The intersection of Mindfulness and Social Justice: Beth Berila and Mays Imad in Conversation
To celebrate the release of the 2nd edition of my book, Integrating Mindfulness Into Anti-Oppression Pedagogy: Social Justice in Higher Education (Routledge), I invited Dr. Mays Imad to the podcast to dive deep into the power of mindfulness in the classroom.Together, we delve into the challenges of being political in STEM fields, the intersection of mindfulness and social justice, and the importance of trauma-sensitive approaches in higher education. Join us for an insightful discussion on resilience, resistance, and the transformative potential of mindfulness in academia.
Mays Imad
Dr. Mays Imad's academic journey began at the University of Michigan–Dearborn, where she pursued philosophy and minored in chemistry. She earned a doctoral degree in cellular & clinical neurobiology, with a minor in biomedical sciences, from Wayne State University School of Medicine in Detroit. After a postdoctoral fellowship at the University of Arizona's Department of Neuroscience, she joined Pima Community College (PCC), teaching a variety of biology-related subjects. During her tenure at PCC, she founded their Teaching and Learning Center (TLC).
Currently an associate professor at Connecticut College, Dr. Imad is interested in understanding the social determinants of student wellbeing and success and conducts research on equity pedagogy. Her work reflects a deep commitment to equity and justice in and through education. With fervor, she advocates for institutions to pay close attention to intergenerational trauma and to prioritize healing and wellbeing. She is a Gardner Institute Fellow, AAC&U Senior STEM Fellow, and Mind and Life Institute Fellow.
Connect with Mays
Twitter: @lrningsanctuary
Resources from the Episode
Judith Lewis Herman, Trauma and Recovery: The Aftermath of Violence - From Domestic Abuse to Political Terror
Beth Berila, Integrating Mindfulness into Anti-Oppression Pedagogy: Social Justice in Higher Education, 2nd ed.
Image descriptions: mauve background, teal and salmon accents. The far left and right image have white blocks in the middle with text. The middle image has a picture of Beth in a blue shirt with a red scarf, looking at the camera and smiling.