U.S. Public and Private Higher Education
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University of California: Scientists Can Reverse Brain Aging in Fruit Flies by Preventing Buildup of a Common Protein
LOS ANGELES, California, Oct. 29 (TNSres) -- The University of California issued the following news release:
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Key takeaways
* Buildup of a protein called filamentous actin, or F-actin, in the brain inhibits the removal of cellular wastes, including DNA, lipids, proteins and organelles.
* The resulting accumulation of waste diminishes neuronal functions and contributes to cognitive decline.
* By tweaking a few very specific genes in the neurons of aging fruit flies, the researchers prevented F-actin buildup, maintained cellular recycling and extended the healthy lifespan of fruit flies
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LOS ANGELES, California, Oct. 29 (TNSres) -- The University of California issued the following news release:
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Key takeaways
* Buildup of a protein called filamentous actin, or F-actin, in the brain inhibits the removal of cellular wastes, including DNA, lipids, proteins and organelles.
* The resulting accumulation of waste diminishes neuronal functions and contributes to cognitive decline.
* By tweaking a few very specific genes in the neurons of aging fruit flies, the researchers prevented F-actin buildup, maintained cellular recycling and extended the healthy lifespan of fruit fliesby approximately 30%.
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Humans aren't the only ones who grow forgetful as they age -- fruit flies do, too. But because fruit flies have a lifespan of only about two months, they can be a useful model for understanding the cognitive decline that comes with aging.
A new study published in Nature Communications shows that when a common cell structural protein called filamentous actin, or F-actin, builds up in the brain, it inhibits a key process that removes unnecessary or dysfunctional components within cells, including DNA, lipids, proteins and organelles. The resulting accumulation of waste diminishes neuronal functions and contributes to cognitive decline. By tweaking a few specific genes in aging fruit flies' neurons, the researchers prevented F-actin buildup, maintained cellular recycling and extended the healthy lifespan of fruit flies by approximately 30%.
Actin, a family of proteins that help give cells their shape, are abundant throughout the body. F-actin forms filaments that are essential for maintaining cell structure and many other functions. The researchers, led by former postdoctoral scholar Edward (Ted) Schmid in David Walker's lab, noticed F-actin buildup in the brains of aging fruit flies and wondered if it contributed to brain aging and overall loss of organismal health.
Their first clue of a correlation: Flies on a restricted diet both lived longer and had less F-actin buildup in their brains. Their second clue: When treated with a drug known to extend lifespan, called rapamycin, there was also less F-actin in the brains of aged flies.
"But that's correlation, not a direct demonstration that F-actin is detrimental to aging of the brain," said Walker, senior author and UCLA professor of integrative biology and physiology. "To get at causality, we turned to genetics."
Because the fruit fly genome is thoroughly mapped and understood, the group was able to target in aging fruit flies genes that are known to play important roles in the accumulation of actin filaments. That included a gene called Fhos, a member of a family of proteins known to elongate and organize actin filaments.
"When we reduced Fhos expression in aging neurons, it prevented the accumulation of F-actin in the brain," said Schmid, now an investigator at the Arkansas Biosciences Institute and assistant professor at Arkansas State University. "This really allowed us to expand our study because now, we had a direct way to target F-actin accumulation in the brain and study how it affects the aging process."
Even though the genetic intervention was targeted to just neurons, it improved the flies' overall health. They lived 25-30% longer, while showing signs of improved brain function as well as markers of improved health in other organ systems. Preventing F-actin accumulation protected cognitive function, which shows the buildup is driving age-onset cognitive decline.
"Flies get more forgetful as they age, and their ability to learn and remember declines in middle age, just like it does in people," Walker said. "If we prevent accumulation of F-actin, it helps the flies learn and remember when older -- which tells us the buildup is not benign."
Further investigation showed the F-actin was interfering with the body's "cellular garbage disposal system." Damaged or superfluous proteins and other components inside a cell are broken down in a process called "autophagy." Aging research has established that autophagy pathways become less active with age, but no one knew exactly why.
