Global Conference - Virtual for 2021

This informative session will expose participants to sporting traditions, customs, and experiences from cultures all over the world. Learn how international sports differ from sports in the United States. Most cultures share a passion and connection for sports. Come prepared to play some trivia as you learn about unique sports, fads and rituals around the globe.

Brian Klosa is a full-time communications instructor at Normandale Community College. He completed his undergraduate work at Central Michigan University and has a MA and MFA degree from Minnesota State University, Mankato. In another lifetime, Klosa taught, and was the director of the speech team, at South Central College. He considers that time to be some of the most rewarding of his professional life. Klosa likes to make his students see the cultural “big picture” aspect in all of the subjects he teaches and is never afraid to push buttons to get students to think critically.

This presentation explores the ways in which ancient Arab and Islamic traditions intersect with the modern world. Learn how these very different worlds coexist for women in the United Arab Emirates.

During her thirty-three-year career, Carol Burns taught students with special education needs in southern Minnesota school districts. In 2007, Carol joined the Department of Special Education at MSU, Mankato where she taught teaching methods and in 2010 began training education leaders to support beginning teachers with the goal of accelerating teaching effectiveness. While supporting beginning teachers, Carol accompanied student teachers to the United Arab Emirates for two years. Carol retired from the College of Education at MSU, Mankato in 2019. 

Dr. Kurt Dershem will share images of Hindu temples and worshippers from his recent trip to India. He’ll explain the basic beliefs and practices of Hinduism and encourage questions about the faith from attendees.

Dr. Dershem has an M.A. in Philosophy and a Ph. D. in American Culture Studies from Bowling Green State University. He has taught Ethics, Medical Ethics, and World Religions for many years at South Central College. He is also the co-coordinator of the SCC Seminars Abroad.

Learn about Land Acknowledgement and why acknowledging native land matters. Consider how to properly acknowledge native land and turn this acknowledgement into a practice rather than an empty phrase. It is important to get community and student participation to ensure all voices are heard regarding a college wide
Land Acknowledgment.

John Harper currently serves in the office of the president at South Central College as the Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. He holds a degree in Political Science and a Masters of Educational Leadership and Administration from Minnesota State University, Mankato. John has experience in recruitment, inclusion development and is passionate about access and equity within higher education. At South Central, John actively works with academic deans, faculty and staff to examine policy, procedure and assessments with an equity lens. He is the youngest member to ever sit on the President’s Cabinet at the college. He recently was accepted into Morgan State University and will begin his doctoral program this Fall.

In 2013 and in 2015, South Central College students spent two weeks traveling through South Africa. After a semester studying the history and culture of South Africa, this trip was a life-changing experience. Students visited impoverished townships--leftover from the harsh Apartheid era (legalized, strict racial segregation), visited Nelson Mandela’s birthplace and his prison cell, spent time in a tiny mountain college with African students, went on safari, waded in the Indian Ocean, and came to understand what it means to be citizens of the world. Come hear about this journey and see dozens of pictures of this experience in the beautiful country of South Africa.

Recently retired, Becky Fjelland (Davis) Brooks was an English and Humanities instructor at South Central College since 2005. In 2013 and 2015, she taught a semester-long course “The History and Culture of South Africa.” She has led overseas travel groups to South Africa three times and has led student groups to Europe four times. She is the author of two young adult novels, a screenplay of her novel Chasing AllieCat, anthologized short stories, and ten children’s books.

From local to regional to national to international, so goes the growth and trading sphere of Minnesota’s agricultural market. Keeping this market flowing from farmer to processor to international customer depends upon a complex system of intermodal transportation. So, what happens when this market becomes disrupted, or perhaps more fundamental, how and why does the market become disrupted? What are the implications of transportation system disruption for moving Minnesota agriculture products from farm to the international market? We are finding out first-hand in 2020-2021 as products bound for China and elsewhere remain bottled up in the U.S. This presentation begins with an overview of the global intermodal transportation system. Following this is an assessment of the causes and possible duration behind the 2020-21 transportation bottleneck we have been experiencing. Particular emphasis will be given to the shipping piece of the equation – 80 percent of global freight is transported via ocean going freighters.

Rick S. Kurtz, PhD. currently serves as Dean of Arts and Sciences with Minnesota State - South Central College. Rick does research in Science, Technology and Environmental Politics, Public Policy and Public Administration. Current projects include maritime safety, pandemic preparedness and public lands management.

