Participants will explore strategies for redesigning curriculum, assessments, and learning environments that sustain and uplift cultural identities and promote critical consciousness. Examples from multiple disciplines illustrate how CSP supports deeper engagement and more inclusive academic outcomes. Attendees will leave with practical tools for implementing CSP across diverse higher education student populations
Session Objectives: 1. Identify the foundations of culturally sustaining pedagogy. 2. Design and / or adapt curriculum instructional practices and assessment. 3. Navigate challenges in supporting learner development.
Themes:
• Instructional strategies for supporting learner success
• Strategies for addressing challenges to supporting learner success
Audience:
• Higher Education faculty, staff and administrators
Panelists: Yerodin Lucas, PhD, LSW, M. Ed., Marywood University Susan G. Lettera, MSW, Marywood University
Biographies: Dr. Yerodin Lucas is an Assistant Professor in the School of Social Work at Marywood University. He graduated from Arcadia University with a Bachelor’ s degree in Political Science and International Relations. He earned his Master’ s degree in Education at Temple University, Master’ s degree in Social Work and PhD in Administration and Leadership from Marywood University. His published dissertation titled: Factors Affecting African American Male Students at Predominantly White Institutions: A Case Study in Northeastern Pennsylvania( NEPA) highlights the support structures necessary for first-year Black male student persistence. Yerodin has traveled and worked abroad in Asia, Canada, and Europe.
Sue G. Lettera is the Lehigh Valley MSW Program Coordinator and Professor of Practice in the School of Social Work at Marywood University. She has been a practicing social worker for more than 38 years. Sue earned her Bachelor of Social Work with a minor in Sociology from Marywood College and her Master of Social Work from Widener University, and she is currently pursuing her PhD. She has worked in residential and day treatment settings, with Lehigh County Children and Youth Services, as Lehigh County’ s CASSP Coordinator, and as Director of Lehigh County Integrated Services. She holds Trauma Competent Professional and Trainer Certification, facilitates Integrated Community Therapy, serves on multiple boards, and is an Executive Team Member of Resilient Lehigh Valley, as well as a member of the Higher Education Suicide Prevention Coalition and the Lehigh County Suicide Prevention Coalition.
Tuesday, April 14, 7:00- 8:00 pm( EDT) Breakout Sessions 2.4 Building Critically Compassionate Learning Communities as a Foundation for Student Success
Session Description: In this moment, cultivating critically compassionate learning communities isn’ t just beneficial; it’ s necessary. Building on Fernández’ s( 2024) work on developing compassionate learning communities using community agreements, this session examines how these agreements function as a pedagogical