The new study shows that preventing F-actin accumulation led to much more active autophagy in the brains of aged fruit flies. The authors found that if they removed F-actin but also disabled autophagy, it did not slow aging: The primary mechanism by which F-actin drives brain aging appears to be by impairing autophagy. The researchers also showed that disrupting F-actin in aged brains can restore brain autophagy to youthful levels and reverse certain cellular makers of brain aging.
These findings may be good news for the elderly fruit flies with reduced F-actin in their brains. But it has not yet been demonstrated in humans, and developing interventions to prevent F-actin accumulation might prove more challenging. Still, the discovery directs researchers in a fruitful new direction for healthier aging in people.
"Most of us in the aging field are focused on moving beyond lifespan into what we call the healthspan," said Walker. "We want to help people enjoy good health and a high quality of life while extending the lifespan. Our study improved cognitive and gut function, activity level, and overall healthspan of fruit flies -- and offers hope for what we might be able to achieve in humans."
The research was funded by the National Institutes of Health's National Institute on Aging.
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JOURNAL: Nature Communications https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-024-53389-w
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Original text here: https://newsroom.ucla.edu/releases/scientists-can-reverse-brain-aging-fruit-flies-by-preventing-buildup-of-common-protein
Trinity Research Project Gathers Memories of Bilingual Education in Hartford
HARTFORD, Connecticut, Oct. 29 (TNSres) -- Trinity College issued the following news:
Trinity student researchers have created an online story map collecting the memories and experiences of people who received a bilingual education in Hartford over the past 60 years.
Shazif Ahmed '26, Maria Markosyan '26, and Mafer Vacca Crisostomo '27 conducted research last summer through Trinity's Public Humanities Collaborative (PHC) with Robert Cotto Jr., the director of DEI campus and community engagement in Trinity's Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.
The project, Bilingual Education in Hartford--Stories
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HARTFORD, Connecticut, Oct. 29 (TNSres) -- Trinity College issued the following news:
Trinity student researchers have created an online story map collecting the memories and experiences of people who received a bilingual education in Hartford over the past 60 years.
Shazif Ahmed '26, Maria Markosyan '26, and Mafer Vacca Crisostomo '27 conducted research last summer through Trinity's Public Humanities Collaborative (PHC) with Robert Cotto Jr., the director of DEI campus and community engagement in Trinity's Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.
The project, Bilingual Education in Hartford--StoriesOver Time, includes profiles of several former students of various bilingual programs in Hartford. The Trinity students researched how the programs began, the results of the programs, and what former students said about them. "I didn't want those memories to be lost," Cotto said. "It's about gathering that collective memory of what the schools were like in Hartford, to honor and understand their experiences and connect them to the present."
Over the last half century or so, many different forms of bilingual education in Hartford resulted from local activism and national civil rights movements, said Cotto, who is teaching the course "Latinx Urban Activism since 1900" in Trinity's Urban Studies program this semester. "This project created a timeline that highlights key examples of bilingual education in Hartford since the 1960s, with particular focus on voices remembering the schools and classrooms," he said.
Cotto was especially interested in researching bilingual programs at Hartford schools that have closed--including Barnard-Brown School and Ann Street School--often impacting the local Puerto Rican and Latinx communities that learned in both Spanish and English. "I wanted to take some time last summer to hear stories from people who had been students at the schools and get their reflections on what that was like," he said. "We decided to take it further and expand our research across time and the whole district, with students who learned at schools that taught in different languages."
Among the interview subjects are several with connections to Trinity: Erna Alic, program manager in Trinity's Center for Hartford Engagement and Research (CHER), who attended English as a Second Language (ESL) classes at M.D. Fox School; Helder Mira, multimedia producer in Trinity's Office of Communications and Marketing, who attended an afterschool bilingual program at Parkville Community School for students from Portuguese families; and former Board of Trustees member Shakira Ramos Crespo '02, who was part of the bilingual education program at Betances Elementary School. Cotto plans to gather additional stories to add to the project.
Last summer, the student researchers learned how Hartford has changed and grown over time, Cotto said. "They also learned how to do a public oral history, including getting permissions, recording, and transcribing--all skills that are applicable to other fields, as well," he added.