Join Ben Geer, director of Spiritual Growth at Grace Lutheran Church, and Kelly Kunkel, an Extension Educator in Health and Nutrition with the University of Minnesota Extension as they talk about what they are doing in south central Minnesota to recover food that would otherwise go into the landfill or compost. By repurposing this food, their program and others like it do much to combat hunger in Mankato and the surrounding area as well reduce greenhouse emissions.

Kelly Kunkel is an Extension Educator in Health and Nutrition with the Center for Family Development, University of Minnesota Extension, and a master certified health education specialist (MCHES). Much of her work has been dedicated to changing the food environment to improve food access and choice for low-income adult and youth audiences, through programming for food shelves, childcare providers and parents, and healthy school environments. She is also co-chair for the Mankato-North Mankato food network: Roots, Shoots, and Boots.

Ben Geer works as the Director of Spiritual Growth at Grace Lutheran Church. As part of his job, he works with putting together programming for all ages at the church. He leads vacation bible school, bible studies, service trips and trips to the Boundary Waters Canoe Area Wilderness. He also helps find and create outreach opportunities for the congregation to get connected with the community and beyond through service and giving. He has been living in the Mankato area for 16 years and currently lives in North Mankato with his wife Betsy and daughters Esther and Chloe.

Public libraries and the Dewey Decimal Classification System (DDC) have not always given proper representation to the First Nation cultures of North America and other indigenous cultures across the globe. Although great strides between U.S. federal policy & tribal nations have corrected some wrongs of the past, stereotypes and marginalization still remain. This research proposal seeks to expand the holdings of indigenous knowledge within a local public library, to increase patron awareness of alternative indigenous viewpoints. It is not a call to uproot the DDC system. Rather, the research proposed here takes a critical look into Dewey’s classification and also suggests increasing the collection development of one of the many thousands of public libraries whose Native American holdings are worthy of a second look.

A graduate of South Central College, Jeremy Freeman lives in St. Peter, MN and grew up in Le Sueur. He holds a BA in Anthropology from Minnesota State University, Mankato and recently achieved a Masters in Library and Information Science (MLIS) from the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee. Most of his working career has been in the creative arts, holding positions as a graphic designer, illustrator, editorial cartoonist, photographer, band drummer and music writer. He currently works at the St. Peter Public Library in circulation/reference.

Curious to know how LGBTQIA+ individuals are treated in other countries? Are these individuals treated with respect or scorn? Come hear members of SCC’s PRIDE group (People Really Interested in Diversity Education) discuss laws, protections, and discrimination around the world for this population.

Dr. Kirstin Cronn-Mills has been teaching literature and writing classes at South Central College for over 21 years. She is the faculty advisor for SCC PRIDE (People Really Interested in Diversity Education), and the students facilitating the panel with her are either current or alumni members of PRIDE.

Join clinical social worker, Jamie Mack, as she shares her personal story with international adoption. She will share her struggles with finding her identity as a Korean adoptee in a small town in Minnesota and within the social landscape as an Asian American woman. Jamie will share coping strategies that have been useful in her lifetime for herself and in her social work practice.

Jamie Mack is a Korean adoptee who was raised in New Ulm, MN by parents Roger and Joan Lindholm. She lives in Mankato with her partner, Jason, their son Owen, and black lab, Lily. Jamie is a clinical social worker and works at a local middle school under a grant to support students with academic, mental health, and social emotional goals. Her passion is advocacy and equity. In her own journey, she is working through the layers of international adoption, discrimination, stereotypes, and choosing her own identity while guiding young people who are facing similar struggles. Jamie finds mindfulness, cooking, hiking, being with family and friends, and humor are what give her energy.

Due to social and economic inequities and cultural barriers, many of the 1.5 million indigenous persons in Chile lack access to effective healthcare. In response to these inequities, Chile’s Special Health and Indigenous Peoples Program (PEPSI) aims to involve indigenous peoples in the development of national Intercultural Healthcare Plans, and to improve the quality, accessibility and effectiveness of the healthcare provided to indigenous populations. The session is co-presented by Chandra Bouma and Jana Bouma.  It's based on public health research by Chandra Bouma, this presentation describes the impact of intercultural facilitators—members of local indigenous groups employed in health care facilities who work to improve the cultural responsiveness of healthcare provided to indigenous persons.

Chandra Bouma is a graduate of Gustavus Adolphus College and a rising third-year medical student at the University of Minnesota Medical School. In 2017, she spent three months in Arica, Chile studying the Chilean health care system and conducting undergraduate research into the role of Aymaran intercultural facilitators within the Chilean healthcare system.

Jana Bouma received her PhD in English literature from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. She is an advisor with TRIO Student Support Services at South Central College.

