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Credible Sources is a video podcast brought to you by the National University Library. In each episode, we talk with the NU community about a wide range of academic topics revolving around research, collaboration, and communication. We invite you to listen in as we dive into some of the latest issues while also exploring the personal journey of our guests. Want to join the conversation? Contact us about participating in a future episode.
Dr. Kevin Wright discusses advocacy for diversity, equity, and inclusion in education and other sectors, as well as challenges in implementing change and supporting historically marginalized students. More...
Born from a lineage of African, Creole, and Indigenous ancestry, Dr. Wright has been responsible for raising consciousness, building skills and developing strategies to socialize and operationalize equity efforts throughout organizations. Wright's commitment to racial justice, equity, and inclusion is rooted in his approach with shifting cultures and processes one system at a time to advocate for individuals with historically marginalized identities.
In this episode, Dr. Wright addresses 6 key areas:
Connect with Dr. Wright on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/kevinwright2092/.
Dr. Tara Rava Zolnikov is an associate professor at National University in the School of Health Professions in the Department of Healthcare Leadership, whose research focuses on aspects of culture in global health. Dr. Zolnikov teaches courses in both the BPH and MPH program; her primary courses are environmental health and global health. More...
Dr. Zolnikov earned a Ph.D. in Developmental Science from North Dakota State University and an M.S. in Environmental Health from Harvard School of Public Health and a second M.S. in Industrial Hygiene from Montana Tech of the University of Montana. She also earned a B.S. degree in Biological Sciences from Montana Tech of the University of Montana. Dr. Zolnikov works internationally on issues in low- and middle-income countries, including Kenya, Ghana, India, Colombia, and Brazil. She has worked on a variety of public health projects, ranging from infectious diseases (including Ebola and HIV/AIDS) to access to water projects. She is primarily a qualitative researcher and concentrates on providing vulnerable populations with a voice.
Additionally, Dr. Zolnikov is the vice president of a nonprofit organization, The Shepherd’s Village, which focuses on providing access to water to Maasai communities in Kenya. Dr. Zolnikov has published extensively in some of the world’s most renowned public health and global health journals, including the American Journal of Public Health, AIDS and Behavior, Science of the Total Environment, and many more. She has also written and published two books, which focus on qualitative research and environmental health. In 2017, she received Editors Choice Reviewer of the Year Award at the American Journal in Public Health.
Dr. Tim Pettit is an Associate Professor and Academic Program Director for the Bachelor of Arts in Management degree, the BBA Concentration in Logistics and Supply Chain Management and the MBA Specialization in Supply Chain Management within the College of Professional Studies at National University. He instructs graduate and undergraduate courses in Management, Supply Chain Management, Leadership, Technology Innovation, and Management Science. More...
In addition, he is a member of his field’s premier professional organization, the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. He is a world-wide lecturer and researcher on Supply Chain Risk and Resilience. Previous to National University, Dr. Pettit served on the faculty at the U.S. Air Force Academy and the Air Force Institute of Technology. He retired from the Air Force after 24 years in logistics and aircraft maintenance, where he led combat units and support forces around the world.
Associate Professor Brian Arnold works within SCOE Teacher Education as the Academic Program Director for the Master of Science in Educational and Instructional Technology program. Formerly the Academic Program Director for the BA in Film Arts and Digital Media Design programs, Brian has a long history of working-teaching-learning-researching at the intersection of education and the media arts. More...
Currently a doctoral candidate through Michigan State University’s Educational Psychology and Educational Technology program, his career highlights include working as an Editor for Nickelodeon Animation Studios and running Video Game related undergraduate programs.
Alessandra White is a student in the B.S. in Allied Health program and recipient of National University's Honors Fellows for Social Change Scholarship. She joins us as the first of (hopefully) many students to share insights into the student experience.
Spshelle Rutledge is a U.S. Marine Corps veteran and a graduate of the Master of Public Health program at National University. She currently serves as an outreach coordinator for Breaking Down Barriers under Jewish Family Services of San Diego, where she works to help reduce mental health stigma and discrimination. She kindly asks that you fill out this short survey after watching this episode. Thank you! More...
Laurie Balsano Wright is an elementary school principal from Northern California and a current doctoral student in the Ed.D. in Organizational Innovation program at National University. She has 21 years of experience in the field of education. More...