Vacca Crisostomo, who intends to major in political science and urban studies, identified closely with the subject of bilingual education. "As an international student from Peru, I am aware of the importance and struggles of being able to transmit my ideas in a foreign language," she said. "I wanted to be part of this project, as it would allow me to get more immersed in the learning experiences of other bilingual students."
Learning about the history of Hartford through the eyes of those who lived it was a highlight for Vacca Crisostomo, who hopes to use her education to make changes in the education system of her home country.
Ahmed, of Lahore, Pakistan, said that this project aligned with his interests in public policy and community engagement and gave him the chance to explore how language, culture, and education intersect.
"Oral history projects are invaluable because they capture the lived experiences of communities often overlooked in policy discussions," said Ahmed, who is pursuing a double major in computer science and religious studies and a minor in film studies. "This project ensures that the voices of Hartford's bilingual community are documented and can be used to inform future educational practices and policies."
The PHC is a component of Trinity's Summer Research Program that brings together students, faculty and staff, and individuals and organizations in Hartford to work on public humanities--the study of how people interpret stories of our human experience.
Erica M. Crowley, director of community learning and co-director of Trinity's PHC, said that PHC projects explore and engage with the heritage, history, and contemporary civic and cultural life of Hartford. Crowley's fellow PHC co-director is Mary Mahoney '09, digital scholarship strategist, and the PHC faculty liaison is Hilary E. Wyss, Allan K. Smith and Gwendolyn Miles Smith Professor of English.
"In the PHC, students are paired with faculty, staff, and community partners on projects that focus on broad humanities themes like colonization, race, religion, or migration and use methods such as oral history, archival research, digitization, or digital mapping," Crowley said. "Through this program, students gain hands-on experience in applying humanities research methods to real-world community projects while expanding their understanding of historical and social issues."
Crowley said that the PHC offers full-time paid research assistantships, allowing students who need to earn money during the summer to take part. She added, "This year we had a record-breaking number of student applications: 57 applicants for just 12 positions."
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Original text here: https://www.trincoll.edu/news/trinity-research-project-gathers-memories-of-bilingual-education-in-hartford/
NNU'S DR. JUSTIN CLARDIE TO REPRESENT UNIVERSITY AT INTERNATIONAL RELATIONS CONFERENCE
NAMPA, Idaho, Oct. 29 -- Northwest Nazarene University issued the following news:
NNU is proud to announce that Dr. Justin Clardie, Professor of Political Science, will represent NNU at the upcoming "Christian-Informed International Relations: Thinking, Teaching and Practicing" conference, hosted by Lee University in April 2025. The event is supported by a $5,000 grant from the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU) and will feature a three-day collaboration between faculty from several CCCU schools.
Dr. Clardie's participation in the conference highlights NNU's commitment to
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NAMPA, Idaho, Oct. 29 -- Northwest Nazarene University issued the following news:
NNU is proud to announce that Dr. Justin Clardie, Professor of Political Science, will represent NNU at the upcoming "Christian-Informed International Relations: Thinking, Teaching and Practicing" conference, hosted by Lee University in April 2025. The event is supported by a $5,000 grant from the Council for Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU) and will feature a three-day collaboration between faculty from several CCCU schools.
Dr. Clardie's participation in the conference highlights NNU's commitment toacademic excellence and faith integration, showcasing the University's dedication to meaningful contributions in both local and global communities. His involvement reflects NNU's mission to engage in thoughtful discourse on the intersection of Christianity and international relations, equipping students and scholars alike to apply Christian values to global challenges.
"I am excited to present at the conference and represent NNU along with colleagues at other CCCU schools as we apply Christian values and principles in our understanding of international relations," said Dr. Clardie. "We'll explore how to approach international relations from a Christian perspective, particularly in teaching and application."
The conference will include panels, workshops and a public forum focused on the biblical foundations of international relations and its practical applications.
"We're pleased that Dr. Clardie will represent NNU at this event," said NNU President Joel Pearsall, "as the University continues its longstanding tradition of contributing to the broader academic and Christian communities."
