Welcome to a new season of the SECD lab On Demand! Podcast. In Season 3, “Connections to SEL,” we’ll show you how social and emotional learning shows up inside and outside of standard classroom curriculum. Join us as we introduce you to a new group of SEL teachers, parents, students, and experts.

In this episode, we are joined by Chi Kim of Pure Edge Inc. and Sanaa Rangwala of Rutgers University. With SEL Day 2023 upon us, we are thrilled to offer you this powerful episode exhibiting the expansive world of social and emotional learning. Chi shares her expertise in the world and science of mindfulness as a central component of SEL. She explains how mindfulness in the classroom promotes learning and an atmosphere of ease. She takes us through exercises and explains how mindfulness practice is better described as an invitation. We warmly invite you to listen and benefit from Chi’s multi-faceted world of SEL. Original music by Harry Stopek.

Dr. Adam Lekwa is an Assistant Research Professor in the Graduate School for Applied and Professional Psychology (GSAPP) at Rutgers, the State University of New Jersey. Prior to joining Rutgers, Dr. Lekwa held positions as a School Psychologist and as an Instructional Services Coordinator for two special education cooperatives in Minnesota. His responsibilities ranged from evaluation and consultation for individual students to provision of professional development sessions on assessment and intervention. He also engaged in consultation with teams of administrators on district level achievement data, and implementation of multi-tiered systems of service delivery. At GSAPP, Dr. Lekwa works on multiple research projects focused on the enhancement of class-wide, or “Tier 1” instructional and behavior management practices. In this episode, Dr. Lekwa discusses with his co-hosts, Erika Tan and Kaitlyn Fung, the importance of formative assessments for teachers and why it is beneficial for the learning environment as a whole. Original podcast music by Harry Stopek.

Dr. Ralph Gigliotti is the Assistant Vice President for Strategic Programs in the Office of University Strategy and the Director of the Center of Organizational Leadership at Rutgers University. As a member of the Rutgers community, he strives for effective academic leadership and serves as a part-time faculty member Department of Communication, Ph.D. Program in Higher Education, and Department of Family Medicine and Community Health at Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. SECD Lab co-hosts Erika Tan and Veer Yadav had the opportunity to talk to Dr. Gigliotti about his various roles. In this episode, Dr. Gigliotti discusses the importance of communication in leadership and how to navigate disagreement from a place of mutual respect. Original podcast music by Harry Stopek.

Corina is the Senior Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at Douglass Residential College, the women’s college at Rutgers University-New Brunswick. At Douglass she serves as the chair of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) college committee which applies a holistic approach to DEI strategy, including institutional-level initiatives, academic experiences, student leadership opportunities, and community building programs. Corina serves on the Advancing Women in Computer Science (AWICS) working group at the university with the CS department, external evaluators, and other key stakeholders as a research assistant. She is also on the Big Ten Academic Alliance Advancing Undergraduate Women in STEM working group. She is a staff mentor for undergraduate women and has taught Douglass’ signature course, Knowledge and Power: Issues in Women’s Leadership. She also teaches at the Rutgers Honors College the inaugural Cultural Competency Course for incoming first year students. She is currently pursuing a doctorate in education with a focus on culture and society at the Rutgers Graduate School of Education. Her research focuses on undergraduate Black & Latina women’s experiences in Computer Science. Corina is a founding executive board member of Be the Change N.J., a community service non-profit organization focused on homelessness relief and food justice in New Jersey. Corina Hernandez joins co-hosts Sabrina Quinones and Erika Tan from the SECD Lab to discuss the roles of self-awareness and cultural humility in education, how we are always learning and working towards a Beloved Community, as well as shed some light on all the great work Corina has been doing! Original podcast music by Harry Stopek.

Douglass College: https://douglass.rutgers.edu; https://douglass.rutgers.edu/career-development/staff-mentoring

Be the Change NJ: https://www.bethechangenj.org

Dr. Jacob Chacko recently relocated from the west coast to Rutgers as the newest Director of the Asian American Cultural Center.  He has vast experience in education, holding a PhD in Education Policy, Organization & Leadership with a focus on Global Studies in Education, a Masters in Teaching & Learning and his bachelors in Secondary Education & Spanish. He identifies as a 1.5 generation Indian American and has leveraged his experiences as inspiration for the work he does today and the students he works to support. In this episode, Dr. Chacko joins co-hosts Sabrina Quinones and Erika Tan from the lab to discuss the integration of social-emotional learning within our Beloved Community here at Rutgers University, how to navigate a space with the many identities we all hold, as well as shed light on some of Dr. Chacko's work! Original Podcast Music by Harry Stopek. 

David Adams is the Chief Executive Officer of The Urban Assembly, who started out as the director of SEL. A board member of CASEL, and an author of 'The Educator’s Practical Guide to Emotional Intelligence' and more, David is a Civil Affairs Officer in the Army Reserve, holds an M.Ed in Educational Psychology from Fordham University, and has a unique approach to integrating SEL in schools. In this episode, David joins co-hosts Aysar Abdelgelil and Jennifer Keyt from the Lab to discuss an overview of The Urban Assembly, and to shed light on his work. Original Podcast Music by Harry Stopek.

Samuel Nayman, PhD is a graduate of Rutgers University’s clinical psychology doctoral program and Yale School of Medicine’s doctoral internship in clinical and community psychology. He is committed to creating greater opportunities for people to achieve their potential by way of policies and SECD interventions. In this pursuit, he has designed and consulted on school-based SECD programs, as well as published peer-reviewed articles and a book chapter on this subject. In this episode, Sam joins host Aysar Abdelgelil from the Lab to discuss an overview of his leadership, academic and clinical studies. Original Podcast Music by Harry Stopek. 

Zaire Ali is a first year PhD Student at CUNY School of Public Health in the Community Health and Health Policy Program, a Senior field consultant in the Rutgers SECD Lab, and the founder and CEO of a non-profit, “The Urban Health Collaborative”. In this episode, Zaire joins co-hosts Aysar Abdelgelil and Esther Kim from the Lab to discuss an overview of his experiences, accomplishments and important stepping stones within the field of SEL, and how these experiences have formed his professional path. Original Podcast Music by Harry Stopek.

Dr. Fullmer works in public education and is an instructor for the Academy for SEL in Schools. Her research interests include social and emotional learning, as well as how to minimize the risk factors associated with divorce through the implementation of preventive programs for children. Laura Bond is an educator for the “Students Taking Action Together (STAT)” program in the Rutgers SECD Lab. As a professional development supervisor and teacher’s advocate, Bond is interested in amplifying restorative practices, equity and democracy in education. In this episode, Laura and Lauren join co-hosts Mallika Verghese and Rebecca Wu to discuss the many projects they collaborate on as senior research associates and consulting field experts, as well as promote their forthcoming book to be published by ASCD in the Spring. Original Podcast Music by Harry Stopek.

Dr. Scott N. Edgar is an Associate Professor of Music, Music Education Chair, and Director of Bands at Lake Forest College in Illinois. Dr. Edgar is also the author of Portraits of Music Education and Social Emotional Learning— Teaching Music with Heart for Elementary, Middle School, and High School and Director of Practice and Research for The Center for Arts Education and Social Emotional Learning. In this episode, Dr. Edgar joins co-hosts Aysar Abdelgelil and Jennifer Keyt from the Rutgers SECD Lab to discuss an overview of the history and current importance of SEL in Arts and Music education, and to shed light on Dr. Scott N. Edgar’s research and work. Original Podcast Music by Harry Stopek.