Unpacking and Demystifying Neurodiversity
Monday, September 23, 2024
Penn State HUB, 132 Flex Theater
Program Schedule »
Presenter Bios »
History of the Gunter-Gooding Nursing DEI Lecture Series »
Program Schedule
Doors open at 10:45 a.m. with the following program beginning promptly at 11 a.m.
Opening Remarks and Logistics, Co-Sponsors, Land Acknowledgement
Sheldon D. Fields, PhD, RN, FNP-BC, AACRN, FAANP, FNAP, FADLN, FAAN
Associate Dean for Equity & Inclusion, Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing
Welcoming Remarks
Laurie Badzek, LLM, JD, RN, FNAP, FAAN
Dean and Professor, Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing
Performance
Vocalist: Terri Parker – Song: Still, I Rise by Gospel Artist: Yolanda Adams
Introduced by Sydney Hamilton, President of the Penn State NAACP Chapter
Musician: Stephen Mariner
Student Presentation
Multicultural Student Nurses Association Students (MSNA) Experiential Reflection
“2024 Black Nurses Day on Capitol Hill”
Introduced by Alexandra Reeves, co-president of MSNA in the Ross and Carol Nese College of Nursing at University Park campus
Spoken Word Artist: Sir Dominique Jordan
Introduced by Kenisha Brown, President of the Penn State Student Black Caucus
Sir Dominique Jordan the Prolific One is a poetic vanguard hailing from Lancaster, Pennsylvania, whether it spoken word or on a page, he uses his unique verbiage to inspire others to use their vulnerability as a ‘superpower’. He identifies as an Artivist and teaches across the country about how Hip-Hop culture and general creative expression are tools that can be used to enhance the overall educational experience. Find him and his efforts on social media using the hashtag #WhatThatImpactDo
Gunter-Gooding DEI Lecture Series in Nursing Presents:
“Unpacking and Demystifying Neurodiversity”
Featuring special guest panelists:
Ji Young Kim, PhD; Justyne Passarelli, MS, RN, CCRN; Isaiah S. Watson; Terry L. Watson, MS
Moderated by Sheldon D. Fields, PhD, RN, FNP-BC, AACRN, FAANP, FNAP, FADLN, FAAN
Q&A Discussion Immediately Following
Closing Remarks
Sheldon D. Fields, PhD, RN FNP-BC, AACRN, FAANP, FNAP, FAAN
Associate Dean for Equity & Inclusion, Nese College of Nursing
Reception Hosted and Sponsored by: The Paul Robeson Cultural Center (PRCC)
Note: A reception with refreshments will be held immediately following the program’s conclusion.
Presenter Bios
Ji Young Kim, PhD
Dr. Ji Young Kim is an Assistant Professor of Psychology at Penn State Harrisburg and a doctoral-level Board Certified Behavior Analyst. Dr. Kim earned her Ph.D. and M.A. in Applied Behavior Analysis at Teachers College, Columbia University, and her B.A. in Psychology at Barnard College, Columbia University. As a certified general and special education teacher, Dr. Kim worked as a full-time teacher in an inclusion classroom at a K-2 public school with individuals with and without disabilities and their families.
Dr. Kim has published in peer-reviewed journals, and her work has been recognized through numerous awards, including the APA Division 25 SEAB Applied Behavior Analysis Dissertation Award, the NYSABA research award for two consecutive years, and the SABA Sidney W. and Janet R. Bijou Grant. Dr. Kim is interested in understanding decision-making and developing effective procedures to enhance learning for individuals with and without developmental disabilities. Dr. Kim is also passionate about exploring the intersection between verbal behavior and decision-making behavior.
Justyne Passarelli, MSN, RN, CCRN
“I am a registered nurse, originally from Long Island, New York. As an undergraduate student at Stony Brook University, I completed a bachelor’s degree in health science and then attained a bachelor’s in nursing. After graduating from nursing school, I became a surgical intensive care nurse. During this time, I attained my critical care nursing certification and gained experience as a charge nurse, precepting new nurses and working with nursing education. My passion for education and teaching led me to return to Stony Brook University to complete my master’s in nursing education, where I am also currently working on my PhD in nursing.