Laurie shares her enthusiasm for serving students, talks about why research support from the library is critical, and discusses the reasons why she chose the Ed.D. program at National University. She also shares her innovative ideas that she plans to fulfill when she completes the program.
Rachel Arnold is a graduate (class of 2022) from the Masters of Science in Designing Instructional and Educational Technology (MSDIET) Program in the Sanford College of Education at National University. She joins us to talk about preparing for the MSDIET program, time management skills, and building a network now.
In this special commencement edition of Credible Sources, we combine two in-depth interviews as we catch up with Dr. Laurie Balsano Wright and speak with Dr. Sam Humphrey. Listen in as they talk about their experience as members of the first cohort for the Ed.D. in Organizational Innovation and share advice for future graduates.
Scott Campbell is a Professor in the Department of Professional Studies. He holds an MFA in Interdisciplinary Arts, an MS in Instructional Technology and a BA in Speech Communication. He teaches classes in digital media, oral communication and educational technology. His research agenda focuses on documentary film on various topics and lengths including social justice, healthcare and the autism community. He is active in volunteer work in the public school system and committee work at National University. His hobbies include running and travel with an emphasis on national parks. More...
In this episode, Prof. Campbell talks about two major projects from this year. First, the revision to the entire Digital Media Design program, and second, his documentary film "Down on the Ranch", recently screened at two film festivals, one in Palm Springs, and the most recent screening at the GI Film Festival at the Museum of Photographic Art, Balboa Park, San Diego.
Dr. Patricia Dickenson was a classroom teacher and a mathematics coach for the Los Angeles Unified School district. She received her doctorate from the University of Southern California in 2009. Her research examines teacher professional development in the area of mathematics and technology. More...
She is the course lead for ITL 516 Mathematics Integrative Design and ITL 518 Science Integrative Design. She is a regular writer on her website Teacher Prep Tech and can be found on twitter @teacherpreptech.
Social emotional learning is the focus of this episode as we speak with two recent graduates of the Master of Arts in SEL program at National University, Jessica Becherini and Jessica Hewitt. They discuss their experiences, research, and how the knowledge they gained in social emotional learning impacts their chosen career paths. More...
Jessica Becherini is a special education resource teacher in Spokane Public Schools. She specializes in kindergarten through second grade. Although most of her experience has been as a resource teacher serving students through eighth grade, she also has been a general education teacher in first grade. She is passionate about facilitating the development of social and emotional skills through the power of play. As a non-traditional student, Mrs. Becherini graduated from Campbell University in North Carolina, receiving her teaching credentials at age 40. She recently obtained her master’s degree in Social Emotional Learning from National University. Having spent years advocating for and even homeschooling her own four children in response to their variety of special needs and giftedness, Mrs. Becherini delights in overcoming challenges and celebrating triumphs, especially in the Title 1 schools where she has spent most of her teaching career. She lives in Spokane with her husband of 27 years, their youngest son, age 19, and two fur babies.
Jessica Hewitt has created outdoor education classes that center around supporting families at play while offering nature related themes tied to mindfulness, yoga, and SEL. She also consults with families on an individual basis, working with parents to find creative ways to build on their strengths, restore family balance, find ways to play, and lean into joy. A recent opportunity offered her the privilege to utilize her new SEL knowledge by offering family yoga to encourage connection through breath work and yoga sequences centered on social emotional learning competencies. With the Sanford Harmony scholarship through NU, she has become an ambassador for the Harmony SEL program which she hopes will expand her knowledge and capability to provide families tools to be successful. As part of the NU MA SEL program, Jessica was able to conduct research in an area she is passionate about, building family connections through play. She has plans to continue research in this area in the hopes of shining a light on the benefits of building SEL with families as a unit through play.
The conversation about social emotional learning continues in this episode as we speak with two recent graduates of the Master of Arts in SEL program at National University, Jessica Becherini and Jessica Hewitt. They discuss action research, putting SEL knowledge to work, finding the SEL program, library and faculty support, the Sanford Harmony SEL Scholarship, and the increased value and need of SEL. More...
