SPECIAL ACADEMIC PROGRAMS OFFERED AT GSEP

Margaret J. Weber Distinguished Lecture Series

• The theme for the 2021–2022 Margaret J. Weber Distinguished Lecture Series was “Christ in Action.” Each speaker provided insight from their professional and personal experiences on how God has redefined success in their lives and continues to make their work more effective, reliable, and lasting. The scholars and thought leaders welcomed by the GSEP community included: Fearless Leadership, presented by Sandy Heydt, founder and CEO, Heydt Marketing and development advisor, Space Perspective

• And There Are Many Obstacles, presented by Julianne Malveaux, dean of the College of Ethnic Studies, California State University, Los Angeles

• Be Not Afraid, Christ Is with You, presented by Josefina Castillo Baltodano, founder and executive director of the Executive Leadership Academy, University of California, Berkeley

Lifelong Learning Women’s Forum

Eight sessions were presented, each with its own topic and keynote speaker, for the 2021–2022 season of the Lifelong Learning Women’s Forum. In total, 226 attendees participated via Zoom to gain scholarly and innovative insights related to issues that shape our world. The monthly Lifelong Learning Women’s Forum events were founded by Kathy Danhakl (’02) and are endowed by the Danhakl family. The sessions were private virtual events, but a recording of all presentations can be viewed on the GSEP YouTube channel. The season’s events included:

• Living a Transformational, Not a Transactional Life, presented by Gimel Rogers (MA ’12, PsyD ’16), faculty and associate director Online MAP/MACLP Programs

• The Building Blocks of Wealth: It’s More Than Just Money, presented by Terri Spath, founder and chief investment officer for Zuma Wealth

• Hormone Health: What Are Your Hormones Trying to Tell You?, presented by Denise Pines, board of directors member, Federation of State Medical Board, with Julie E., health advocate and registered dietitian

• Positive Psychology: Strategies to Increase Happiness, Motivation, and Energy, presented by Jocelyn Clegg

• Expecting the Unexpected: A Conversation with Russ Kino, presented by Russ Kino, medical director, Saint John’s Health Center Emergency Services

• Autism Acceptance: Moving Beyond Awareness and Toward Allyship, presented by Lusineh Gharapetian, clinical assistant professor

• Creating Positive Interactions through Emotional Connection, presented by alumna and creator of the Emotional Connection process (EmC), Lola Gershfeld (MA ’05)

• The Letters of Hannah Whitman Heyde: Intimate Partner Violence and the Life of a 19th-Century American Woman, presented by Maire Mullins, Blanche E. Seaver Chair of English Literature, Seaver College

GSEP Annual Research Symposium

The school’s Annual Research Symposium is an opportunity for faculty and students to share their research and projects with one another as well as the broader professional and academic community. The symposium for 2021–2022, held in June 2022, featured Thema Davis (MDiv ’16), Shelly Harrell, and Daryl Rowe discussing “The Trauma of Racism.”

The event showcased more than 50 research efforts being conducted at GSEP.

University of California, Berkeley Leadership Academy

The goal of the Executive Leadership Academy is to help prepare future executive administrators for the new higher education world. The theme for the 2021–2022 academic year was “Leading in a Multicultural Environment,” which was chosen by the academy because members believe we are in an age of fundamental and accelerating change in higher education. In addition, they shared that among the major propelling forces are the constantly expanding capabilities of information technology and broadband communication, the forces of globalization, diminished public funding of higher education as a recognized public good to society, and rapid demographic change, especially in multicultural and multinational environments worldwide.

Hosted by the University of California, Berkeley, this event included a group of 474 fellow alumni that have previously graduated and are now moving forward in their professional careers. Many have advanced to positions as deans, provosts, chancellors, and presidents. Current GSEP staff Yas Hardaway, Renee Dorn (EdD ’13), Shanetta Weatherspoon (EdD ’13), Lonnie McNamee (MA ’13, EdD ’17), and Vanessa Jahn (’99) attended the event.