Have you ever been blamed for a problem that wasn’t your fault? Throughout history, individuals and groups have been the target of unsubstantiated blame resulting in serious negative consequences. This is referred to as scapegoating. In this session, we will explore the theory of scapegoating, look at historical and recent examples, analyze the psychology behind this phenomenon, look at the impact, and identify potential solutions.

Jane Greathouse has taught psychology courses for sixteen years at South Central College. Fascinated and troubled by the political landscape over the past several years, she has sought refuge in the theories and research of social psychology to help make sense of things that don’t seem to make much sense.

This is a presentation about the cultural manifestations and consequences of globalization and their relationship to conventional notions of diversity and inclusion. Joseph explains misunderstandings and cultural difference between Africans and Americans with delightful humor. His gentle manner and wonderful storytelling make him a favorite teacher and presenter.

Joseph L. Mbele is a Tanzanian professor in the English department at St. Olaf College, specializing in post-colonial literature and folklore. Outside the classroom, he enjoys delivering presentations about African storytelling which involve teaching about the storytelling tradition and performing folktales. His book, Malengo Folktales, was featured on “Jeopardy.” He is also a cultural consultant, with a focus on Africans and Americans, helping them navigate cultural differences. His publications include the popular book, Africans and Americans: Embracing Cultural Differences.

What do fairies do for fun? How do you stop a fire breathing dragon? Why do witches get such a bad rap? Mischievous fairies, dangerous dragons, and magical witches in the woods—These characters are a part of many European cultural stories and traditions. In this session we will explore the history of European myth, folklore, and magic.

Cassandra Labairon is a poet and a mixed-media artist who was born in the Czech Republic, immigrated with her parents to Chicago, and finally settled in Minnesota at age 6.5. She’s the author of two chapbooks, And the Road Will Take You There and Growing Season, published by Spoon River Poetry Press. Her poems have appeared in numerous literary magazines and in the anthology Farming Word, edited by Bill Holm. She is an English instructor at South Central College.

The Maya Civilization had a sophisticated counting system, which required only three symbols. We will examine the structure of the counting system, how to add and subtract with Maya numerals, and even discover how to write large numbers using such few symbols. In addition, we will discuss how several Maya scientific achievements resulted from their knowledge of mathematics.

Ashley Priem is a Mankato native teaching mathematics at South Central College. In addition to mathematics, Ashely enjoys board gaming, fitness, playing music, and spending time with her family and cats.

Join former SCC student Cami Kotke as she discusses her experiences at Pine Ridge Reservation volunteering in the Red Cloud School system. A graduate student in History, Cami will also cover important and relevant aspects of Lakota history.

Cami Kottke is currently in her final year as a Master’s of Science in History student at Minnesota State University-Mankato. Once she graduates in the Spring of 2022, she plans on working at a World War II and Holocaust Museum as a Museum Educator and go back to school to earn her Master of Arts in Curatorial Studies. In her free time, she is working to publish her article titled: “Implications of Race on the Application of Sexual Assault Law and the Segregated South.”

In many respects COVID-19 is the story of a circular and episodic pandemic. The first truly global pandemic since the 1918 Spanish Flu, the origins of COVID-19 first emerged at the local level in Wuhan, China. From this origin the virus spread regionally and nationally before leaping across international boundaries in a matter of weeks. The response was a mixed bag of on-the-fly actions implemented at the national and regional level. Within the U.S. much of the response was delegated, or left, to the states. How well states did in responding to this global pandemic is the focus of this presentation. Particular emphasis is given to the role of U.S. state governors acting in their executive capacity as policy entrepreneurs in chief. The success of their entrepreneurial actions are measured against a set of intended outcomes designed to contain and suppress the COVID-19 outbreak.

Caroline A. Kurtz is a third-year medical student at Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine. Her interests include health policy, public health education, and providing care for underserved populations.

Rick S. Kurtz, PhD. serves as Dean of Arts and Sciences with Minnesota State - South Central College. Rick does research in Science, Technology and Environmental Politics, Public Policy and Public Administration. Current projects include maritime safety, pandemic preparedness, and public lands management.

Take part in an interactive conversation about the Latinex movement with our own Director of Admissions, Edel Fernandez. Who identifies as Latinex? Why? How does this term translate in Spanish? What does the term “Latinex” mean in higher education? Why is this term controversial to some? Dialogue about the perceptions and challenges of the word itself and why it’s important to use it correctly.

Edel joined South Central College in 2018 and is now serving as the Director of Admissions. Born and raised in Mexico, he moved to MN in 2000 and has over 20 years of experience in higher education in Mexico and the US, most of it working for the MinnState system at three different community colleges.