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Original text here: https://nnu.edu/nnus-dr-justin-clardie-to-represent-university-at-international-relations-conference/
Johns Hopkins and Family of Henrietta Lacks Break Ground on Building Named in Honor of Henrietta Lacks
BALTIMORE, Maryland, Oct. 29 -- Johns Hopkins Medicine issued the following news release:
The Johns Hopkins University and Johns Hopkins Medicine, together with descendants of Henrietta Lacks, broke ground today on the future site of the building named in honor of Mrs. Lacks, the Baltimore County woman whose HeLa cells have contributed to medical advancements around the world.
"Today we make a concrete commitment to ensure that Henrietta Lacks' name will be as immortal as her cells," says Ron Daniels, president of The Johns Hopkins University. "When the Henrietta Lacks Building rises, it will
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BALTIMORE, Maryland, Oct. 29 -- Johns Hopkins Medicine issued the following news release:
The Johns Hopkins University and Johns Hopkins Medicine, together with descendants of Henrietta Lacks, broke ground today on the future site of the building named in honor of Mrs. Lacks, the Baltimore County woman whose HeLa cells have contributed to medical advancements around the world.
"Today we make a concrete commitment to ensure that Henrietta Lacks' name will be as immortal as her cells," says Ron Daniels, president of The Johns Hopkins University. "When the Henrietta Lacks Building rises, it willbe a vibrant, multidisciplinary site of learning, discovery and dialogue that will facilitate community-oriented medical research and nurture the next wave of progress in the study and promotion of research ethics. We look forward to a building that will do justice to Henrietta Lacks' transformative legacy, and we offer our heartfelt thanks to the members of the Lacks family for their generosity of spirit in lending this building her name."
"At Johns Hopkins, we have such profound respect for Henrietta Lacks and for all her life led to. She is one of the most consequential contributors to science and medicine," says Theodore DeWeese, M.D., dean of the medical faculty and CEO of Johns Hopkins Medicine. "It is our hope that this building will serve as an important reflection on the meaning of her life to the world."
"The success of the Berman Institute is built on opportunities for collaboration within our community and across the university," says Jeffrey Kahn, Ph.D., M.P.H, the Andreas C. Dracopoulos Director of the Johns Hopkins Berman Institute of Bioethics. "The breadth and depth of our work will expand with this new building, and its dedication to Henrietta Lacks is an important reminder of the need for ethics, equity, responsible science, and community-engaged research."
"I'm excited to break ground for the Henrietta Lacks Building," says Jeri Lacks Whye, granddaughter of Henrietta Lacks and member of the Henrietta Lacks Building Advisory Committee. "Although this building will bear her name, it will also provide space for continued research, learning, and inspiring future generations. We acknowledge more than the scientific contributions made possible by her cells. We also acknowledge the story of a Black woman who did not live to see the world that her cells helped to create -- a story that for too long was hidden. Our hope is that this building will continue to shed light on her legacy."
"Seventy-three years ago, the world knew her as Helen Lane and Henry Lawson," says Veronica Robinson, granddaughter of Henrietta Lacks and member of the Henrietta Lacks Building Advisory Committee. "They were afraid to say her name. Her journey started as a patient. today we continue her legacy by attributing her contributions as not just an unwilling participant but as the mother of modern medicine. Say her name Henrietta Lacks."
Plans for the building were first announced in 2018, with initial designs for the building shared in 2022. Vines Architecture is the design architect; Baltimore-based Design Collective is the architect of record; and local Baltimore construction firm Mahogany -- in conjunction with Turner Construction Company -- has led preconstruction services and will serve as the construction manager to deliver the building.
The new 34,000-square-foot building will be located on the East Baltimore campus at the corner of Ashland and Rutland avenues and will adjoin Deering Hall, the historic home of the Berman Institute of Bioethics. The building will support multiple programs of the Berman Institute, The Johns Hopkins University and the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, and will house flexible program and classroom space for educational, research and community-use purposes.
