2021 GlobalMindED
The Future of Work is Diverse, Inclusive, Just and Equitable
GlobalMindED closes the equity gap by creating a capable, diverse talent pipeline through connections to role models, mentors, internships for low-income students, returning adults, First Gen to college and inclusive leaders who teach them, work with them and hire them.
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A bewildered high school student sorting through a pile of letters from colleges, she relied on a mentor to navigate and guide this first gen student into college. That act of kindness prompted the now Dr. Susan Swayze to mentor students herself. A graduate from UCLA (PhD) and Duke (MBA), she is dedicated to teaching, researching, and helping others pursue their education. It is with pleasure that we share her story today as part of our STEM Star celebration this month.)
The GlobalMindED YouTube channel has over 90 DEI webinars. Recent International Month of Women Events:
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A Case Study in the Power of Mentoring |
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You are a successful professor, quantitative and qualitative researcher, and a thought leader in tech and diversity, equity, and inclusion. How did you come to be who are today in your career?
My personal story is like so many other first-generation college students. My parents were vocal about their wish for me to earn the highest degree in whichever field I chose. Neither of my parents completed college and they wanted me to earn the degrees that they were not able to attain. But the “how” was elusive – how do you get scholarships? How do you select colleges? How do you complete college applications and financial aid forms? My first mentor, Lanette Brown, the Director of the Upward Bound program, supported me in my quest for a college degree. She sat on the living room floor of my parents’ house and sorted the brochures and letters from the 115 colleges that wrote to me. First, she patiently walked us through the decision-making process (size, location, major field, cost). Then, she helped us complete the college application forms, the financial aid paperwork, and the essay. A few years ago, I visited Lanette in Atlanta (pictured right at Mary Mac’s) to thank her again for those selfless acts that shaped the trajectory of my life.
Not only did mentorship make college possible, it was key to earning my Ph.D. from UCLA at the age of 26. As I approached the completion of my master’s degree, a retired faculty member, Dr. C. Robert Pace, a noted psychometrician and researcher, reached out to me and offered to sponsor my progress toward the doctoral degree. It was a huge surprise as I had not taken a course from Dr. Pace and he was offering to train me as a psychometrician and hire me for four years. When I asked why, Dr. Pace literally said that I reminded him of himself – though we looked nothing alike nor seemingly had similar backgrounds. What was the connection? Dr. Pace had also completed graduate school in his early 20s and saw his educational journey in me. I was truly fortunate for Dr. Pace’s mentorship. With his guidance, I realized my parents’ dream for me – I went from graduating from high school in June 1986 to earning a Ph.D. in March 1995.
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How has your past experience shaped your current work?
I have dedicated my career to mentoring others as Lanette Brown and Dr. Pace mentored me. Currently, I am an Associate Professor at The George Washington University where I teach graduate students, conduct research, and serve on doctoral dissertations. I am a rare quantitative-qualitative hybrid which allows me to teach statistics, quantitative research design, qualitative methodology, case study research methods, and mixed methods. Based on my research, I have published more than 50 peer-reviewed journal articles, conference presentations, and book chapters as well as two reference volumes on IT and knowledge discovery. What I spend the most time on, however, is dissertation service. Did you know that only 2% of people hold doctoral degrees worldwide? I am committed to diversifying the doctorate and while at GWU have served on 100 dissertations graduating a diverse group of corporate executives and administrators (one of whom was Dr. David Surratt, pictured right at the 2014 commencement where he served as the student speaker). One of my greatest honors was receiving the Honey Nashman Faculty Member of the Year Award in testament to my deep commitment to mentoring students.
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Does mentorship stop after your students earn their doctoral degrees?
No, mentorship does not end at graduation. For example, one of my former students, Dr. Arik King, founded the Future Kings STEM Academy based in part on findings from his doctoral dissertation focused on remediating failing math grades with computer games. Future Kings STEM Academy is a 501c3 organization that provides character development, leadership training, and entrepreneurship to underserved middle and high school students. College-level STEM instruction – in cybersecurity, computer game design, custom engineering, and biomedical sciences – is the mechanism by which these critically important competencies are taught. I have been involved with the organization in some way (board member, advisor, researcher, grant writer) since its inception in 2011. Right now, the Future Kings STEM Academy is scaling up. The biomedical sciences program recently received funding for an exciting study related to COVID-19 where six of the Future Kings STEM Academy students are paid research assistants on the project. These high school students (pictured below) are in an actual lab studying susceptibility to COVID-19 at the cellular level! In tandem with the scientific study, I am studying psychological capital development among the young scholars as well. I couldn’t be prouder to lend my expertise to this innovative program.
