Diversity Week 2005 Monday-Friday, September 26-September 30, 2005 Click here for Program Schedule [pdf] NEW THIS YEAR: Online Teaching Manual Designed for instructors who may wish to incoporate Diversity Week programs into their teachings. The manual includes samples of class syllabus. Promising Scholars Graduate Student Symposium on Diversity
Daily Schedule: Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Workshops | Thursday | Friday Read all program Abstracts

Monday, September 26, 2005

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Tuesday, September 27, 2005

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Wednesday, September 28, 2005

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Wednesday's Workshops

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Thursday, September 29, 2005

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Friday, September 30, 2005

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ABSTRACTS (alphabetic listing)

The Aids Epidemic Facing Black Women. Facilitated by The Lambda Iota Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. 162,000 Blacks are living with AIDS. Blacks account for 42% of new AIDS cases. Black women are diagnosed with AIDS 23x the rate of white women. Get the facts and learn how to protect yourself!

An African Dance Recital. The Alima Dancers. Deriving its name from an Arabic term denoting "those who are skilled in dancing and music", the Alima International Dance Association, comprised of students from Africa, draws its cultural referents for its interactive dance performance from African countries as diverse as Liberia, Cape Verde, Ghana, Gabon, Senegal and Guinea.

Art Exhibit: ※Speaking Volumes.§ curated by Judith Tolnick, Director, Fine Arts Center Galleries. Showcases the talents of four artists who ※speak volumes§ through abstract and representational sculpture and other mixed media, include Artists＊ Books..

Born in the USA: Muslim Americans (Video). Piotr A. Skuza, Graduate Student, English. Insisting that there is a growing need to publicize the positive contributions of Muslim Americans since 9/11, this documentary profiles Muslim Americans from various ethnic and professional backgrounds. It challenges the misrepresentation and under-representation of American Muslims in American discourse by documenting their everyday lives and their contributions to American society.

Choral Performance/Workshop on the Sources and Meanings of Musical Inspiration. The URI Chorus directed by Mark Conley, Assistant Professor, Music followed by a Workshop led by Dr. Eliane Aberdam, Assistant Professor, Music. The annual URI Chorus concert at the Multicultural Center will be presented in conjunction with a workshop intended to enhance awareness of different cultural traditions and their approaches to composing music. Audience will discuss sources of inspiration such as politics, literature, arts, nature and symbolism. The role of emotional and intellectual influences will be presented and debated as well as the degree of importance between text and music.

Community Sing. Organized by Sue Warford, Coordinator, Child Development Center. This workshop presents children in performance as they explore how age-appropriate music can be used to enhance personal growth and development and to increase awareness of diversity.

Creating Affirming Campuses and Families for GLBTQ Students. Andrew Winters, Assistant to the Vice President of Student Affairs for GLBTQ Programs. While institutions of higher education are often more welcoming of GLBTQ persons than society at large, GLBTQ students still frequently feel marginalized on their campuses. This workshop featuring a panel of students will examine the climate and describe challenges faced by many GLBTQ students. In addition, the presentation will discuss how advisors, whether GLBTQ or straight, can partner with GLBTQ students to make the campus a more inclusive and affirming environment.

Cultivating Future Generations for Peacebuilding and World Peace. Dr. Bernard Lafayette, Director, Center for Nonviolence and Peace Studies, and Distinguished Scholar in Residence. A living link to many of the defining moments of the U.S. Civil Rights movement 每 the desegregation of Nashville (TN), the founding of SNCC, voter registration in Selma (AL), the Freedom Rides, and the Poor People＊s Campaign 每 Dr. Lafayette has emerged as one of the nation＊s foremost advocates for international peacebuilding. This workshop introduces participants to ongoing initiatives for peacebuilding and conflict resolution currently underway in countries such as the United States, Colombia, Cuba, Israel, and Puerto Rico, and provides information and advice for those who wish to enlist in and support these international initiatives.

Disability, Identity and Culture (Video). Pamela Rohland, Assistant Director, Disability Services, and Jonathan Corey, Research Associate, Disability Services. Featuring poet/performer Cheryl Marie Wade, this video takes a fresh look at what it means to be disabled in America. It uncovers issues related to the power of language and images, freedom of choice, independent living, community, sexuality, disability pride and the right to live with dignity. Bold and controversial, it mixes artistic expression, politics, and humor to move audiences to a deeper understanding of disability from a minority and cultural perspective.

