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Dr. Zolnikov earned a Ph.D. in Developmental Science from North Dakota State University and an M.S. in Environmental Health from Harvard School of Public Health and a second M.S. in Industrial Hygiene from Montana Tech of the University of Montana. She also earned a B.S. degree in Biological Sciences from Montana Tech of the University of Montana. Dr. Zolnikov works internationally on issues in low- and middle-income countries, including Kenya, Ghana, India, Colombia, and Brazil. She has worked on a variety of public health projects, ranging from infectious diseases (including Ebola and HIV/AIDS) to access to water projects. She is primarily a qualitative researcher and concentrates on providing vulnerable populations with a voice.

Additionally, Dr. Zolnikov is the vice president of a nonprofit organization, The Shepherd’s Village, which focuses on providing access to water to Maasai communities in Kenya. Dr. Zolnikov has published extensively in some of the world’s most renowned public health and global health journals, including the American Journal of Public Health, AIDS and Behavior, Science of the Total Environment, and many more. She has also written and published two books, which focus on qualitative research and environmental health. In 2017, she received Editors Choice Reviewer of the Year Award at the American Journal in Public Health.

Episode 1 transcript available here

In addition, he is a member of his field’s premier professional organization, the Council of Supply Chain Management Professionals. He is a world-wide lecturer and researcher on Supply Chain Risk and Resilience. Previous to National University, Dr. Pettit served on the faculty at the U.S. Air Force Academy and the Air Force Institute of Technology. He retired from the Air Force after 24 years in logistics and aircraft maintenance, where he led combat units and support forces around the world.

Episode 2 (Part 1) transcript available here

Episode 2 (Part 2) transcript available here

Currently a doctoral candidate through Michigan State University’s Educational Psychology and Educational Technology program, his career highlights include working as an Editor for Nickelodeon Animation Studios and running Video Game related undergraduate programs.

For more information about Breaking Down Barriers, please check out the following links:

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Laurie shares her enthusiasm for serving students, talks about why research support from the library is critical, and discusses the reasons why she chose the Ed.D. program at National University. She also shares her innovative ideas that she plans to fulfill when she completes the program.

In this episode, Prof. Campbell talks about two major projects from this year. First, the revision to the entire Digital Media Design program, and second, his documentary film "Down on the Ranch", recently screened at two film festivals, one in Palm Springs, and the most recent screening at the GI Film Festival at the Museum of Photographic Art, Balboa Park, San Diego.

She is the course lead for ITL 516 Mathematics Integrative Design and ITL 518 Science Integrative Design. She is a regular writer on her website Teacher Prep Tech and can be found on twitter @teacherpreptech.

Jessica Becherini is a special education resource teacher in Spokane Public Schools. She specializes in kindergarten through second grade. Although most of her experience has been as a resource teacher serving students through eighth grade, she also has been a general education teacher in first grade. She is passionate about facilitating the development of social and emotional skills through the power of play. As a non-traditional student, Mrs. Becherini graduated from Campbell University in North Carolina, receiving her teaching credentials at age 40. She recently obtained her master’s degree in Social Emotional Learning from National University. Having spent years advocating for and even homeschooling her own four children in response to their variety of special needs and giftedness, Mrs. Becherini delights in overcoming challenges and celebrating triumphs, especially in the Title 1 schools where she has spent most of her teaching career. She lives in Spokane with her husband of 27 years, their youngest son, age 19, and two fur babies.

Jessica Hewitt has created outdoor education classes that center around supporting families at play while offering nature related themes tied to mindfulness, yoga, and SEL. She also consults with families on an individual basis, working with parents to find creative ways to build on their strengths, restore family balance, find ways to play, and lean into joy. A recent opportunity offered her the privilege to utilize her new SEL knowledge by offering family yoga to encourage connection through breath work and yoga sequences centered on social emotional learning competencies. With the Sanford Harmony scholarship through NU, she has become an ambassador for the Harmony SEL program which she hopes will expand her knowledge and capability to provide families tools to be successful. As part of the NU MA SEL program, Jessica was able to conduct research in an area she is passionate about, building family connections through play. She has plans to continue research in this area in the hopes of shining a light on the benefits of building SEL with families as a unit through play.

Jessica Becherini is a special education resource teacher in Spokane Public Schools. She specializes in kindergarten through second grade. Although most of her experience has been as a resource teacher serving students through eighth grade, she also has been a general education teacher in first grade. She is passionate about facilitating the development of social and emotional skills through the power of play. As a non-traditional student, Mrs. Becherini graduated from Campbell University in North Carolina, receiving her teaching credentials at age 40. She recently obtained her master’s degree in Social Emotional Learning from National University. Having spent years advocating for and even homeschooling her own four children in response to their variety of special needs and giftedness, Mrs. Becherini delights in overcoming challenges and celebrating triumphs, especially in the Title 1 schools where she has spent most of her teaching career. She lives in Spokane with her husband of 27 years, their youngest son, age 19, and two fur babies.

Jessica Hewitt has created outdoor education classes that center around supporting families at play while offering nature related themes tied to mindfulness, yoga, and SEL. She also consults with families on an individual basis, working with parents to find creative ways to build on their strengths, restore family balance, find ways to play, and lean into joy. A recent opportunity offered her the privilege to utilize her new SEL knowledge by offering family yoga to encourage connection through breath work and yoga sequences centered on social emotional learning competencies. With the Sanford Harmony scholarship through NU, she has become an ambassador for the Harmony SEL program which she hopes will expand her knowledge and capability to provide families tools to be successful. As part of the NU MA SEL program, Jessica was able to conduct research in an area she is passionate about, building family connections through play. She has plans to continue research in this area in the hopes of shining a light on the benefits of building SEL with families as a unit through play.

Ms. Chambers is also involved in qualitative health research in Kenya and the United States and collaborates with healthcare administrators at the American Public Health Association (APHA). She is an active member of the Engagement and Mentoring Committees, Co-Chair, and Campus Liaison under the APHA Student Assembly. Additionally, Ms. Chambers serves as a Co-Chair of the Daystar University Alumni Association (DUAA), her alma mater diaspora chapter.

Ms. Chambers is also involved in qualitative health research in Kenya and the United States and collaborates with healthcare administrators at the American Public Health Association (APHA). She is an active member of the Engagement and Mentoring Committees, Co-Chair, and Campus Liaison under the APHA Student Assembly. Additionally, Ms. Chambers serves as a Co-Chair of the Daystar University Alumni Association (DUAA), her alma mater diaspora chapter.

Comments come from the August 2023 Community Town Hall, the Ethical Approach to ChatGPT webinar from April 2023, and Unraveling the Wonders of AI and ChatGPT presented by CSEA, The Center for Student Engagement and Activities at National University from August 2023.

Make sure to also check out the library's Artificial Intelligence guide, which is designed to help answer questions and provide resources regarding AI, ChatGPT, Large Language Models, and their relationship to academics.

Supporting our students' academic journey at National University is a collaborative effort that takes coordination, especially when it comes to course development.

We’ll look at how the library is fully engaged and integrated into the course design and development process, and how we ramped up our support for faculty course authors during 2023 with our OER and Curriculum Support team. We’ll also hear from a Learning Experience Designer on the NU Learning Experience (LeX) Team.