Endeavors (Fall 2021)

Simone B. Alter-Muri, EdD, professor of art therapy/counseling, created large paintings of butterflies to support the opening reception for the “45,000 Immigration Justice Quilt” in September 2021. With the help of a dozen of her graduate students, Alter-Muri placed the artwork at Pulaski Park in Northampton, Mass., where the quilt was located as part of a traveling exhibit.

Kyle Belanger, MA, assistant professor of communications, served as the live host of the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame 60 Days of Summer interview series and as backstage host for the Spalding Hoophall Classic enshrinement awards ceremony in 2021. He has served in this capacity since 2016.

Maria D’Agostino Crawford, BS, MBA, associate director of alumni relations, was a guest on the podcast "3, 2, 1 iRelaunch" in September 2021. After taking an eight-year career break to care for her two daughters, Crawford discussed her part- to full-time approach to relaunching her career and her progression to where she is today. She also explained the benefits of intentionally taking a lower-level position when transitioning to a full-time role.
 

Laurel Davis-Delano, PhD, professor of sociology, testified before the Massachusetts legislature in 2021 on the following bills: “An Act establishing Indigenous Peoples Day” (before the Joint Committee on State Administration and Regulatory Oversight); “An Act relative to celebrating and teaching Native American culture and history;” and “An Act prohibiting the use of Native American mascots by public schools in the Commonwealth” (both before the Joint Education Committee).

Justine Dymond, MFA, PhD, associate professor of literature, writing, and journalism, was one of 10 storytellers selected to participate in the New England Public Media Valley Voices Story Slam and who performed a true story live without notes at Gateway City Arts in Holyoke, Mass., in October 2021. The theme of the story slam was “Let Me Explain” and Dymond performed her story “Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood.” Dymond also was selected to participate as part of the virtual week-long African American Policy Forum Critical Race Theory Summer School in August 2021 under the theme “Forbidden knowledge' fights back: Unleashing the transformative power of critical race theory.” She also was selected to participate in the Kenyon Review Writers' Workshop for creative nonfiction and studied with award-winning essayist Dinty W. Moore in June 2021.

Chris Hakala, PhD, professor of psychology and director of the Center for Excellence in Teaching, Learning, and Scholarship, produced a course on the topic of course design for England-based company OneHE. The course is designed for faculty development staff to use to prime their colleagues for engagement in face-to-face conversation on the topic. Hakala designed the course with the intent of helping faculty members with strategies that support student learning and that encourage backwards design to better prepare courses.

James G. O’Brien, PhD, professor of physics and mathematics and chair of the Department of Mathematics, Physics, and Computer Science, presented “Teaching Through Gaming” as part of the "Physics Alive!" podcast in summer 2021.

Amanda M. Rodriguez, OTD, assistant professor of occupational therapy, provided virtual oral testimony to the Joint Committee on Financial Services of the Massachusetts legislature in support of House Bill 1114, “An Act Relative to Mental Health Providers” in October 2021. The proposed legislation calls for recognition of occupational therapy practitioners as qualified mental health practitioners for insurance reimbursement in Massachusetts.