Diversity: An Appreciation of Difference. Diversity Week Keynote Speaker 每 Peter Roby, Director, Center for the Study of Sport in Society at Northeastern University. The Center is responsible for the management of six programs: (1) Athletes in Service to America, (2) The National Consortium for Academics and Sports, Northeast Regional Office, (3) Project TEAMWORK, (4) Mentors in Violence Prevention, (5) Disability in Sport, (6) Urban Youth Sports. A 1979 graduate of Darthmouth College with a B.A. degree in government, Roby was co-captain of the basketball team. After serving as Assistant Basketball Coach at Stanford University, Darthmouth College, the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, and Harvard University, he was appointed Head Basketball Coach for Harvard University where he served for six seasons. In 1991, he joined Reebok International where he was responsible for the development and execution of marketing plans in the U.S. He also oversaw strategic planning, grassroots marketing, and sponsorships in his capacity as Vice President of U.S. Marketing. He brings over twenty years of experience in athletics and marketing to the Center for Sport and Society.

Dreams of Diversity through Dance. A registered student group at URI, Dreams of Diversity in Dance, popularly known among peers as D3, presents a dance recital which combines cultural referents from ballet, modern dance, Salsa, and merengue with hiphop, West African dance, and various forms of other Latin-inspired dance.

Feathers, Headdresses and Tomahawks: The Portrayal of Native Americans in Media for Youth. Dr. Naomi Caldwell, Assistant Professor, Graduate School of Library Science and Information Studies. Challenging deeply embedded stereotypes, this workshop will compare myths of Native American culture with realities portrayed in classical literature for children and young adults.

Fiesta de Diversidad (Celebration of Diversity). URI Diversity Week Planning Committee, the URI Brazilian/Cape Verdean Capoeira Club, and the URI Breakdance Club. Initiating Diversity Week, this celebration of the cultural and artistic heritages of the diverse social groups that comprise American society is intended to narrate their experience through music, dance, drama, and other modes of expression.

Finding the Balance: We Are Much More Than Our Disability. Dr. Lucille Andreozzi Stern, Post-doctoral Fellow, Counseling Center, and Bette Nee, Coordinator, Disability Services. Students from a disability conversation group will present a brief history of the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, followed by ※To Tell the Truth§ and their own spin on the ※Truth or Crap§ game. A multimedia display of famous people with disabilities will be showcased.

"Fueling the Panic: Media and Immigration Post-9/11" How Has the Media Represented Immigration Issues since 9/11? Dr. Rosaria Pisa, Professor, Sociology & Anthropology. In this workshop we will examine the role of the media in fueling the panic around immigration and so labeled "alien invasions." We will compare past and present representations of immigrants and issues. Looking at images and headlines, we will have a dialogue on how these representations shape your thinking about immigration today.

Gallery Talk. Deborah Muirhead, Professor, Art, University of Connecticut. This talk by an accomplished painter and creator of powerful Artist＊s Books ※seeks to examine the tension between reality and the imagined.§ For nearly twenty years, Professor Muirhead＊s art has been influenced by genealogical research. ※Family history and those of the Diaspora have inspired me to create work that addresses deleted and suppressed stories.§ Based on African-American literature and history, her creation of ※fictional narratives§ yields highly physical sculptural work. She makes her narrative events, including references to her enslaved ancestors, ※concrete by giving them flesh and blood.§

Get up and Dance, led by Hillel Foundation Director Amy Olson and Hillel students. Try your skill at Israeli folk dancing. Even people with no experience can learn these simple circle dances in less than 20 minutes. Watch the leaders, learn the steps, and give it a whirl. Refreshments appropriate to the Fall Jewish Holidays will be served.

Health is Cuba＊s Wealth: An Introduction to the Cuban Health & Mental Health Care System. Dr. Maria Garrido, Adjunct Associate Professor, Psychology. The most advanced medical system found in Latin America, the Cuban health care system is an exemplary model for developing nations as reflected in infant mortality rates and life expectancy rates that are unparalleled in Latin America. Because of its success in providing universal health care, preventative strategies, neighborhood-based family medicine, and innovative public health initiatives, the Cuban health care system has captured the attention of health care researchers and advocates around the World. This workshop provides an introduction to Cuba＊s mental health care system, addressing treatment approaches for behavioral and psychiatric problems, services for children and adolescents, and staff training.

