Social Emotional Learning in Higher Education

Why SEL in Higher Education (panel 1)

Students & staff are facing increasing social & emotional challenges. What’s the solution?

Equity. Student retention. Mental health. Belonging. Given the growing body of research that social emotional learning (SEL) can help people with achievement, relationships, wellbeing and make better decisions, colleges and universities are beginning to seek effective SEL solutions for students as well as faculty & staff.

Panelists

Brian Perkins, Ph.D., Director of the Summer Principals Academy, Columbia University. Dr. Perkins has served as an executive coach and consultant to leaders around the world. An advocate for social emotional learning, he holds that to successfully lead others, one must be grounded and know oneself holistically. Dr. Perkins is also Director of the Urban Education Leadership Programs at Columbia University Teachers College, and the former Chair and Professor of Education Law and Policy at Southern Connecticut State University.

Carla Olivieri, Ph.D., President & CEO, Universidad de Ciencias y Artes de América Latina (UCAL), Author of the books: “Me Outside the Box: Personal Innovation (Planeta 2017), “My son is hiperactive ¿Yours?” (Planeta, 2019) and “Women Outside the Box” (Planeta, 2020). International speaker on Leadership, Happiness and Women Empowerment. Member of the board of CEDRO (Drug prevention organization); AmCham´s Education Committee and Women Entrepreneurs Network. Ph.D in Leadership and Education, Master in Education Management and Master in Marketing. Mother of five, competitive butterfly swimmer.

Liza Johnson, Ed.D. Director of Personal Empowerment and Assistant Director to the President for the University of Dubuque. Dr. Liza Johnson is the Director of Personal Empowerment, Assistant Director to the President for the University of Dubuque (UD), and an EQ Ambassador for Six Seconds. She is the author of a forthcoming SEL curriculum for higher education, a workbook to grow personal and professional success through EQ based on field-tested methods from the program at UD. This curriculum is systematically implemented campus-wide that includes a 3-credit undergraduate course that fulfills a general education requirement. Liza is also working closely with the Dubuque Community Schools, police, and city government on a community-wide implementation plan of emotional intelligence.

Yasmin Al Bulushi, Ph.D. Member of Board of Trustees, Muscat University, Oman. Dr. Yasmin Al Bulushi is the first female dean in the private higher education in the Sultanate. She was the dean of Muscat College, prior to that she was the Assistant dean for Academic Support and Students’ Affairs in the College of Banking and Financial Studies, Oman. She is an educationalist who is passionate about making change in people’s life through education. Dr Yasmeen is a member of Board of Trustee- Muscat University , Oman

Deborah Donahue-Keegan, Ed.D. Associate Director, Tisch College SEL-CE Initiative Tufts University. Dr. Deborah Donahue-Keegan is a Senior Fellow in the Jonathan M. Tisch College of Civic Life at Tufts University, and a faculty member in the Tufts Department of Education. Deborah also directs the Tisch College Initiative on Social Emotional Learning and Civic Engagement (SEL-CE). Deborah’s current research and teaching focus on social emotional learning, equity, and well-being in higher education, with focus on faculty professional development. She serves on the Advisory Board for SEL4US (SEL Alliance for the U.S.), a national advocacy organization. Deborah also serves on the steering committee for SEL4MA (SEL Alliance for Massachusetts). She co-founded and co-leads the Massachusetts Consortium for Social-Emotional Learning in Teacher Education (MA SEL-TEd). Deborah has presented on her SEL-focused research and practice at numerous conferences and thought leader gatherings. She has also authored a number of articles and chapters on SEL and educator professional development.

Moderator: Joshua Freedman, cofounder and CEO, The Six Seconds Emotional Intelligence Network, working since 1997 toward a world with more EQ. Josh is a Master Certified Coach and author of the best-selling At the Heart of Leadership 

Key questions

• What’s the current state of Social Emotional Learning in higher education?
• What are some of the new social emotional challenges that students, faculty, and staff are facing?
• Why did you personally become interested in EQ / SEL?
• What’s one short story that makes you convinced SEL is important in higher Ed?
• Given the current events, how can faculty integrate SEL effectively using online platforms?
• For people concerned with bringing more SEL into higher education, what would be your top piece of advice?