planning efforts, particularly their implications for health. She applies participatory research approaches with diverse partners using a broad methodological toolkit, including photovoice, concept mapping and health impact assessment. Wendy Ann Woods, associate director of the Michigan Community Scholars Program, presented on “Boldness Rules the World: Sustaining Leadership.” The MCSP is a nationally recognized living-learning program at the U-M that focuses on social justice, community service, diversity, and civic engagement. Woods also teaches a seminar for the students in MCSP, is a member of the Association of Black Professionals, Faculty, Administrators,
Left to right: Marita R. Inglehart, Wendy Ann Woods, Natalie Sampson, David C. Michener, Bruce Wilson, husband of Carol Hollenshead, Evelyn Hollenshead, daughter of Carol Hollenshead, and Michelle A. Meade
and landscapes stewarded by the botanical gardens and arboretum. Natalie Sampson, assistant professor of public health at UM-Dearborn, presented on “Sometimes at Odds: Rethinking Output as an EquityFocused Academic.” Sampson teaches courses in environmental health, community organizing, and health promotion. Grounded primarily in southeast Michigan, she studies
and Staff at U-M, and serves on the advisory board for the University Outreach Council. In addition to the lightning talks, each recipient committed to giving a 90-minute workshop throughout the academic year. The intent is to highlight the authentic journeys of social change leaders, spotlighting them as role models for others aspiring to work toward social change.
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Making Waves to Better Support Women and Underserved Communities in STEM Spaces
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GENDER MATTERS. REPRESENTATION MATTERS. INCLUSION MATTERS.
hile studying Molecular Cellular Developmental Biology and English at the U-M, senior Varna Kodoth started to notice differences among the departments that extended beyond course content. Since attending the U-M, Kodoth has become hyperaware of her gender identity in the classroom, both in her STEM and Humanities courses. However, her experience with gender in both classrooms was different. “My humanities courses are very female-dominated but primarily white females in comparison to myself. In my STEM courses, I noticed I was a female amongst a predominantly white, heterosexual male field,” Kodoth said. “I also noticed the representation across faculty in my courses, and I felt more comfortable in office hours for my humanities courses because I had similar identities to my professors.” Kodoth knows there is a lot of diversity present on U-M’s campus, but feels there is a disconnect between that diversity, different resources available on campus, and the undergraduate community. This led her to the question: What can the University of Michigan do better? From her experiences, Kodoth’s idea was born, ultimately leading to the CEW+ Women and Marginalized Communities in STEM Advocacy Initiative. Over the course of Summer 2019, Kodoth reached out to different departments, including CEW+, to see if anyone was interested in connecting with her and exploring how different identities can be further supported in STEM. Dr. Tiffany Marra, CEW+ Director, was thrilled to have Kodoth on board. Kodoth started working with CEW+ in the
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EVEN something as simple as a professor checking in on a student and asking ‘how are you doing?’ makes a difference.
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fall and has led focus groups with students in STEM where she hears directly from them. During the focus groups, Kodoth seeks feedback on what U-M can do better to support women and marginalized communities in STEM courses and to alleviate obstacles they may face. Throughout the focus groups, Kodoth has noticed similar themes emerging. “Everyone is actively thinking about their identities and aware of how their identities impact classroom behavior or interactions with classmates and professors,” Kodoth explained. “The question is: are they being asked what they would like to see implemented into the classroom to make them feel more comfortable asking questions or improve the creation of a safe classroom space?” “It’s not that it’s impossible to create these kinds of classroom spaces,” Kodoth continued. “There’s some ‘easy’ fixes.” Kodoth remembers a humanities professor who introduced herself on the first day of class and explained that while she tries to stay informed, she knows things have changed since she was an undergraduate student. She specifically asked the classroom to let her know if she says or does anything offensive and expressed that they are welcome to approach her after class. The professor acknowledged that the classroom was one of the most diverse classrooms she ever had to navigate and shared
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that she was on a learning journey as well. For Kodoth, this brief 45-second conversation made a world of difference and she frequently attended the professor’s office hours for the rest of the semester. “I think having that conversation in STEM courses would be very helpful,” Kodoth explained. “It’s not that the professors aren’t aware of these things, but it would be very helpful if the professor actively acknowledged it in the classroom.” Kodoth has heard similar sentiments across different STEM concentrations in her focus groups, each with departmentspecific feedback with tangible solutions. “I’ve heard from female-identifying students in computer science classes that they would appreciate if their professor opened up a dialogue about the composition of the classroom and what can be done to better support and include women. Just having a ten-minute conversation changes the entire mood moving forward the rest of the semester.” From her focus group analysis with undergraduate and graduate students Kodoth is providing recommendations and feedback to U-M faculty and staff that will be featured in a campus module that will be available in Fall 2020. “A part of the CEW+ module will be focused on women and marginalized communities in STEM. I think it’s great that there will be a space to provide faculty and staff with training on how they can better support their students’ identities,” Kodoth said. “Even something as simple as a professor checking in on a student and asking ‘how are you doing?’ makes a difference.” Kodoth’s research and work with CEW+ are sure to make an impact beyond her years as an undergraduate. This fall, she will be pursuing a Master of Public Health in Healthcare Policy & Management with a focus upon women’s healthcare at Columbia University’s Mailman School of Public Health before she applies for medical school. As for Kodoth’s time at U-M, she’s grateful for CEW+ and that she has had the opportunity to tell others about the Center. “When I found out about CEW+, I was wowed by how great of a resource it is! When I’m recruiting for focus groups, I ask everyone to raise their hand if they know about CEW+. By the end, everyone walks out knowing about the Center -- and I love that.” CEW+ Director Tiffany Marra was able to partner with Kodoth on this important research because of the generosity of our CEW+ donors. The Jean Campell Research and the Irma Wyman Program endowment funds have supported this research, including the focus groups findings and the CEW+ COUNTS Toolkit.