Daniels, DeWeese and Kahn shared speeches at the groundbreaking ceremony and were joined by many members of the Johns Hopkins and local community, federal and local elected officials, as well as a number of Henrietta Lacks' descendants.
Construction of the building is anticipated to be complete in 2026.
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Original text here: https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/news/newsroom/news-releases/2024/10/johns-hopkins-and-family-of-henrietta-lacks-break-ground-on-building-named-in-honor-of-henrietta-lacks
Hampshire College: Change Management Expert Rebecca Reynolds 82F Publishes Book on Methods of Reinvention
AMHERST, Massachusetts, Oct. 29 (TNSres) -- Hampshire College issued the following news:
The Hampshire alum, who has worked with clients throughout North America in the arts, education, health and human services, and beyond recently release the book Thresholds of Change: The Way through Transformational Times.
What drew you to Hampshire? And what did you study?
I transferred to Hampshire from NYU. Before that I'd interned for a year on the Hill in D.C. and worked a year in California. These experiences gave me a sense of self and direction constrained by traditional education. Because my sister
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AMHERST, Massachusetts, Oct. 29 (TNSres) -- Hampshire College issued the following news:
The Hampshire alum, who has worked with clients throughout North America in the arts, education, health and human services, and beyond recently release the book Thresholds of Change: The Way through Transformational Times.
What drew you to Hampshire? And what did you study?
I transferred to Hampshire from NYU. Before that I'd interned for a year on the Hill in D.C. and worked a year in California. These experiences gave me a sense of self and direction constrained by traditional education. Because my sisterhad attended Hampshire, I knew the possibility of creating my own path was there. My first year, I took whatever courses attracted me, at Hampshire and at the other colleges [in the Five College Consortium]. Div II was a looking-back process to identify the common thread among my coursework and papers. I'd been drawn to "the other," in history, literature, and society, and under the law, in terms of class, gender, race, sexuality, politics, and perspective.
What was your Div III?
My Div III was an expansion of a paper I'd done on the marginalized female singers of early Italian opera. One day over lunch at SAGA [the Dining Commons], a fellow just back from a semester in Italy regaled us with stories of living in Siena, medieval Tuscany's crown jewel. I was enthralled. Sometime later, the idea came to me to go to Italy and continue my research on opera's prime donne. That ignited me: I enrolled in Italian at UMass, outlined a plan with my advisor, and began researching everything from passports and visas to archives and books on early opera. My work-study job was coordinating the Foreign Study Office [now the Global Education Office], so I easily arranged a homestay. A year and a half later, I arrived in Siena, where I lived for six months learning Italian, traveling, and conducting archival research. In my final month, a lead took me to the Vatican Archives, where I discovered seven letters from one of the singers. These were the foundation of my Div III.
How did your time at Hampshire influence your work?
At Hampshire I learned to follow my attractions and instincts, and it paid off hugely: My Div III presented an original premise in 18th-century Italian history; it won a grant; and my chair told me it was the equivalent of a master's. I call my education entrepreneurial; the confidence I gained at Hampshire quickly translated into an entrepreneurial way of making a living. At age 29, I founded my firm, Rebecca Reynolds Consulting.
What was the journey for you between graduation and this new book?
My work has taken me to a wide variety of places and people: a new opera company in Denver; a refugee and asylum organization on the U.S.-Mexico border; a community protecting old-growth forest on Canada's west coast. Such projects fostered my ongoing education, and I used the same curiosity, observation, synthesis, and writing skills I'd honed at Hampshire. I also continued to innovate, creating original methods and models for teaching my clients.
After a while, I realized that the core of my work is bringing about change -- not simply managing it, but approaching whatever the situation is with the idea that we're going to grow in it, embarking on a magnificent journey of change that will expand us beyond anything we've yet thought possible. This makes for extraordinary results.
My new book, Thresholds of Change, offers my unique model of the change process that I've used in hundreds of projects over 30 years.
What would you say to a student contemplating Hampshire?
