Four University faculty members and one staff member will receive the Carol Hollenshead Inspire Award for Excellence in Promoting Equity and Social Change at the CEW+ Advocacy Symposium on Tuesday, October 29, 2019. The $1,000 award honors the former CEW+ director’s 20-year tenure at CEW+. The recipients will each present a lightning talk about their work during lunch at the Symposium, the theme of which is Redefining Leadership.

Marita R. Inglehart, Dipl. Psych., Dr. phil., Dr. phil. habil., Professor of Dentistry in the Department of Periodontics and Oral Medicine at the School of Dentistry and an Adjunct Professor of Psychology in the LS&A Department of Psychology, presents, “Being a solo person in an organization – How to survive and create change.” Inglehart’s teaching of dental and dental hygiene students focuses on educating patient-centered and culturally sensitive future dental care providers who appreciate interprofessional collaborations. Her research focuses on the role of psycho-social factors in providing care and increasing access to care for underserved patient populations such as patients from socio-economically disadvantaged and/or racial/ethnic minority backgrounds, patients with special health care needs and/or from LGBTQ+ backgrounds.

Michelle A. Meade, PhD, Associate Professor in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, presents, “Healthcare Disparities Among Individuals with Disabilities – Taking Responsibility for Our Role as Healthcare Providers. Dr. Meade is the Principal Investigator and Director of two federally funded interdisciplinary Centers focusing on disability issues – the U-M Rehabilitation Engineering Research Center (RERC) and Technology Increasing Knowledge: Technology Optimizing Choice (TIKTOC), and the Rehabilitation Research and Training Center on Investigating Disability factors and promoting Environmental Access for Healthy Living (IDEAL RRTC). Dr. Meade also serves as co-chair of the Michigan Medicine Disability Council and as co-director for the U-M Collaboratory for Disability Health. 

David C. Michener, PhD,  Curator at the Matthaei Botanical Gardens and Nichols Arboretum, presents, “Seeds and Reconciliation.” Michener’s research addresses understanding the complex cross-cultural heritages of ornamental peonies and conserving key living specimens. His work with Indigenous Seeds in museum collections is an unanticipated intersection of deep engagement with U-M’s Museum Studies Program (Rackham Graduate School) and an ethical concern with the ‘Voice’ of Indigenous Communities in interpreting native plant collections and landscapes stewarded by the Botanical Gardens & Arboretum.

Natalie Sampson, PhD, MPH, Assistant Professor of Public Health at UM-Dearborn, presents, “Sometimes at Odds: Rethinking Output as an Equity-Focused Academic.” Sampson teaches courses in environmental health, community organizing, and health promotion. Grounded primarily in Southeast Michigan, she studies transportation and land use planning, stormwater infrastructure, vacant land reuse, and climate change planning efforts, particularly their implications for health. She applies participatory research approaches with diverse partners using a broad methodological toolkit, including photovoice, concept mapping, and health impact assessment.

Wendy Ann Woods, MS, Associate Director of the Michigan Community Scholars Program (MCSP), presents, “Boldness Rules the World: Sustaining Leadership.” The MCSP is a nationally recognized living-learning program at the U-M that focuses on social justice, community service, diversity, and civic engagement. Woods also teaches a seminar for the students in MCSP, is a member of the Association of Black Professionals, Faculty, Administrators, and Staff (ABPFAS) at U-M, and serves on the Advisory Board for the University Outreach Council.

In addition to the talks at the Symposium, each recipient will lead a 90-minute workshop once during the 2019-20 academic year as a component of the CEW+Inspire Initiative, which focuses on wellness while creating social change. The intent of the workshops is to highlight the authentic journeys of social change leaders, spotlighting them as role models for others aspiring to work towards social change.

The Advocacy Symposium runs from 8 am to 7 pm on October 29 at the Michigan League. This working event is free and open to all activists, advocates, and allies from all U-M campuses (students, staff, and faculty) as well as the local community, but registration is required. Visit myumi.ch/ZQZoP for more information and to register.

The CEW+ Advocacy Symposium is organized in partnership with Barger Leadership Institute, Poverty Solutions at the University of Michigan, and Nicola’s Books, with funding from CEW+’s Frances & Sydney Lewis Visiting Leaders Fund and the CEW+ Mullin Welch Fund.