Dr. Y'Shanda Rivera
Understanding the Times (and knowing what to do): How Culturally ecologically rooted ideologies and practices can promote equity and literacy across K-12 and higher education
Dr. Y’Shanda Rivera earned a Ph.D. in Learning Sciences from Northwestern University’s School of Education and Social Policy. Her research centers around improving educational and social outcomes for highly-vulnerable adolescents via cultural ecological frameworks, school community partnerships, critical literacy engagement, identity development, and the design of learning environments.
A state-certified teacher and administrator who has held a number of classroom and administrative positions across K-12 and higher education, Dr. Rivera has over 25 years of combined experience in research, literacy, leadership training, professional development and cultural competency. Her professional and volunteer collaborations extend across a range of organizations including several local schools, universities, and community organizations.
As an educational consultant, Dr. Rivera has given a number of invited keynote addresses, workshops, and media appearances/interviews, some of which include: A Political Ecology of African American English (2021) at the College of the Atlantic, Academic, Cultural, Religious and Political Actions to Promote Anti-Racism (2020) with the Aptly Outspoken Collective,
ESPN’s The Undefeated as a Culture and Language Expert (2019), We Raise Foundation’s Community Conversation From Challenges to Celebrations: How Community Collaborations Serve Youth” (2019), and Code Meshing: Critical Awareness in Action (2018) at Frontier Center for Urban Education at Nazareth College. She has published articles/chapters in: This Ain't Yesterday's Literacy: Culture and Education After George Floyd (2021) and Continuing the Journey 2: Becoming a Better Teacher of Authentic Writing where she penned: Valuing
Students’ Language Repertoires: An Ecological Perspective (2018). In 2014, Dr. Rivera co-authored Other People’s English: Code Meshing, Code Switching and African American Literacy, which is now in its 2 nd edition (2019).
In addition to her role as an educational consultant, Dr. Rivera is the Director of Strategy, Research and Partnerships at R City Community Development Center located in Chicago and an adjunct professor of academic writing in the University of Maryland’s Global Campus (UMGC) Writing Across the Curriculum department.
Mahli Mechenbier, J.D.
"Now What?": Next Steps for Contingent Faculty when Your WPA assigns you an online course
Mahli Mechenbier, a Senior Lecturer in the Department of English at Kent State University: Geauga, teaches Technical Writing, Professional Writing, Argumentative Prose Writing, Introduction to LGBT Literature, and College Writing. Mahli is a certified Master Reviewer and a certified Face-to-Face Facilitator for Quality Matters.
Prof. Mechenbier graduated with a Master of Arts in English Literature from John Carroll University and a Juris Doctor from The University of Akron. She was a member of NCTE's Committee for Effective Practices for Online Writing Instruction and was an editor for the OWI’s Open Resource from 2013 – 2016. Mahli was the recipient of the College of Arts & Sciences 43rd annual Distinguished Teacher Award in 2012.
Her research interests include asynchronous online tone and communication methods; how academic administrations manage and budget distance learning; the unionization of professors; and the employment conditions and intellectual property rights of contingent faculty members.
Prof. Mechenbier has been teaching at Kent State University since 2003.
Mahli was adopted from South Vietnam through Operation Babylift after an American missionary nun found her next to a road outside of Saigon. She has two cats: Freyja and Hyperion.
“Now What?”: Next Steps for Contingent Faculty when Your WPA Assigns You an Online Writing Course
