Do you identify as or work with military-affiliated learners (MALs) at Shippensburg University? Faculty, administrators, students, and support staff are encouraged to learn more about how to best support this community throughout the college experience at a free, virtual workshop on Friday, March 19, 2021, 10 AM- 3 PM.

Access the workshop at SHIP.ZOOM.US/MY/ARMAY. 

Join host, Dr. Amy May, Assistant Professor of Human Communication Studies and Director of the Speech and Communication Center at Shippensburg University, as she moderates a discussion led by Victoria McDermott and Dr. Leandra H. Hernandez, surrounding their recently co-edited research, “Supporting the Military-Affiliated Learner; Communication Approaches to Military Pedagogy and Education”.

Guests will walk away with knowledge about the specific barriers for MALs in higher education, intervention resources to overcome said barriers, and tangible best practice recommendations to support MALs’ self-efficacy and retention.

Victoria McDermott, MA, is a Doctoral student at the University of Maryland, and Adjunct Instructor at the University of Alaska Fairbanks. Her experience as an enlisted military spouse has guided research on the collision of the military and academic cultures, as well as inspired co-edited volume for better supporting military-affiliated learners in higher education.

Leandra H. Hernandez, PhD, is an Assistant Professor, Department of Communication, at Utah Valley University. Her experience as a Mexican-American woman and spouse of a Navy veteran has inspired her to create more equitable learning experiences for MALs, research intersectionality in military contexts, mentor MALs from application to graduation, and influence higher education policy and administration to be more mindful of MAL educational needs.

Co-sponsored by ROTC, Veteran Services, and the Speech and Communication Center.