Jessica Becherini is a special education resource teacher in Spokane Public Schools. She specializes in kindergarten through second grade. Although most of her experience has been as a resource teacher serving students through eighth grade, she also has been a general education teacher in first grade. She is passionate about facilitating the development of social and emotional skills through the power of play. As a non-traditional student, Mrs. Becherini graduated from Campbell University in North Carolina, receiving her teaching credentials at age 40. She recently obtained her master’s degree in Social Emotional Learning from National University. Having spent years advocating for and even homeschooling her own four children in response to their variety of special needs and giftedness, Mrs. Becherini delights in overcoming challenges and celebrating triumphs, especially in the Title 1 schools where she has spent most of her teaching career. She lives in Spokane with her husband of 27 years, their youngest son, age 19, and two fur babies.
Jessica Hewitt has created outdoor education classes that center around supporting families at play while offering nature related themes tied to mindfulness, yoga, and SEL. She also consults with families on an individual basis, working with parents to find creative ways to build on their strengths, restore family balance, find ways to play, and lean into joy. A recent opportunity offered her the privilege to utilize her new SEL knowledge by offering family yoga to encourage connection through breath work and yoga sequences centered on social emotional learning competencies. With the Sanford Harmony scholarship through NU, she has become an ambassador for the Harmony SEL program which she hopes will expand her knowledge and capability to provide families tools to be successful. As part of the NU MA SEL program, Jessica was able to conduct research in an area she is passionate about, building family connections through play. She has plans to continue research in this area in the hopes of shining a light on the benefits of building SEL with families as a unit through play.
Deborah Nabubwaya Chambers, MPH, MHA, is a Public Health Program Coordinator with expertise in managing diverse undergraduate and graduate public health and healthcare administration programs. Along with her professional accomplishments, Ms. Chambers is a children’s book author, health promoter and global health researcher. She is currently pursuing a Doctorate in Health Administration at National University. She earned a B.A. degree in Psychology from Daystar University, Kenya, a Master of Public Health and a Master of Healthcare Administration program from the National University, San Diego, CA. More...
Ms. Chambers is also involved in qualitative health research in Kenya and the United States and collaborates with healthcare administrators at the American Public Health Association (APHA). She is an active member of the Engagement and Mentoring Committees, Co-Chair, and Campus Liaison under the APHA Student Assembly. Additionally, Ms. Chambers serves as a Co-Chair of the Daystar University Alumni Association (DUAA), her alma mater diaspora chapter.
Deborah Nabubwaya Chambers, MPH, MHA, is a Public Health Program Coordinator with expertise in managing diverse undergraduate and graduate public health and healthcare administration programs. Along with her professional accomplishments, Ms. Chambers is a children’s book author, health promoter and global health researcher. She is currently pursuing a Doctorate in Health Administration at National University. She earned a B.A. degree in Psychology from Daystar University, Kenya, a Master of Public Health and a Master of Healthcare Administration program from the National University, San Diego, CA. More...
Ms. Chambers is also involved in qualitative health research in Kenya and the United States and collaborates with healthcare administrators at the American Public Health Association (APHA). She is an active member of the Engagement and Mentoring Committees, Co-Chair, and Campus Liaison under the APHA Student Assembly. Additionally, Ms. Chambers serves as a Co-Chair of the Daystar University Alumni Association (DUAA), her alma mater diaspora chapter.
In this episode, we’ll hear recent comments from leading voices on AI at National University, including Dr. Brian Arnold (Department Chair of GSET, Sanford College of Education), Dr. Jodi Reeves (Department Chair, Data Science), Dr. Susan Zukowski (VP of Professional and Continuing Education, Workforce Education Solutions), and Dr. Steve Johnson (Senior VP Innovation). More...
Comments come from the August 2023 Community Town Hall, the Ethical Approach to ChatGPT webinar from April 2023, and Unraveling the Wonders of AI and ChatGPT presented by CSEA, The Center for Student Engagement and Activities at National University from August 2023.
Make sure to also check out the library's Artificial Intelligence guide, which is designed to help answer questions and provide resources regarding AI, ChatGPT, Large Language Models, and their relationship to academics.
In this episode, titled “Collaboration and Partnerships: The Catalyst for Student Success”, we hear from two NU staff members on the collaborative efforts to reduce the cost of learning materials and design courses that inspire our students. More...
Supporting our students' academic journey at National University is a collaborative effort that takes coordination, especially when it comes to course development.
