Office of Learning Initiatives and Student Success
Mission statement
Learning Initiatives and Student Success is committed to supporting the success and degree completion of students at Westchester Community College. The office promotes research-based strategies through innovative collaborations and partnerships with the campus community constituents, grant oversight and implementation, and other student success strengthening efforts.
Learning Initiatives and Student Success Activities
Contact Information
Dr. Michele Campagna
Assistant Dean, Learning Initiatives & Student Success
Library, Room 212
Michele.Campagna@sunywcc.edu
Phone: 914-606-7238
Click here for Bio
Carmen (KaMan) Bhattacharya
Administrative Assistant
Library, Room 218
kaman.bhattacharya@sunywcc.edu
Phone: 914-606–7240
Ellen Wasserman
Administrative Assistant
Library, Room 217
ellen.wasserman@sunywcc.edu
Marissa Albano
Program Navigator: Liberal Arts-Social Sciences, Environmental Science, Environmental Studies, Engineering Science
Technology Building Room 37A
marissa.albano@sunywcc.edu
Phone: 914-606-6166
Jamie Forehand
Program Navigator: Liberal Arts – Social Sciences
AAB Building Rm 117
jamie.forehand@sunywcc.edu
Phone: 914-606-7316
Bradman John
Program Navigator: Liberal Arts-Humanities, Performing Arts, Visual Arts, Digital Filmmaking, Applied Art, Liberal Arts-Education
AAB Building Rm 117
bradman.john@sunywcc.edu
Phone: 914-606-7252
Past Events
The Effects of Racial Microaggressions on Belonging and Success for Students of Color
The Effects of Racial Microaggressions on Belonging and Success for Students of Color
Date: Tuesday, May 25, 2021
Dr. J. Luke Wood
Racial microaggressions are commonly understood as racially insensitive snubs, slights, insults, and putdowns that invalidate the experiences and intellectual capabilities of people of color. While some may assume racial microaggressions are harmless, published research on student success confirms the cumulative effect of these behaviors have a deleterious influence on people of color’s sense of belonging, welcomeness to engage, self-efficacy, and success in postsecondary education. Thus, the purpose of this workshop is to introduce participants to the concept of microaggressions, discuss how microaggressions manifest in academic contexts, highlight the most common microaggressions experienced by students of color in education, and highlight strategies that have been proven effective in challenging racial microaggressions in education.
J. Luke Wood, Ph.D. is Vice President of Student Affairs & Campus Diversity and Dean’s Distinguished Professor of Education at San Diego State University. Wood also serves as the Co-Director of the Community College Equity Assessment Lab (CCEAL), a national research and practice center that partners with community colleges to support their capacity in advancing outcomes for underserved students of color.
Sponsored By:
Validating Students, Working with Cultural Strengths, and Designing a Sensing/Thinking Pedagogy
Validating Students, Working with Cultural Strengths, and Designing a Sensing/Thinking Pedagogy
Date: November 18, 2020
Laura I. Rendón, Ph.D.
https://laurarendon.net/bio/
Professor Emerita and co-director of the Center for Research and Policy in Education at the University of Texas San Antonio Center for Research and Policy in Education Dr. Laura Rendón is nationally recognized as an education theorist, activist and researcher who specializes in college preparation, persistence, and graduation of low-income, first-generation students. A native of Laredo, Texas, Dr. Rendón's passion is assisting students who, like her, grew up in poverty with hopes and dreams but not knowing how to realize them. Dr. Rendón is credited with developing the theory of validation, which colleges and researchers have employed as a framework for working with and affirming low-income students. Dr. Rendón is a teaching and learning philosopher and thought leader. She developed a pedagogic framework called Sentipensante (Sensing/Thinking) Pedagogy that emphasizes intellectual, social, emotional, and spiritual student development along with social activism. Click here to access the presentation recording Click here to view the presentation slides
Funding and Sponsors
This event was the featured program of the Fall Holistic Student Supports Series and funded by a grant from Strong Start to Finish. Sponsored by the Center for Teaching & Learning and the Office of Learning Initiatives & Student Success.