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In Celebration of the Inauguration of
Dr. David M. Dooley

Academic Symposium I -- Wednesday, April 7, 2010, 9:30 - 11 a.m.

The Role of the University in Transforming Education,
Economic Development, Healthcare, and Social Justice

Moderator

Laurie White '81, President, Providence Chamber of Commerce
As President since 2005 of Rhode Island's oldest and largest business advocacy association, Laurie is responsible for the development of the Chamber's program of work; organizational structure, budget and long range plan for its 2,700 member companies. Prior to her Presidency, she was Senior Vice President of the Greater Providence Chamber of Commerce, In 2002, she earned the designation Certified Chamber Executive (CCE) from the American Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives and is the only Chamber professional in Rhode Island to hold that national distinction. She received her B. A. in Journalism from URI in 1981.

Panelists

Education: Dr. David Byrd, Professor, directs the School of Education and plays a pivotal role in the restructuring of Central Falls High School to improve educational performance. He is also co-PI on The Rhode Island Teacher Education Renewal (RITER) $7.5M project to improve teacher education that focuses on effective strategies for working with students from poverty, English language learners, and students with disabilities.

Labor: Dr. Matthew Bodah, URI Associate Professor of Labor and Industrial Relations, is engaged in the economic development of the state of Rhode Island as well as the life of the University. Currently serving as chair of the Economics Department, he is also Research Director of the Schmidt Labor Research Center, is active in the Work-Life Committee, and is one of four faculty in a statewide consortium recently funded to address shortages of nurses statewide. He co-edited Workplace Injuries and Diseases (2005) and has served as editor of Rhode Island Citizen.

Food: Ms. Linda Sebelia is a nutrition specialist for cooperative extension who specializes in nutrition with vulnerable populations. Her research interests include weight management in adolescents and adults, childhood obesity, maternal and child health, food behavior management, risk assessment, and community assessment. She has focused on the urban poor and other underserved populations.

Health: Dr. Diane Martins, Associate Professor of Nursing, is engaged in research and scholarly work with vulnerable populations in the community including a study of the homeless person's health care experiences, analysis of food insufficiency and hunger with homeless families, strategies used to survive in the lives of woman facing adversity, and methods to increase nursing students' knowledge and appreciation with older adults in the community. Dr. Martins has co-authored articles on risk and vulnerability, and elder abuse.

Workforce: Ms. Kendall Moore, Associate Professor of Journalism and documentary filmmaker in the Harrington School of Communication and Media, has focused on local, national, and international issues related to global workforce development, underrepresented groups, sick buildings, and social justice. One of her recent films, The Good Radical, featured the life and work of African-American professor and political activist, Dr. Cynthia Hamilton.