NATCHITOCHES – Several Northwestern State University faculty will be presenters as the Phi Beta Delta Honor Society for International Scholars presents its 36th annual conference Monday, May 23-Tuesday, May 24 and several have been involved in planning the virtual conference. The theme is “Collaborative Resilience: Recreating Global Pathways.”
Associate Professor of Music Education Dr. Sharon Joy is the international president of Phi Beta Delta and chairperson of this conference. The keynote speaker will be Andrea Thomas a consultant in global learning, innovation and virtual exchange. She will speak on “The Role We Play in Global Collaboration.”
NSU faculty Dr. Neeru Deep and Dr. Kimberly McAlister will present “Reimagining Global Pathways: Collaborative Efforts to Promote Well-being.” Dr. Marcia Hardy and Dr. Dan Upshaw will present “Negotiation Techniques for Recreating Global Pathways” and retired Professor Dr. Richard Bach Jensen will present “Bringing Students to Italia Incanta, the Magical Country.” Dr. Debra Jo Hailey, Dr. Michelle Fazio-Brunson, NSU graduate students Patricia Alexander and other local educators will present “Promoting Literacy through Family Literacy Festivals, Near and Far.”
Dr. Ronnie Abukhalaf, Dr. Marcia Hardy and Dr. Keicia Hawkins were on the international conference planning committee.
Joy and recent masters graduate Aura Hernandez-Canedo have organized the Virtual International Music Concert that will feature music performers from around the globe, including NSU students and alumni performing Latin Jazz. The finale of the concert will feature the Natchitoches-Northwestern Symphony Orchestra performing “Music from Lord of the Dance.”
The NSU community is encouraged to attend. NSU Eta Mu Chapter of Phi Beta Delta paid the chapter registration, so there is no additional cost to attend the virtual conference.
To attend any portion of the conference, email to Dr. Marcia Hardy (hardym@nsula.edu) by Friday, May 20. Hardy will provide the zoom link and a password from Phi Beta Delta Headquarters. The conference will take place from 10 a.m.-7 p.m. CDT.
