Fulton Schools of Engineering Education Seminars (SEEdS) – Humanizing STEM: Reparative Humanism in Higher Education
Guest Speaker: Mays Imad
Date: November 15, 2024| 12:00 – 1:00pm MST
Location: Zoom
Seminar Description: In a world increasingly confronted with global crises and technological advancements, asking “What does it mean to be human in the academy and in STEM?” is more critical than ever. This seminar, inspired by South African scholar Pumla Gobodo-Madikizela, introduces the concept of “Reparative Humanism” to the STEM fields. We will explore how integrating this ethic of care can transform higher education. Participants will discuss strategies for engendering forward-looking academic spaces where all students can flourish, thus enhancing the overall wellbeing of our educational communities.
Mays Imad, PhD academic journey began at the University of Michigan–Dearborn, where she pursued philosophy and minored in chemistry. She earned a doctoral degree in cellular & clinical neurobiology, with a minor in biomedical sciences, from Wayne State University School of Medicine in Detroit. Following a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Arizona’s Department of Neuroscience, she joined Pima Community College (PCC), where she taught a variety of biology-related subjects. During her tenure at PCC, she founded their Teaching and Learning Center (TLC). Throughout her education and professional journey, Imad has maintained a keen interest in exploring how the nervous system perceives and interacts with the world, which has deeply influenced her approach to both teaching and research.
Currently serving as an associate professor at Connecticut College, Imad is focused on understanding the social determinants of student wellbeing and success and conducts research on equity pedagogy. Her work reflects a deep commitment to equity and justice in and through education. With fervor, she advocates for institutions to pay close attention to intergenerational trauma and to prioritize repair, healing, and growth. She holds fellowships with the Gardner Institute, AAC&U as a Senior STEM Fellow, the Mind and Life Institute, and is a Research Fellow at the Centre for the Study of the Afterlife of Violence and the Reparative Quest (AVReQ).
More about Fulton Schools of Engineering Education Seminars (SEEdS)
LTH will continue to host monthly guest speaker seminars for the community to regularly learn about and discuss topics related to Engineering Education. The seminars, formerly known as the Teaching Community of Practice (TCP), are open to anyone interested in the FSE community.
Third Fridays | 12pm-1pm MST | via Zoom
- Friday, September 20, 2024: Does Adaptive Teaching Improve Flipped Classrooms? Insights from applying adaptive learning to a higher-level course at three universities with guest speaker, Saurav Kumar (ASU)
- Friday, October 18, 2024: Surviving and Thriving in a Generative AI Future, with guest speaker Andrew Maynard (ASU)
- Friday, November 15, 2024: Reparative Humanism and Agreements in STEM with guest speaker, Mays Imad (Connecticut College)