“I started working at Penn State Schuylkill last August and primarily teach the fundamentals and medical surgical nursing courses. I continue to work per diem in the ICU and I am currently working on my PhD dissertation. My research area of interest is attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in adults. Only recently have researchers begun to recognize the different presentations of ADHD in females and the persistence of ADHD into adulthood. I hope that through research and attention to the topic we can identify gaps in the literature further, develop future studies, and lead to improved recognition and care for these individuals.”
Isaiah S. Watson
Isaiah Skyler Watson is a student in the College of Information Science and Technology at Penn State University World Campus, diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Despite these diagnoses, Isaiah persevered and made the dean’s list in the Fall of 2023. Isaiah’s passion for Informational Science and Technology stems from his experience in computer programming, coding, and robotics. Isaiah started speaking about his experience with ASD in eighth grade, serving on his first panel at Penn State. Isaiah is a writer, speaker, poet, and gaming enthusiast. He also loves languages and speaks Spanish, Portuguese, Latin, and a little bit of Chinese. His love for exploring and playing musical instruments in public spaces is one of Isaiah’s great pastimes. Isaiah also loves exploring and investing in the stock market. His podcast and Twitch channel Din in the Dungeon, provide fascinating insights into “nerd culture” and the intricacies of gaming. Isaiah would like to pursue a career in software design.
Terry L. Watson, MS
Mr. Terry L. Watson, is an esteemed author, speaker, educator, and community leader, who brings his wealth of knowledge and experience to this collection. His expertise lies in disability equity in education, racial justice, and law enforcement. His previous book, Welcome to the Sick Mind of a Sane Person, has garnered acclaim for its thought-provoking analysis of the impact of racism, earning three literary awards: the International Impact Award, the Literary Global Award, and the Regal Summit Award, for its contribution to African American Non-Fiction and Personal Growth and Development. In 2014 Terry Watson founded Strategies for Justice and host the webcast show, Moses’ People Speak: Race and Law Enforcement.
In addition to his aforementioned accomplishments, Mr. Watson is the Assistant Director for Student Disability Services at the Chaiken Center for Student Success. As the Assistant Director of Student Disability Services, Watson works closely with faculty, designers, and student-facing units. In this capacity in which he’s served for nine years, he helps shape practices, procedures, and policies to include individuals with diverse abilities. Mr. Watson is nationally sought-after for his disability inclusion workshops that help shape educational practices on college campuses, K–12 institutions, and communities.
As a social justice advocate, Mr. Watson also serves as co-chair for the Commission on Racial/Ethnic Diversity (CORED), the chair of Community & Campus in Unity, and the appointed Patton Township representative for the Regional Human Relations Commission, notwithstanding, he is also a member of the Centre County Human Relations Advisory Council for the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission.
About the Series
The Gunter–Gooding Lecture series is named in honor of two African American women who served as head of the Department of Nursing at Penn State University.
Dr. Laurie Martin Gunter, PhD, RN, FGSA, FAAN served as head of the Department of Nursing from 1971 to 1976, and again as interim department head from 1984 to 1985. She retired as professor emerita in 1987 after 16 years of University service. She was a well-respected researcher with a focus on nursing care of the elderly. She held Fellow status in the Gerontological Society of America and the American Academy of Nursing and was an elected member of the Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences. Gunter held a nursing diploma from Meharry Medical College, a bachelor of science in home economics from Tennessee Agricultural and Industrial University, a master of arts in education from Fisk University and a doctorate in human development from the University of Chicago. She passed away on June 15, 2015.
Dr. Marion Gooding, PhD, RN was the fifth head of the Department of Nursing at Penn State and served from 1985 to 1987 when the department was part of the then College of Human Development. She also served as the dean of the School of Nursing at Tennessee State University prior to her arrival at Penn State. Gooding received her diploma in nursing from Saint Mary’s school of nursing, a bachelors and master’s in nursing from Teachers College – Columbia University, and doctorate in educational administration in higher education from Vanderbilt University.
For information on future events, please visit: nursing.psu.edu/event