Reparative Humanism in Higher Education: Examining & Recasting Agreements that Govern Teaching and Learning. | Centre for Innovation in Learning and Teaching

We are thrilled to invite you to our next hybrid webinar, featuring the distinguished A/Prof Mays Imad, an eminent scholar and practitioner in higher education. Join us as A/Prof Imad leads a compelling discussion on "Reparative Humanism in Higher Education: Examining & Recasting Agreements that Govern Teaching and Learning."

About the Topic

The webinar will explore the intricate connections between trauma, burnout, healing, and our collective human experience, with a focus on the well-being of faculty in academia. At the core of this discussion is reparative humanism – a philosophical approach aimed at healing the human condition through humanistic principles. These principles emphasise recognising the "whole" person, personal autonomy, self-determination, interconnectedness, social responsibility, and the inherent worth and dignity of every individual.

A/Prof Imad will expand on these concepts, stressing the critical importance of faculty well-being in creating a truly inclusive and nurturing educational environment.

About the Speaker

A/Prof Mays Imad's academic journey is rooted in a profound dedication to educational reform and humanistic principles. She began her academic career at the University of Michigan–Dearborn, where she studied philosophy and minored in chemistry. She holds a doctoral degree in cellular & clinical neurobiology, with a minor in biomedical sciences, from Wayne State University School of Medicine in Detroit. Following a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Arizona's Department of Neuroscience, she joined Pima Community College (PCC), where she taught various biology-related subjects and founded the Teaching and Learning Centre (TLC).

Currently, A/Prof Imad is an associate professor at Connecticut College, focusing on the social determinants of student well-being and success. Her research on equity pedagogy reflects a deep commitment to justice and equity in education. She advocates for institutions to address intergenerational trauma and prioritise repair, healing, and growth. A/Prof Imad holds fellowships with the Gardner Institute, AAC&U as a Senior STEM Fellow, the Mind and Life Institute, and is a Research Fellow at the Centre for the Study of the Afterlife of Violence and the Reparative Quest (AVReQ).