In this captivating episode, host Dr. Lisa Wiśniewski sitsdown with Dr. Sarah Silverman, educator, independent faculty developer, and passionate advocate for neurodiversity in higher education. Dr. Silverman shares her deeply personal and professional journey from her early academic experiences as a neurodivergent student to her transformative work supportingfaculty and graduate students in inclusive teaching practices.

Listeners will gain insight into how Dr. Silverman’s background in entomology evolved into a career centered on faculty development, disability studies, and the social dimensions of teaching. She discusses the importance of peer mentorship, the challenges of navigating academia with non-apparent disabilities, and the critical role of empathy and accessibilityin the classroom. Through anecdotes and reflections, Dr. Silverman highlights the concept of "access friction" and the theory of "double empathy" by offering a nuanced perspective on how educators can better support diverse learners.

The episode also examines the impact of social media,particularly LinkedIn, as a platform for engaging public scholarship and community building. Dr. Silverman’s thoughtful approach to sharing knowledge and fostering dialogue has made her a widely respected voice in the field. Whether you're an educator, student, or advocate, this episode provides a richand thought-provoking exploration of how personal experience and academic insight can intersect to create meaningful change in education and beyond.

References from Dr. Silverman:

16 Horizontal Mentoring: The Positive Impact of a DiverseGraduate Student Professional Development Community

Peer Teaching Consultants: Design Principles for Instructional Development and Program Alignment

On the ontological status of autism: the ‘double empathy problem’

To connect with Dr. Silverman:

Dr. Silverman's website

Dr. Silverman's LinkedIn

Dr. Silverman's Substack

In this informative episode, Dr. Lisa Wiśniewski interviews Stephen Morris, executive director of Literacy Volunteers of Greater Hartford (LVGH), who highlights the challenges and opportunities for literacy education and advocacy in Connecticut. Morris shares the mission, advocacy, and programming of this amazing organization that serves adult students to build and strengthen their literacy skills and career pathways. Stephen contextualizes the opportunities for literacy education in the Greater Hartford area with current data. He highlights alarming statistics, including that 19% of Greater Hartford residents have below second-grade literacy levels, and explains how these challenges impact employment, health outcomes, economic stability, and overall well being. Interwoven throughout this episode, Morris shares powerful stories of students who have faced incredible challenges and their successes through literacy education. At LVGH, Morris and his team are always exploring different solutions to remove barriers for students by providing adjacent supports, like childcare, social networking, and ongoing career assistance. Morris also explains how LVGH partners with other community organizations to promote health literacy, career pathways, and access to other resources to help students transition to the Greater Hartford area. He also details the specific programming at LVGH for adult students as well as volunteering opportunities for early career to retired professionals with and without education backgrounds. Morris highlights the mutual benefits for students and volunteers as they engage in tutoring sessions, including English Speakers of Other Languages (ESOL) and basic literacy for native English speakers. Morris concludes with a call to action, urging community support through donations and volunteering to further LVGH's transformative impact that goes well beyond literacy.

To support, volunteer, or learn more about Literacy Volunteers of Greater Hartford visit: https://lvgh.org/

Dr. Lisa Wisniewski’s latest interview is with immigration attorney and Honorary Consul of Romania to Connecticut, Dana Bucin. Dana speaks of her journey from her birth in the Transylvanian region of Romania to leaving her country at eighteen to study in the U.S., eventually obtaining a law degree. She discusses her role as an honorary consul as one of advocacy and building political, economic, and artistic ties between Romania and Connecticut. Dana then goes on to explain in detail the immigration process and speaks to the barriers for those seeking legal status in this country, from DACA, those young people brought here illegally, to obtaining TPS (Temporary Protective Status). The conversation then leads to an emotional recollection of the Romanian Revolution and itsaftermath and the bloody collapse of the Ceausescu Regime. She relives the subsequent turbulent years and the move toward economic stability and the adoption of democracy, a free market, and memberships in the European Union and NATO.  She shares her success in assisting in obtaining the Visa Waiver Program for Romania and completes the interview with a warning on avoiding political extremes and being alert to thesigns of tyranny and dictatorship.

Dr. Lisa Wisniewski has the honor of interviewing Mr. Craig Jordan, Veteran’s Coordinator at Goodwin University. Craig grew up in East Hartford, Connecticut and was inspired by his parents’ service and commitment to the community. Taking that inspiration with him to Providence College, he joined the ROTC and was sent to Vietnam after graduation as a second lieutenant. He became a platoon leader after his captain was killed and received the Bronze Star for his service. Leaving themilitary, he was a recreational director before beginning his long service as an educator, culminating in 14 years as principal of East Hartford High School. Upon retirement, he began collaborating with Congressman Larsen and met MarkScheinberg, president of Goodwin University who, along with others, convinced him to become the Veteran’s Coordinator at Goodwin. Craig oversees Veteran’s community events and Veteran’s Oasis at the university where he advocates andfor student veterans. His work and outreach on behalf of veterans earned him a spot on the Connecticut Veteran’s Hall of Fame. His work in student affairs and in the Oasis Center allows him to assist, support, and mentor veterans and their families who are using their benefits in completing an education. His recent efforts to make Goodwin University a veteran’s access center is opening the door to everyone. In service as an award-winning soldier, educator, mentor, and now veteran’s coordinator, Craig has left a legacy in his community, state, andcountry.

In this latest podcast, Dr. Lisa Wisniewski interviews Dr. Vivienne Friday, Dean of the School of Nursing and Health Sciences at Goodwin University. From her early years in Jamaica where Dr. Friday’s life was one of “not having a lot but just enough,” she was inspired by nurses coming into her tiny community to pursuing nursing. Dr. Friday speaks of her work in hospitals where she learned from her work in the Jamaican Red Cross and her hospital work through the National YouthService. Answering a recruiting call for nurses in the U.S., she systematically studied to educate herself earning a bachelor’s, two master’s degree and a doctorate. She details her expertise in health literacy, gerontology, and family centered care. She recounts the challenging educational journey as a first generation, immigrant and highlights what it takes to be successful to be an award-winning nurse and educator.

This podcast series is dedicated to the memory of Ken Marion. He was a friend and supporter of the series since the beginning. May his memory be a blessing.