HerStory. Sponsored by Uhuru SaSa, the Division of Student Affairs, Talent Development, and the Multicultural Center. Four of the hippest women and "spoken word" poets in the nation - La Bruja, Catzie Vilayphonh, Yolanda Kae Wilkinson, and Vanessa Hidary - will visit URI for a single performance. These female forces of nature, from diverse cultural backgrounds - Latina, Asian-American, and African-American - perform monologues, skits and poetry growing out of their lived and observed experience in the United States. They present stories of empowerment, sharing tales of women about gender roles that cross boundaries of race, age, body image, skill level, socioeconomic class, and ethnicity. Bridging between present-day experience and a hopeful vision for the future, the poets will inspire, motivate and entertain you in one great show.

History of the Irish in Rhode Island. Dr. Scott Molloy, Professor, Labor Research Center; This presentation will cover the arrival of Irish Catholics in Rhode Island from the 1820＊s until the 1960＊s, and examine major milestones, including the Dorr War in 1842; the John Gordon Murder case in 1845, the Civil War period, the Irish in the labor movement, the role of Irish women; discrimination; political achievements, and so on. Dr. Molloy will circulate original documents from his personal collection.

Hunger in the US: Stories from the Field. Dr. Kathleen Gorman, Director, Feinstein Center for Hunger. This workshop presents testimonies about the impact of hunger; food and security in the United States. Though the effects of hunger are invisible to the majority of Americans, nearly 1 of every 5 children in the U.S. lives in a household with income is below the federal poverty line.

In the Shadow of the Crow: The Legacies of the Narragansetts (Video). Produced by Dr. Alexia Kosmider, Adjunct Professor, English, Rhode Island School of Design, and directed by Leslie Langley, Shifting Visions, this 60-minute documentary film focuses on the Narragansetts as both an urban population and a rural community living on the reservation. Initially begun to inform the general Rhode Island population about the history and the culture of American Indians in contemporary New England, the film discusses the July 14th 2003 smoke shop incident with the Rhode Island State Troopers and addresses some misconceptions that complicate communication and collaboration between the Narragansett people and the majority of Rhode Islanders.

Is it Time to Bring Back the Draft? Dr. Paul Krajeski, Lieutenant Colonel, Military Science. This workshop examines the historic and contemporary adequacy of an all-volunteer military to meet the needs of the nation; explores the impact of engagements in Iraq and Afghanistan on the status of the military and recruiting; and reviews the current debate in the U.S. Congress.

It＊s Elementary: Talking about Gay Issues in School (Video). Dr. Stephen Barber, Associate Professor, English. ※It's Elementary§ examines six American elementary and middle schools, both public and private. The brilliantly framed discussions with children and teens are the main vehicles advancing the film's social change agenda. The producers effectively record and edit the participation of students in activities "addressing lesbian and gay issues" positively and pro-actively. Talks with parents, teachers and administrators are secondary in importance, but still powerfully revealing in their focus and emphasis.

The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini (Book Discussion). Facilitated by Dr. Michael Havener, Professor, & Dr. Cheryl McCarthy, Associate Professor, Graduate School of Library and Information Sciences. Reading Across Rhode Island, a common book program, annually selects a specific text for statewide, cross-curriculum discussion for the purposes of improving literacy and comprehension of complex social issues. The 2005 selection, The Kite Runner, explores the nature of friendship, forgiveness and redemption set against the turbulent background of Kabul, Afghanistan during the mid-1970s. Raised in the same household but separated by class, Amir and his best friend Hassan are inseparable until a tragic event changes their relationship forever. The first Afghan novel written in English, The Kite Runner is the debut novel of Khaled Hosseini, the son of a diplomat, whose family received political asylum in the United States in 1980.

Learn How to Belly Dance: A Middle Eastern Art Form. Led by Nancy Hawksley, Coordinator, Facilities Services. This audience participation session will present basic belly dance movements to authentic (pre-recorded) Middle Eastern music. Wear comfortable clothes and be prepared to lift your arms, move your body and uplift your spirit! Bring a hip scarf if you have one. Men and women, dancers and non-dancers, are welcome!

Making the NBA Safe for Diversity: Bill Russell and Professional Basketball in the 1960's. Dr. Thomas J. Whalen, Assistant Professor, Social Science, Boston University. Thomas J. Whalen is an assistance professor of Social Science at Boston University. His book, Kennedy versus Lodge: The 1952 Massachusetts Senate Race, (2000), has been acclaimed as an important contribution to the political history of New England. In his more recent book, Dynasty＊s End: Bill Russell and the 1968-69 World Champion Boston Celtics (The Sportstown Series), (2003), Whalen chronicles the last season of basketball great Russell＊s career. Set against the backdrop of the turbulent 1960s, he tells the fascinating narrative of how an improbable championship team overcame racial conflict to achieve victory. He recounts how the leadership of Russell helped to transform the game of basketball, and uncovers the difficulties encountered by the Boston Celtics, the first team to overthrow several color lines in developing a relationship with the Boston sports community and media.