We’ll look at how the library is fully engaged and integrated into the course design and development process, and how we ramped up our support for faculty course authors during 2023 with our OER and Curriculum Support team. We’ll also hear from a Learning Experience Designer on the NU Learning Experience (LeX) Team.
In our previous episode, we heard from two NU staff members, OER and Curriculum Support Librarian Hannah White and Learning Experience Designer Katie Ryan, about the course development process. In this episode, we continue the conversation as we dig a bit deeper into the development process, including a unique story of how the Learning Experience Designer assigned to a course had her professional and personal life merge positively, culminating in a collaboration with the 3D Innovations Lab at Rady Children’s Hospital in San Diego.
Breaking news! Starting on April 1, 2024, Smart Search will be going away. This was the library's universal search tool for NU (class-based) students. It is being replaced by NavigatorSearch, which uses EBSCO Discovery Service. Learn more in this informative video.
Episode 19 of the Credible Sources podcast focuses on the Academic Engagement & Support team at National University, highlighting the comprehensive services they offer to support student success at the undergraduate and graduate levels for all programs. The podcast draws parallels between academic and athletic success, emphasizing the importance of a support network in achieving goals, and underscores the vital role of the Academic Success Center (ASC), the Library, and The Commons in providing wraparound support to students at National University. More...
These services include academic coaching, Alumni Navigators, tutoring in writing and math, and proofreading, and a full range of research support options from library staff, with a particular emphasis on connecting live to staff as well as producing an incredible curated collection of media for 24/7 access. The podcast also shares a poignant story of a homeless student seeking help, illustrating the OERCS (Open Educational Resources & Curriculum Support) team's dedication to removing barriers to education. The ASC aims to help students unlock their potential, achieve greatness, and positively impact their communities.
Credible Sources Episode 19 - Summary and Key Points
For more information, please visit the following links:
https://library.nu.edu
https://resources.nu.edu/research
https://resources.nu.edu/learn
https://resources.nu.edu/academicsuccesscenter
https://resources.nu.edu/StrongStart
https://resources.nu.edu/studystrategiesandresources/workshop
https://resources.nu.edu/studystrategiesandresources/powerhours
https://resources.nu.edu/studystrategiesandresources/navigators
https://resources.nu.edu/studystrategiesandresources/Navigatorchat
In this episode, we chat with Mansi Thakar about cybersecurity and debunk some of the myths and stereotypes associated with hackers. Often referred to as the "Doctor of Digital Hygiene," Mansi is a dedicated faculty member at National University for the Bachelor of Science and Master of Science Cybersecurity programs. She teaches courses ranging from Ethical Hacking and System Architecture to Cybersecurity Policy and Assurance. More...
With over a decade of industry experience, she has been a pivotal figure in global vulnerability management and threat intelligence teams for FinTechs and multinational corporations, currently applying her expertise to secure Artificial Intelligence (AI) at NVIDIA. Thakar is a strong advocate of the philosophy "lifting while climbing," leading non-profits that enhance technical skills and promote diversity. Renowned for her sustainable and innovative ideas, she has a proven track record of successful implementation. Additionally, Thakar plays a prominent role in the PBS documentary Life Hackers and dedicates her summers to safeguarding the “most hostile network on the planet” as a DEFCON NOC Goon.
Prof. Thakar is a nominee for Venture Beat Women in AI Award Rising Star for 2024. You can find her on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/mansithakar/.
Credible Sources Episode 20 - Summary and Key Points
For this special episode, we shine a spotlight on leaders and support staff at National University featured on previous episodes of the Credible Sources podcast. These remarkable individuals are shattering glass ceilings, championing transformative initiatives, strengthening student success, and serving as powerful role models.
This episode revisits Dr. Sam Humphrey and Dr. Laurie Balsano Wright, the first two graduates from National University's Ed.D. in Organizational Innovation in the Sanford College of Education. They share highlights from their journey through the doctoral program, the challenges they faced, and the support they received from their families and from National University's academic services. Hear about where they are now, their excitement for the next phase of learning and professional growth, and the value of their doctoral journey.
Tanya Stewart shares her story of being a Native American, Air Force veteran, and doctoral student in cybersecurity. From joining the military to serving in Afghanistan, she has overcome obstacles and strives to give back to her Zuni Pueblo community. As she pursues her Ph.D., she reflects on the importance of technology and education in Native American communities.
