HALE MA Speakers Series

From Classroom Wisdom to Lifelong Learning: An Inside Look at HALE MA Faculty Experiences

Take an intimate look into the experiences of faculty in the Higher, Adult, and Lifelong Education (HALE) MA program. This event offered a glimpse into the transformative moments these educators have encountered with HALE MA students. Faculty opened up about the symbiotic relationship between educators and students, both within the structured online classroom environment and beyond. Learn what makes the HALE MA program exceptional and appreciated by faculty who have dedicated their careers to the higher, adult, and lifelong education landscape. Recorded on Thursday, February 1, 2024.

Panelist: Sara Bano, Ph.D. (Assistant Professor, Higher, Adult, & Lifelong Education, Educational Administration), Dongbin Kim, Ph.D. (Professor, Higher, Adult, & Lifelong Education, Educational Administration), and Anne E. Austin, Ph.D., (University Distinguished Professor, Higher, Adult, & Lifelong Education, Educational Administration).

Reimagining Learning: Possibilities and Challenges of A.I. Powering Postsecondary Education and Lifelong Learning

In the realm of postsecondary education and lifelong learning, Artificial Intelligence (AI) takes center stage with technologies like ChatGPT, machine learning, chat bots, and automated tutors. As AI strides forward, it not only presents us with practical opportunities but also compels us to grapple with profound ethical challenges that impact how we teach, learn, and navigate our lives. 

This HALE MA Speakers Panel brought together a distinguished lineup of contemporary educators, both within and beyond the academic sphere. These experts offered invaluable insights and unique perspectives on how AI is not just shaping but reshaping the very landscape of postsecondary education and lifelong learning. Recorded on November 30, 2023.

Panelists: Fallon White (Librarian- Adult Services, Chicago Public Library), Roberto R. Cásarez, Ph.D. (Academic Technologies Specialist, University of Notre Dame), and Nate Butki (Vice President & Managing Director and Root Inc. & Accenture).


Wisdom in the Craft: Using HALE MA Expertise in Academic Advising

Academic advisors empower students to make well-informed decisions about their education and careers, adeptly navigate the intricate landscape of higher education, and conquer challenges to achieve both academic and personal success. 

The inaugural HALE MA Speaker Series will feature a distinguished panel of academic advisors who will illuminate on their roles and profound contributions in postsecondary education. Our panelist will speak about current issues in academic advising and emphasize the indispensable roles that academic advisors play as mentors and resources for students on their journey toward accomplishing their aspirations within and beyond the academic sphere. Recorded on September 21, 2023.

Panelists: Amanda Cho (Academic Advisor, Lyman Briggs College, Michigan State University) & Dustin Petty (Academic Advisor & Undergraduate Program Coordinator, Liberty Hyde Bailey Scholars Program, Michigan State University).


The Possibilities and Challenges of Community Colleges

Community colleges are at the front stage of postsecondary education, offering education services to many communities and marginalized groups. Panelists shared their experiences and perspectives about their roles and work at two community colleges. They also shared some of the contemporary issues facing these institutions, the possibilities community colleges offer to society, and panelists also reflected on the current challenges facing community colleges in the United States. Recorded on April 20, 2023.

Panelists: Heather Church (Assistant Registrar, Medical Office Department Chair, & Adjunct Faculty Instructor, Bay Mills Community College) and Ryan P. Johnson (Adjunct History Professor, St. Clair County Community College).


Health Professionals and Adult Learning

Health professionals make a difference in the everyday lives of their patients and communities. Higher, Adult, & Lifelong Education (HALE) students and alums play critical roles in developing and cultivating the next generation of health care professionals. This panel of HALE students shared their professional journeys in healthcare and shared how they leveraged their knowledge and skills of lifelong learning in their careers and beyond. Recorded on March 23, 2023.

Panelists: Emiko Blalock, Ph.D. (Assistant Professor, College of Human Medicine, Michigan State University), Mindy Schlaud, C.D.A., R.D.A. (Adjunct Faculty & Clinical Coordinator, Dental Assisting Program, Mott Community College) and Denyse Viger, BAS, Paramedic I/C (Director of Education, Paramedic, & EMS Instructor, Superior Ambulance of Michigan, Life Support Training Institute).


Engaging Wellness as Higher Education Practitioners

This panel of current HALE MA students and alums shared their experiences engaging the possibilities and challenges of wellness as higher education practitioners by providing the space to share lessons learned as educators in/outside postsecondary institutions. Recorded on November 16, 2022.

Panelists: Laura King, M.A. (Human Resources Administrator, MSU Police, Michigan State University) and Dreux Baker, M.A. (Assistant Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, Residence Education and Housing Services, Michigan State University).


Adult Learning and Community Outreach

This panel of current HALE MA students and alums shared their experiences of doing community outreach in their personal or professional lives. Panelists shared the impact of how their HALE MA degree cultivated their personal and professional development at the community outreach level. Recorded on November 1, 2022. 

Panelists: Micaela Flores, M.A. (Admissions & Recruitment Counselor, Office of Admissions, Student Life, & Inclusivity, Michigan State University) and Martin Avila Jr., M.A. (Director, Student Conduct Office, Calvin University).


Workplace Learning

Watch via MediaSpace

This panel of HALE MA current students share their professional experiences and discuss the role of learning in the workplace and professional development. Panelists also shared the impact the HALE program had on their professional development and career trajectories inside/outside the postsecondary sector. Recorded on April 28, 2022.

Panelists: ChaVonne Bonventre (Membership Director of the Midwest Region, Nielsen), Dr. Emily Kate Bowen, DDS (Dental Assistant Program Director, Mountain Empire Community College) and Shannon Fitzsimons Moen (Associate Director, The Alliance for the Arts in Research Universities, University of Michigan)