Academic Festival 2011

Mayor Bloomberg appointed Deputy Mayor for Education and Community Development Dennis M. Walcott as Chancellor of New York City Public Schools. Walcott, who had served as Deputy Mayor since the beginning of the Bloomberg Administration in 2002, has been Mayor Bloomberg?s City Hall point person on all educational and youth policy. Prior to the Mayor?s election, Walcott served as President and Chief Executive Officer of the New York City Urban League, as a member of the New York City Board of Education, as a kindergarten teacher, and as an adjunct professor of social work at CUNY?s York College.

It takes a village to raise a child, especially one that is healthy and well-fed. New York City has stepped up to this challenge and through a local initiative, known as Food Works has shaped policy for community, schools and childhood nutrition that makes-- programs and organizations, such as Green Carts, City Harvest and NYC Food and Fitness Partnership that build a health-conscious community. How can we share this model for adoption among other communities to share the health? A panel moderated by Pam Koch '98, Kristen Mancinelli '08, TC Trustee Laurie M. Tisch and Sharon Wong, Community Development Manager at NYC Food and Fitness Partnership.

From Apples to Zucchini -- growing and preparing your own healthy foods may be easier than you thought. Have you ever wondered where does my food come from? Or how do I make healthy foods taste great? Healthy eating habits should start early, and school curricula are now teaching students the fundamentals of whole foods with programs like schoolyard gardens and kitchen classrooms Christiane Baker will share how adopting these lessons in school can carry over to the home and help to instill a healthy appetite, while Pam Koch performs a cooking demonstration and shares tips for incorporating local, fresh fruits, veggies and whole grains into your family's daily diets. Tasting is encouraged!

Educational reform over the last decade has emphasized literacy, numeracy, science and technology. These emphases have led to a narrowing of the curriculum, which has marginalized the arts and humanities. The Young Arts Educational Foundation has forged a partnership with Teachers College in order to promote interdisciplinary investigations related to the HBO television series MASTERCLASS. Professors Abeles, Crocco, and Natriello will discuss the goals and methods of this unique curriculum and website design project, which uses the concept of mastery in the arts to consider mastery in all school subjects and other educational activities.

Renowned sex therapist, Dr. Ruth Westheimer '70 will share some tips for building deeper relationships and a rewarding sex life. Dr. Ruth will discuss the facts of sex in her friendly, authoritative way debunking myths and discussing new therapies and much more.

From blank canvas to masterpiece -- our lives can go from black and white to Technicolor through the positive benefits of the arts. Judy Burton will explore how exposure to the arts can benefit all young people, while Joan Jeffri explains how aging artists are often the picture of good health.

Social media (think Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn) is now the most popular activity on the Internet. TC even teaches a class on how to use social media for learning. Come learn how social media is being used for education and leave with best practice approaches on how you can effectively use it.

Microaggressions cause major offense. These everyday verbal and nonverbal snubs and insults, whether intentional or unintentional communicate hostile, derogatory or negative messages to targets from marginalized groups. Smith, Rivera and Watkins will discuss cutting edge research and perspectives on the manifestation, psychological dynamics, and impact of microaggressions on the well-being of these groups. They will discuss strategies for overcoming these slights on an individual, institutional, societal and cultural level.

The Distinguished Alumni Awards Recipients are nominated by their peers, TC Faculty or staff for their achievements and extraordinary contributions to their field after earning their degree at TC. The Early Career Award recognizes an alumnus who has achieved great success within 10 years of graduation.

Dr. Ian Smith has served as the medical/diet expert for six seasons on VH1's highly-rated 'Celebrity Fit Club,' the creator and founder of The 50 Million Pound Challenge and The Makeover Mile, and a medical contributor on the nationally syndicated television show--?Rachael Ray. Dr. Smith is also the host of his own nationally syndicated radio show 'HealthWatch' on American Urban Radio Networks. He is the former medical correspondent for NBC News network and for NewsChannel 4 where he filed reports for NBC's 'Nightly News' and the 'Today' show as well as WNBC's various news broadcasts. He has appeared extensively on various broadcasts including 'The Oprah Show,' 'The View,' 'The Tyra Banks Show,' 'Larry King Live,' 'Anderson Cooper 3600,' and 'Showbiz Tonight.' Dr. Smith has recently been appointed by President Obama to the President's Council on Fitness, Sports, and Nutrition. He has written for various publications including Time, Newsweek, Men's Health, and the New York Daily News, and has been featured in several other publications including, People, Essence, Ebony, University of Chicago Medicine on the Midway, Cosmopolitan, and Black Enterprise.