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What do you want your legacy to be?
This question makes me think of one of my favorite Maya Angelou quotes, “I would like to be known as an intelligent woman, a courageous woman, a loving woman, a woman who teaches by being.” I believe that my actions in the classroom, during in-person or zoom office hours, in dissertation meetings (really everywhere professionally) represent to others the authenticity that I bring to my work. I am unapologetically me all of the time – a mix of humility, humor, and intellect. I am a link in the chain that began with Lanette Brown and Dr. Pace and continues with Drs. David Surratt, Grace Henry, Arik King, Regina Spruill, Tim Miller, Terri Hinkley, Andrew Wu, Sharon Berry … and those they are mentoring and who will mentor others.
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Click below to watch the Inclusive Leader Award Ceremony featuring inspirational messages from the diverse Award Winners
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GlobalMindED and the SDG Impact Fund are delighted to announce GlobalMindED's Donor Advised Fund. 2020 is the 75th Anniversary of the United Nations and the 25th Anniversary of the Beijing Women's Declaration and Action Platform. Many from around the world are thinking of 2020 as the gateway to our most vital decade for delivering equity, the Sustainable Development Goals, and a world where all can thrive. Our key time for these outcomes is 2020-2030.
GlobalMindED DAF and the SDG Impact Fund are a powerful combined force for good as the 2019 year comes to a close and we reflect on the gratitude and the commitments we make to the causes we care most about. The DAF offers immense power and flexibility for giving prior to the year's end as you plant seeds of generous intention for 2020 and the decade ahead.
When you contribute to GlobalMindED, you support First Gen students. We have served more than 400 students by connecting them to role models, mentors, internships and jobs. Your generous support will allow us to take our work 10x and reach these talented students at scale who lack the resources and support we provide. Your support also helps teachers who can't afford the conference fees, faculty at colleges which are under resourced and students who persist at those universities despite food insecurity and/or housing insecurity.
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Links to read about Inclusive Leaders, many of whom are African American and people of color:
Curated sessions from GlobalMindED 2020 YouTube channel:
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From the Center for Positive Organizations:
From the Economist:
From Forbes:
From Harvard Business Review:
From the World Academy of Art & Science and UN; Geneva Global Leadership in the 21st Century econference:
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Listen here for an interview with Pam Newkirk, GlobalMindED speaker and author of Diversity Inc.: The Failed Promise of a Billion- Dollar Business.
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Meet GlobalMindED Founder, Carol Carter as interviewed by Tim Moore on his podcast Success Made to Last: From Success to Significance
Listen to Part 1 of Carol's interview
Listen to Part 2 of Carol's interview
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Recent GlobalMindED Newsletter Profiles:
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Since 2006 when the flagship TGR Learning Lab opened its doors in Anaheim, CA, TGR Foundation has had a lot to celebrate, including its most recent milestone of one million students impacted by TGR EDU: Explore, alone.
Developed in partnership with Discovery Education, TGR EDU: Explore is a free digital resource library that offers interactive web experiences, lesson plans, training videos and tools for educators, students and families to explore new disciplines and gain skills for a modern and expanding workforce.
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As you start the New Year, are you looking for ways to re-engineer your classroom culture? Check out Designing the Future: How Engineering Builds Creative Critical Thinking in the Classroom. The associated website has lots of activities, projects, and resources you can implement immediately. Our fall workshops using the book as a roadmap for change have been highly successful. Start designing the future today - try using the customized Study Guide for a book study in your PLC. Or contact ProjectEngin or Solution Tree to learn how you can bring professional development based on Ann's book to your school, district, or conference.
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THE FLYOVER NATION
Energy's Role in a Troubled Heartland
By J.C. Whorton
A unique and timely discussion of the challenging issues facing the country’s troubled Heartland.
Since the beginning of westward expansion into the Heartland’s vast regions, natural resource development has played a historic role in shaping its communities. Today, domestic oil and gas development offers one of the strongest prospects for the Heartland’s present and future prosperity as well as the nation’s re-emergence as a dominant player in the global energy economy.
The U.S. is now the world’s largest producer of crude oil and natural gas, two circumstances that are universally disrupting international geopolitical order. The earth has a finite supply of natural resources and a rapidly growing and over consuming population.
As America positions itself for a very uncertain and constantly evolving global marketplace, will the Heartland become America’s “great connector” or “great divide”?
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J.C. Whorton is a senior level energy and financial professional with over forty years of essential experience. Having a ranching and Native American heritage, Mr. Whorton is a strong advocate for rural education and economic development initiatives.
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