Have you ever felt you did not have all the information and perspectives necessary to make the best decision? During this session, Wendy will introduce you to the basic premise of Edward De Bono’s “Six Thinking Hats” method of problem solving. Together, we will practice role-playing to view a problem from six different lenses used in the decision-making process for personal or professional decisions.

Wendy Elliot Pyle
Program Manager, School of Education

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Failure isn’t the end, but rather a powerful catalyst for growth. In our most challenging moments, we find the seeds of resilience and the insights that propel us forward. I’ll explore how embracing failure as a crucial part of the journey leads to greater success, equipping us with the wisdom and strength to achieve our fullest potential.

Victor LaGroon; Global Health Executive, Assurance Health Data | Fmr Chief Diversity Officer, US Dept of Veterans Affairs | Fmr Army Intel Analyst

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What is creativity, and how can we use novel ideas to transform workplace problems and solve them collaboratively? Some people believe the only point in a college degree is to land a job, build a career and climb the promotion ladder. Even when landing that dream job, it can be fraught with problems. Rarely do we process our experiences and develop new skills to solve these problems. This session invites participants to share their beliefs about creativity from which we will build a common definition of creativity that is also grounded in research. Then, Jen will share essential features of creative problem solving to help learn about and manage the creative problem-solving (CPS) cycle for “self” and “other.” In this session, you will also be invited to reflect on a problem of practice in your workplace, and develop actionable ideas for breaking through these problems using the CPS cycle.

Jennifer Katz-Buonincontro, PhD
Professor and Associate Dean of Research, School of Education

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The skills gap — the discrepancy between the skills employers need and the skills that candidates and workers possess — has been a persistent challenge in the job market (Forbes, 2023). Professionals at every career level from emerging leaders to career shifters can benefit from enrolling in short certification courses and industry bootcamps to ensure that they stay relevant and prepared for the ever-changing workplace. Completing a professional certificate in project management, continuous improvement, and leadership development can position a person for salary increases, new leadership roles, and a smooth pivot to begin working in a new industry.

Kena Sears-Brown, MBA
Director, Continuing Professional Education & Workforce Initiatives, Goodwin College of Professional Studies

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In just a few years’ time, three letters—DEI—have generated much controversy. Drexel University’s inaugural Vice Provost for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion believes that is because DEI is poorly understood. In this session, Dr. Ashburn-Nardo will share evidence to “demystify” DEI and address five common misperceptions:

1. DEI is unnecessary.
2. DEI trainings will address all our problems.
3. DEI only benefits certain groups.
4. DEI lowers standards.
5. DEI creates more division than unity.

Leslie Ashburn-Nardo, PhD
Vice Provost for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Drexel University

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Yusuf Henriques will share his journey from serving as a combat medic in the U.S. Army to becoming a leader in the genomics industry. He will discuss the importance of precision health equity, particularly for underrepresented communities, and how student veterans can play a pivotal role in driving innovation in this field. Henriques will emphasize the value of resilience, leadership, and community engagement in overcoming the challenges faced by veterans, while also exploring the opportunities for making a lasting impact in healthcare and biotechnology.

Yusuf Henriques; Founder & CEO, IndyGeneUS AI | Fmr Division Chief, US Food & Drug Administration | Fmr Army Combat Medic

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In this interactive session, leadership from the School of Education’s Critical Conversations about Urban Education (CCUE) will share how they use Courageous Conversations’ protocol to engage in schoolwide, interracial dialogue. The protocol includes multiple tools participants can use to talk about race in their own contexts.

Deanna Hill, JD, PhD
Associate Clinical Professor and Program Director for EdD in Educational Leadership and Management, School of Education

Kristine S. Lewis Grant, PhD
Clinical Professor, School of Education

Sherri Manson
Program Administrator and Assistant to the Associate Deans, School of Education

Cianni Williams, BS education ’24, MS Advanced Teaching, Learning and Curriculum ‘25

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We will cover developing a sense of identity and purpose towards building a blueprint for success. Through social/emotional intelligence exercises, we will gain a greater since of our individual goals with the overarching goal of living a life in service to others. To end with a clear understanding of living a life of impact as our legacy.

Jimmy White IV; Engineering Ops Lead, Vanguard | Travis Manion Foundation Ambassador | Fmr Navy Nuclear Submarine Electrician

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