After graduating from high school, I yearned to be out in the world, away from classrooms. After two years, I understood the value of a college education: as a useful credential surely, but also a precious time to explore the world's knowledge and expand one's ability to experience, describe, and be changed by it. I came to Hampshire wholly ready to dig in and used my intuition and passion to guide my journey. Although self-doubt did at times plague me, I accessed Hampshire's range of resources to stay the course. If you want a place that will support you on the grand adventure of learning and growth that comes from engaging the unknown, Hampshire is for you.
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Original text here: https://www.hampshire.edu/news/change-management-expert-rebecca-reynolds-82f-publishes-book-methods-reinvention
Emory University's Candler School of Theology: 2024 Alumni Awards Celebrate Creative Leadership and Service
ATLANTA, Georgia, Oct. 29 -- Emory University's Candler School of Theology issued the following news:
On October 24, Candler School of Theology held its 2024 Distinguished Alumni Awards ceremony. These annual awards celebrate Candler graduates who demonstrate excellence in their service to the church, the school, and/or their communities.
Learn more about the award categories and 2024 honorees:
Dr. Stacey Floyd-Thomas 93T received the Distinguished Alumni Award for Faithful and Creative Leadership, which is awarded to alumni who embody Candler's mission through innovative and impactful leadership
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ATLANTA, Georgia, Oct. 29 -- Emory University's Candler School of Theology issued the following news:
On October 24, Candler School of Theology held its 2024 Distinguished Alumni Awards ceremony. These annual awards celebrate Candler graduates who demonstrate excellence in their service to the church, the school, and/or their communities.
Learn more about the award categories and 2024 honorees:
Dr. Stacey Floyd-Thomas 93T received the Distinguished Alumni Award for Faithful and Creative Leadership, which is awarded to alumni who embody Candler's mission through innovative and impactful leadershipin the church's ministries and beyond. Floyd-Thomas, the E. Rhodes and Leona B. Carpenter Professor of Ethics and Society at Vanderbilt University Divinity School and College of Arts and Sciences, was honored for her significant contributions as a nationally recognized scholar, author, change agent, and leading voice in Christian social ethics and womanist thought. Her work in Christian social ethics has a threefold focus on race, gender, and class, and draws upon socio-historical methods and liberation ethics. Floyd-Thomas also serves in leadership roles for several national and international organizations, including as the executive director of the Society of Christian Ethics and the Black Religious Scholars Group, and as the co-founder of the Society for the Study of Race, Ethnicity and Religion.
"Candler, for me, is a North Star that helps us discover, observe, and think about extending the grace and generativity that moral leadership and a Christian social ethic requires," Floyd-Thomas said in her remarks. "Candler's programs provide a foundation within us to muster the courage to step out and respond to the challenges of the day. They nourish the faith to trust in answers that might take years to be realized."
The Rev. Dustin Mailman 21T received the Distinguished Alumni Award for Outstanding Young Alumni, which recognizes graduates 40 and under who have demonstrated exceptional leadership and commitment to their community and professions. Mailman serves as Pastor of Community Care and Engagement at Trinity United Methodist Church in Asheville, North Carolina. He is also the founding pastor of Deep Time, a United Methodist church plant that employs, celebrates, and creates a spiritual community alongside people impacted by incarceration. Mailman was recognized for his activism, advocacy, and leadership, as well as his dedication to social justice, community building, and innovative ministry. His work as a community organizer highlights his passion for helping others by addressing issues of spiritual and social significance and serves as a powerful example of the values of leadership and service instilled at Candler.
Said Mailman, "The seeds planted by this community were nurtured here in this space. The fruit that is born in my young life of ministry is directly connected to that nurturing."
The Rev. Dr. Bill Britt IV 83T is this year's recipient of the Distinguished Alumni Award for Lifetime Achievement, which honors Candler graduates whose lifelong service has had a profound impact on their communities, congregations, and the broader church. Britt, who currently serves as senior pastor of Atlanta's Peachtree Road United Methodist Church, was unable to attend the October 24 event due to a scheduling conflict, and will be honored in the spring.