Marx in Soho: A Play on History (Dramatic Production) This new play from acclaimed radical historian Howard Zinn (A People's History of the United States), provide an introduction to Karl Marx＊s life, his analysis of society, and his passion for radical social change. Actor Brian Jones plays Karl Marx who has agitated with the authorities of the afterlife for a chance to come back and clear his name. Through a bureaucratic error, Marx is sent to Soho, New York, rather than his old stomping ground in London, to make his case. Jones, an African American actor and activist, has been performing this engaging one-man show across the country since 1999. Having studied acting and directing at Brown University, the charismatic Jones, a teacher in New York City, performs in the role of Marx with comic and political passion.

Mileva Einstein, Dr. Marie Curie, and Dr. Wangari Waathai: Stories of Women Scientists. Karen Stein, Professor, English and Women＊s Studies. This workshop compares the lives, accomplishments and recognition received by Dr. Marie Curie and Mileva Einstein living in the early 20th century, with that of Dr. Wangari Waathai, living at the end of 20th century. These three women scientists from Poland, Russia, and Kenya, respectively, provide the lenses to explore the contributions of women to science, the construction and evolution of gender roles that restrict educational and career opportunities, and strategies to improve opportunities for women.

Minorities and the Media: A Panel Discussion. Kendall Moore, Assistant Professor, Journalism, and John Pantalone, Lecturer, Journalism. This panel discussion will address issues pertaining to race and media, including stereotyping, inclusion and exclusion, audience perceptions, and recommended solutions. It will raise awareness about how the media work, why stereotypes occur, why they are harmful, how diversity is impacting the media, and how media representations might influence discourse and interactions among the races.

Motifs in Islamic Textiles. Abby Lillethun, Assistant Professor, and Margaret Ordonez, Professor, Textiles, Fashion Merchandising and Design. This workshop will display and discuss motifs that are common in Islamic textiles, the meanings of those motifs in cultural context, and their impact upon Western culture. Among the motifs examined are Safavid and Hispano-Moresque geometric forms versus animals and people; and designs in batiks of the Mohammedan courts of Java.

Multicultural Pedagogy: Teaching and Diversity Across the Curriculum. Dr. Lynne Derbyshire, Communication Studies; Dr. Judy A. Van Wyk, Sociology/Anthropology; Dr. Judith Swift, Academic Affairs; Dr. Lisa Bowleg, Psychology, and Dr. Julia Johnson, Communication Studies. Reforms in the General Education curriculum at URI include the skill area ※Examining Human Difference,§ and have revived discussion about the need for, and benefits of, addressing diversity across the curriculum. A concern for many faculty members is the practical application of examining human differences in applied fields of study such as math and statistics, biological and chemical sciences, engineering and business 每 areas that are traditionally non-behavioral sciences. This panel continues discussion on multicultural pedagogy and its practical application, and invites questions and concerns from the teaching community.

Music of the Protest Movements: Group Singing. Ever wondered how to sing some of those old songs from the 60＊s that helped change the country? Participants will sing protest songs to enhance their understanding of the reasons and mechanisms for initiating social transformation. Utilized by the civil rights, anti-war, labor, and immigration movements, these songs typically identify a social problem, suggest a response, appeal to common values, arouse external sympathy and support, and develop group unity. Led by the Cognitive Dissidents.

Music of the Protest Movements: Instructional Jam Session. Dr. Paul Bueno de Mesquita, Psychology; Dr. Steve Wood, Communications; & Dr. Stephen Myles, Counseling Center. A fun, entry-level learning experience for musicians and music lovers that is accessible to anyone who wants to participate. Bring your guitar, banjo, harmonica, or other instruments, or just your voice. The ultimate goal is not perfect rhythm, but the ability to reach the group state of mind. Facilitated by the Cognitive Dissidents. All skill levels invited, beginner to advanced. Words & chords provided. Fun required!

National Student Exchange Discussion Panel. Donna Figueroa, Office of International Education & NSE. A panel consisting of National Student Exchange Participants who have returned from studying on exchange as well as those currently here on exchange. These students will discuss their experience as exchange students in this diverse country as well as take questions from students.

