Scholarship through adversity: First-generation student experiences, challenges and insights during COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic, and our response to this disease, have underscored deep, persistent societal inequities. The Emergency Preparedness, Ethics and Equity Series will explore how we can continue to foster inclusive excellence and health equity during the most turbulent of times. Speakers will explore ways to consistently apply culturally relevant, ethical and equitable decision-making so that the most vulnerable among us are not left further disenfranchised post-Covid-19.  You must REGISTER to attend.  Hosted by the Office of Inclusive Excellence in the Gillings School of Global Public Health.

Moderator:

Yesenia Merino, PhD, MPH, Director of Inclusive Excellence Education and Training, Gillings School of Global Public Health, UNC-Chapel Hill
Dr. Merino is director of inclusive excellence education and training, where she develops research projects related to inclusion in academic public health, creates and delivers trainings on inclusion and anti-racism and engages partners throughout university and local communities to improve the inclusive environment at the Gillings School. An alumna of health behavior, she conducts mixed methods research on institutional racism and health.

Panelists:
Stefani Baca-Atlas,MSW, Doctoral Student, UNC-Chapel Hill
Ms. Baca-Atlas is a fourth-year, first-generation doctoral student at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Her dissertation focuses on the role of structural violence in creating vulnerabilities that increase exposure to potentially traumatic events and health disparities among Latinx people. Stefani is an advisory board member of Carolina Grad Students F1RSTS, an initiative administered by The Graduate School’s Diversity and Student Success program.

Ms. Jones serves as assistant dean of students and adjunct instructor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Dawna is a social worker and a committed community advocate. She chairs the Carolina Black Caucus and UNC Financial Literacy Consortium and is a member of the Carolina FIRSTS Advisory Board. She also serves as an affordable housing advocate on the Chapel Hill Housing Advisory Board.

Maria Dykema Erb, MEd, Co-Director of Diversity & Student Success, UNC-Chapel Hill
Ms. Erb is the co-director of diversity and student success in the Graduate School at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Much of her work impacts the retention of underrepresented students. She directs the following initiatives: Carolina Grad Student F1RSTS, Global Grads, Military-Affiliated Grads, QGAPS (Queer Graduate and Professional Students) and the APIDA (Asian Pacific Islander Desi American) Grads empowerment group.

Please visit our website to view our other webinars of the series.