To support CEW+ research, feel free to contact Alicia Marting at 734-764-7258 or email her at amarting@umich.edu.
2020 Sarah Goddard Power and Rhetaugh G. Dumas Awards
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rofessors Cathleen Connell of the Department of Health Behavior and Health Education and Allison Steiner of the Department of Climate and Space Science and Engineering received the 2020 Sarah Goddard Power Award on February 12 in a ceremony at the Michigan League. The Women’s Studies Department was recognized with the Rhetaugh G. Dumas Progress in Diversifying Award by the Academic Women’s Caucus. Named after the late University of Michigan Regent Sarah Goddard Power, the award recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to the betterment of women through their leadership, scholarship or other ways in their professional life. The Rhetaugh G. Dumas Progress in Diversifying Award supports a long-standing vision of increasing the number of diverse women in the academy. Named after late Vice Provost Rhetaugh Dumas, it recognizes outstanding institutional initiative in demonstrating notable progress by academic units in achieving ethnic, racial and gender diversity among those pursuing and achieving tenure as professors, clinical professors, research professors, and research scientists. Cathleen Connell, PhD, was selected for her significant achievement in addressing current challenges faced by women through distinguished leadership at the University of Michigan. “Cathleen brings true kindness, empathy, and graciousness to her leadership roles. With her attitudes and actions, she has helped make the Department and School a place where female scholars feel comfortable and can thrive personally and professionally,” said Mary Janevic, Ph.D., MPH, in a nominating letter. “Cathleen embodies the characteristics of an inspired leader. A patient listener, she has an innate ability to motivate teams
Left to right: Cathleen Connell, Professor, Department of Health Behavior & Health Education; and Allison Steiner of the Department of Climate and Space Science and Engineering
CEW+AWARDS
to institute changes, meet goals, and achieve success,” Angela Beck, Assistant Dean for Student Engagement and Practice, School of Public Health, wrote. Allison Steiner, PhD, has provided breakthrough contributions towards developing a diverse and inclusive workforce both at the University of Michigan and in her own scientific field at a national and international level. She receives the Sarah Goddard Power Award for her tireless advocacy towards the advancement of women in Earth Sciences worldwide, and her leadership role in promoting equality for female faculty in the College of Engineering. “Looking through the list of the last few years Sarah Goddard Power Award winners is inspirational … Prof. Allison Steiner’s significant achievements in contributing to the betterment of current challenges faced by women through her leadership and community building roles clearly place her in the same company,” wrote Mark Moldwin, Arthur F. Thurnau Professor and Professor of Space Sciences and Engineering, in a nominating letter. Since 1973, the Department of Women’s Studies has advanced equity and awareness of the intersections of race, gender, sexuality, and class across the university through their research, teaching, mentoring, and community outreach. It is a long-overdue honor to select Women’s Studies for the 2020 Rhetaugh Dumas Award for this commitment and for its advancement of diverse faculty across all levels. In the fall of 2019, 50% of Women’s Studies faculty were black and/ or people of color. Over the past five years, leadership in Women’s Studies has embodied and practiced an “institutional commitment to change,” while numerous faculty have provided dedicated mentorship to their junior colleagues. Two recent department chairs - an African American and Latinx during those five years have moved on to Assistant, Associate, and interim dean positions at the College of LSA.
Left to right: Victor Mendoza, Director of Undergraduate Studies and Associate Professor of Women’s Studies and English receiving award from Carol Jacobsen, Professor of Art, Stamps School of Art & Design, and Professor of Women’s Studies
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We know that the current pandemic will evolve and our lives will continue to change in the time it will take for this publication to reach you. Please know we have done our best to address this rapidly changing situation based on the information we had available prior to mailing. Stay safe, stay strong, GO BLUE!
SAVE THE DATE!
Celebrating 50 Years of Scholarships at CEW+ This October we hope you will join us for a very unique celebration of the individual stories of growth and development shared by our Scholar community and help welcome our newest Scholars to the CEW+ family. While we don’t know if this will be an in-person or virtual gathering, we do hope you will save the date. Tentative celebration plans that will be responsibly adjusted based on the ongoing impact of COVID-19: October 2, 2020 Rackham Auditorium. Join us for a special evening of storytelling and sharing! (If we are celebrating virtually, this event will move to a new date.) October 3, 2020 Design your own Saturday in Ann Arbor. (Or at home if we are celebrating virtually.) October 4, 2020 Michigan League. Prepare to be inspired as we award the 2020 scholarships and celebrate 50 years of legacy! (This event may become a virtual celebration of our 2020 scholars.)
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For updates to event details and information call 734-764-6360, email contactcew@umich.edu, or visit the CEW+ website at cew.umich.edu.
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