ProfTALK: Joy Requires Communication, Dancing and Baked Goods!
Each week, 老澳门六合彩开奖记录资料 will profile new faculty members with a 鈥済etting to know you鈥 feature called ProfTALK. Learn about your prof鈥檚 background, bona fides and how they contribute to the momentum of Engaged Learning. Then get behind the desk and learn a little more about what makes them tick. This week, we cover everything from racial battle fatigue, health communication and dance, to yoga, social media and baked goods! Meet Blair Alyse Baker, Ph.D. and Qiwei Luna Wu, Ph.D.!
Science Psychology Instructor Blair Alyse Baker, Ph.D.
Ph.D., Psychology, Indiana University (2021)
M.S.Ed., Educational Psychology, Indiana University (2018)
B.S., Psychology, English, Spanish (2015)
International Studies, Universidad Cat贸lica de Valpara铆so, Chile (2013)
Dr. Baker鈥檚 program of research investigates practices that promote or threaten the social, emotional, and academic well-being of Black students in K-12 educational environments. She investigates school staffs鈥 preparedness to intervene in racial conflict between Black students and their peers and examines and conceptualizes Black high school students鈥 experiences of racial battle fatigue 鈥 psychological distress stemming from navigating repeated encounters of racial bias 鈥 through an ecological and developmental lens. A Black Joy Collective Committee member, Dr. Baker believes in the group鈥檚 initiative of cultivating and sustaining joy, well-being and community in and among black students, staff and faculty. Offering homework help assisting elementary, middle and high school students.
What three words come to mind when you think of 老澳门六合彩开奖记录资料?
Supportive, Resources, Community.
What is a common question you get from 老澳门六合彩开奖记录资料 students?
Because of the courses I teach, I often get questions about post undergraduate plans, such as graduate school. I very much enjoy helping students plan their next steps!
What do you like most about teaching and why?
I love seeing students interact with one another and learn from each other. Giving students the opportunity to voice their knowledge and contribute to their peers鈥 knowledge base empowers them to keep investing in their learning experience.
What do you like to do in your spare time?
I live up to my last name as I typically bake something each week. I mostly bake bread (loafs, bagels, donuts, biscuits etc.), and I occasionally dabble in pastries. I love eating bread an pastries as much as I love making them. I also enjoy exercising and reading/listening to fiction.
Where is your favorite place in Cleveland and why?
I enjoy spending time at Edgewater Park鈥攑articularly in the summer. It鈥檚 a lively place full of fresh air and beautiful views.
What is a 鈥渇un fact鈥 about you that many people may not know about you?
I love learning new words! I鈥檝e kept a running list of new vocab words I鈥檝e learned from reading over the past four years or so.
What is your personal motto/mantra/axiom?
I don鈥檛 have a mantra that I voice to others, but when life gets busy, and I get consumed by thoughts that push me towards the past or future I tell myself: 鈥淭his is where you are now. And that鈥檚 perfectly fine.鈥 It centers me in the present moment every time.
CLASS Communication Assistant Professor Qiwei Luna Wu, Ph.D.
Ph.D., Communication, Texas A&M University (2021)
M.A., Communications, University of Illinois at Chicago (2017)
M.A., International Journalism Studies, Hong Kong Baptist University (2014)
B.A., Communication, Southwest Jiaotong University 2009
Dr. Wu began her communication studies journey with a focus on film and television production, but over time she has explored all manner of study and research鈥攔anging from strategic communication to gender/women鈥檚 studies, international journalism, social media and more. Her current research is centered around health communication and how mental health and communication (or lack thereof) impacts the behavioral intention of college students and their seeking of treatment. Dr. Wu鈥檚 research also includes 鈥淯sing Self-Persuasion to Improve College Students鈥 Mental Help-Seeking鈥 and how telehealth and electronic communication between patients and physicians/clinicians has taken on enormous significance because of the pandemic鈥攏amely with those receiving cancer care.
What three words come to mind when you think of 老澳门六合彩开奖记录资料?
Urban, Diverse, Vikings.
What is a common question you get from 老澳门六合彩开奖记录资料 students?
鈥淎re you getting used to the winter weather?鈥
What do you like most about teaching and why?
It鈥檚 very fulfilling to see that students enjoy the course content and learn useful communication techniques in my courses.
What do you like to do in your spare time?
I like watching musicals and doing yoga.
Where is your favorite place in Cleveland and why?
I like the Cleveland Metroparks. Talking a walk around [them] is very refreshing. I enjoy going to the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo as well.
What is a 鈥渇un fact鈥 about you that many people may not know about you?
I was a professional dancer.
What is your personal motto/mantra/axiom?
To the sun in you, don鈥檛 be afraid to shine.