Native Expressions. Organized by Silvermoon Mars, Sociology Alumna. Presenters will use storytelling, music, and dance to introduce Native American life and spirituality in the 21st century. Representatives from the Native American community will describe their experience and history through stories.

New Faces of Feminism: The Fight＊s Not Over! Colleen Hayes-Costello, Kelly Long, and Alexis Cappola, Officers, Promoting Awareness for Gender Equality. This workshop seeks to raise awareness and increase knowledge about the problems of sexism as a constraint to gender equality. Issues of reproductive rights and poverty will be addressed. Information about PAGE will be provided.
Nonviolent Alternatives to the War on Terror. Jonathan Corey, Research Associate, Disability Services. American government leaders postulate that we will have to endure possibly generations of militarized cultural conflict. This workshop will attempt to generate ideas that could compete with the concept of the ※War on Terror§. Participants will discuss ways of approaching international relations other than through armed conflict and suggest ways to share their ideas with others.

Not in Our Town (Video). The video recounts inspiring story of the town Billings, Montana, which joined together as a community to prevent hate crimes and promote a climate of tolerance. Discussion of strategies to recognize and resist bigotry, and to respond to hate crimes will follow.

Open Discussion on Latinos and the Social and Political System in Rhode Island. Facilitated by Dr. Tom Morin, Languages. Open discussion with organization leaders and activists focuses on contemporary political and social movements in Rhode Island, while acquainting participants with central issues for the Latino/a community and the major historical and legislative changes that frame the issues.

Open Mic/Poetry Slam. An ※Open Mic/Poetry Slam§ is a performance event on a stage before an audience, open to anyone who signs up in accordance with the rules of the night. Though the primary focus of performance is poetry, musicians and monologists are always welcome.

Peace and Harmony Meditation. Organized by Dr. Celina Pereira, Physician, Healthy Services, Laurie Johnson, RN, Health Services; Dr. Art Stein, Professor, Political Science; and Clare Sartori-Stein, Instructor, Psychology(CCE), A non-sectarian period of quiet reflection led by URI Mediation Circle instructors, with the objective of promoting peace and harmony individually, on campus, within the city, state, nation and around the world.

Politics of Love 每 in Black and White. Dr. James Campbell, Director, Counseling Center. This is the first documentary to confront inter-racial romance on college campuses. Mixed couples testify to the joys and strengths as well as the pain and anxiety of their relationships, while black and white students opposed to interracial dating argue the personal and political implications of mixed relationships. The film's directors - one black, one white - uncover unspoken community norms and submerged issues of identity.

Poverty: Homegrown in the USA. Dr. Bernice Lott, Professor Emeritus, Psychology. This workshop seeks to develop strategies to decrease the number of children, youth and adults living in poverty in the United States and to improve the life chances of the millions of people who are growing up poor.

Promising Scholars: Graduate Student Research Symposium on Diversity. Moderated by Dr. Paul Bueno de Mesquita, Associate Professor, Psychology. A forum for graduate students to present research on diversity related topics to the campus community and to nurture interaction across disciplinary boundaries. The symposium promotes critical analysis and all forms of broad-based research.

Quiz Show on the Psychology of Prejudice and Discrimination. Organized by Dr. Su Boatright-Horowitz, Assistant Professor, Psychology. Two competing teams of undergraduate students in psychology will answer faculty-designed questions related to issues of prejudice and discrimination. ※Clicker§ technology with PowerPoint will be used to record team responses and determine scores.

Race and the Criminal Justice System in Rhode Island. Dr. Leo Carroll, Professor, Sociology & Anthropology. Focusing on race, economics and criminal justice, this workshop examines the report of the Rhode Island Attorney General＊s Task Force on Racial Profiling. 1) What is the statistical portrait of racial and ethnic minorities in Rhode Island? 2) How does this portrait compare to majority populations? 3) Are there obstacles to racial parity in the criminal justice system in Rhode Island? 4) What reforms in public policy, if any, should be introduced to encourage equitable treatment, and to overcome the effect of race and class inequality?

Reflections about Hurricane Katrina and the tragedy in New Orleans and Mississippi. Dr. James Campbell, Counseling Center. This workshop provides an opportunity for participants to collaboratively examine and reflect upon the long term impact of Hurricane Katrina and its implications for the economy, health, and civic and social relations. Special attention will be given to the present and future roles that participants can play in responding to the long-term effects of Hurricane Katrina and preserving the quality of life in America society.