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Original text here: https://candler.emory.edu/2024-alumni-awards-celebrate-creative-leadership-and-service/
Cameron University's Sixth Annual Inclusion and Leadership Summit to Feature Jim Stovall
LAWTON, Oklahoma, Oct. 29 -- Cameron University issued the following news release:
If anyone can convince you that "Yes, You Can," it's Jim Stovall, keynote speaker for Cameron University's sixth annual Inclusion and Leadership Summit. In his keynote address, Stovall will offer a vision of what can be achieved by those who say "yes" in the face of challenge and adversity. The half-day conference, which aims to provide education and awareness about the importance of inclusion and diversity, will take place virtually on Friday, March 26, from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and is available to the public at
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LAWTON, Oklahoma, Oct. 29 -- Cameron University issued the following news release:
If anyone can convince you that "Yes, You Can," it's Jim Stovall, keynote speaker for Cameron University's sixth annual Inclusion and Leadership Summit. In his keynote address, Stovall will offer a vision of what can be achieved by those who say "yes" in the face of challenge and adversity. The half-day conference, which aims to provide education and awareness about the importance of inclusion and diversity, will take place virtually on Friday, March 26, from 10 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. and is available to the public atno charge. Registrants will receive a Zoom link to the sessions they wish to attend.
The summit will kick off at 10 a.m. with "Fake It 'Til You Make It," presented by Kimberly West, founder, KPRW Consulting. Imposter is a psychological pattern in which one doubts one's accomplishments and has a persistent internalized fear of being exposed as a "fraud." Despite external evidence of their competence, those experiencing this phenomenon remain convinced that they are frauds, and do not deserve all they have achieved. Learn about this phenomenon and ways to overcome it.
At 11 a.m., Dr. Leslie Cothren, Director of Campus Life, Cameron University, will present "Ethical Leadership." Leading is hard, and to be a good leader it's important to remain true to yourself and your values, morals, and ethics, despite what other pressures you're feeling. This session will talk you through the importance of Ethical Leadership and help you navigate how to use your personal principles to guide your leadership.
Stovall's keynote address, "Yes, You Can," will take place at noon. Stovall believes that opportunities come disguised as problems and barriers. We must look at abilities instead of disabilities and focus on what we can do as opposed to what we cannot do.
At 1:15 p.m., Stuart Hooper, Instructor of Political Science at Cameron University, will present "Democracy vs Elitism: Your Role in Political Leadership." If the US government often fails to meet its democratic obligations and primarily serves the needs of elites, what is the role of the citizen in the political process? How can we understand American institutions as elitist? Who wins and who loses in contemporary American politics? What is your role in shaping a system that serves the interests of the people?
The summit will conclude with a 2:30 presentation by Louis Gray, founding president of the Tulsa Indian Coalition Against Racism and current president of the board of directors of Washington County Youth and Family Services. Gray will discuss "Changing Attitudes On Appropriation: Dropping Native Mascots Through Education and Dialogue."
Stovall lost his sight due to macular degeneration, which was diagnosed when he was just 17. Despite his failing vision, he was a national amateur weightlifting champion in 1978 and 1979 and qualified for the U.S. Olympic team in 1980 (the year the U.S. did not participate in the Moscow Summer Olympic Games). After losing the remainder of his sight at the age of 29, he launched the Narrative Television Network in 1988. By adding descriptive voice lines, the 1,200-affiliate network makes old movies and TV shows accessible to the blind in 11 countries and reaches more than 35 million homes in the U.S. For his work in making television accessible to America's 13 million blind and visually impaired people, the President's Committee on Equal Opportunity selected Stovall as its Entrepreneur of the Year
Stovall has also been honored by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce as the Businessperson of the Year and was chosen in 2000 by the International Lion's Club as the Humanitarian of the Year, joining Jimmy Carter, Nancy Reagan and Mother Teresa as recipients of the honor.
He is the author of 40 books including the international best-seller, "The Ultimate Gift," which was made into a major motion picture starring James Garner, Brian Dennehy and Abigail Breslin.
The Inclusion and Leadership Summit is presented by Cameron University's Office of Student Development.
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Original text here: https://www.cameron.edu/press-releases/cameron-universitys-sixth-annual-inclusion-and-leadership-summit-to-feature-jim-stovall