Research in Cuba. Dr. Marshall Feldman, Associate Professor, Community Planning. An overview of the past accomplishments in the future plans for URI's Summer Program in Cuba will be presented. In the past, the program has featured a health track and an urban studies track. Leading Cuban scholars and practitioners in their fields have taught in the program, which is taught in English and in Spanish with English translation. The program has been housed at the world-renowned Casa de las Americas in Havana. For more information, visit http://www.uri.edu/summer/cuba/introduction.html

Sexual Orientation and Marriage. Dr. Albert Lott, Professor Emeritus, Psychology; This workshop will explore and discuss an affirmative approach to gay marriage as sound social policy. It will look at federal rights accorded to married individuals, and examine the proposition that American society would benefit by permitting gay individuals to participate in the obligations and traditions of marriage.

Scenes from ※The Diary of Anne Frank§. Directed by Bryna Wortman, Assistant Professor, Theater Scenes from URI＊s Spring 2005 performance of ※The Diary of Anne Frank§ by Francis Goodrich and Albert Hackett. This new adaptation by Wendy Kesselman tells the story of Anne Frank, a gifted young girl, who confronts the rapidly-changing and constricting environment of Amsterdam in the early 1940s with honesty, wit and determination. A facilitated discussion about perceptions of ※difference§ and prejudice as a cause of the Holocaust and other genocides will follow the presentation.

The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down by Anne Fadiman (Book Discussion). Facilitated by Dr. Susan Roush, Physical Therapy Program and College of Human Science and Services,In the 1960s, the CIA recruited a primitive but fiercely independent people in Laos -- the mountain farmer/nomads known as the Hmong -- to fight the Communist forces, and all but promised to take care of them if they and the US lost. When the war was lost, many of the Hmong were abandoned to imprisonment and death, but those who were "rescued" and brought to the states fared no better: Their clans were dispersed, their culture all but destroyed, and their lives battered and often ended by American prejudice and well-meaning ignorance. All this is background to Fadiman's tale of one particular family in Merced, California whose daughter has epilepsy -- the book's title comes from the Hmong phrase for it, "quag dab peg" -- and how even the sophisticated, sympathetic American medical system and its practitioners all but kill her in their efforts to help her. This deeply compassionate and gripping acccount won the National Book Critics Circle Award, and is both spellbinding and heartbreaking.

Stress Reduction for a Healthier Life Dr. Celina Pereira, Physician, Laurie Johnson, RN, & Jan Barron, Senior Clerk Stenographer, Health Services. This workshop will teach you to use your inner resources to relieve stress through practical mind and body awareness techniques, including meditation and breath to increase mindfulness. Participants may gain the ability to experience life more fully and to respond more effectively to their surroundings.

Tracing Your Ancestors to Africa. Elsiecheyenne Mate, Alonzo Parker, and Vladine Biosse, Officers, The Educational Empowerment Program of Mother Africa. This workshop presents information on the continent of Africa as the historical and cultural birthplace of African-American identity, and provides suggestions as to how individuals can conduct genealogical research.

URI Pangaea Roots Music 2005, featuring Jennifer Roland. Born in a tiny fishing community on Cape Breton, Jennifer is the youngest of ten children. Music surrounded her from the moment she was born: her father played fiddle, and the family always enjoyed kitchen parties and ceilidhs. By age three, Jennifer was playing the piano by ear. By six, she was taking dance lessons. At nine, Jennifer Roland began studying the fiddle with Kyle MacNeil, and in 1997 she released her debut CD, "DEDICATION." Fans adored Jennifer and the rollercoaster of emotions through which she took them. Jennifer developed an avid following after performances at Disney World in Florida, in Colorado, Maine, throughout Europe and all around Canada＊s Atlantic provinces. Her mastery of the fiddle combined with her dynamic stepdancing and creative choreography make a Jennifer Roland concert and an incredible event. For more information, visit http://www.jenniferroland.com

What ※Every Body§ Needs. Laurie Johnson, RN, Roger Jadosz, RN, and Susan Ash, RD, Health Services. This workshop presents strategies for achieving holistic wellness with special emphasis on how to manage care of the body. Current information clearly indicates that the pursuit of wellness as a way of life is correlated to increased quality of life and success in reaching personal goals.

Where are all the Women in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics? Dr. Joan Peckham, Professor, Computer Science & Dr. Barbara Silver, Assistant Professor, Women Studies, and Director, NSF Advance Program. Roundtable will focus on the reasons women are underrepresented in the Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics (STEM) disciplines, especially at higher ranks, and why we need them there. Participants will discuss the impact of women faculty and professionals as role models and mentors for women considering a STEM major or career.