The Brain Science of Trust in Our Communities
May 20 @ 12:10 pm - 1:10 pm
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The Brain Science of Trust in Our Communities
Presented By: Velshonna Luckey, M.S.
Executive Director, Self-Healing Communities Collective and Adjunct Faculty for Neuroscience and Behavior at the University of Notre Dame
Nancy Michael, Ph.D.
Director of Education, Co-Director Neuroscience and Behavior; College of Science at the University of Notre Dame
Dr. Nancy Michael earned her doctorate degree in neuroscience from the University of Minnesota in 2012. Her doctoral studies were anchored in the field of behavioral neuroendocrinology where she explored questions of experience dependent plasticity – how experiences with the individuals and the world around us change nervous system structure and function. This curiosity led her to pursue postdoctoral studies in an adolescent development lab, further developing her ability to interrogate the ways in which experiences moderate brain structure, function and behavior. Harnessing this background in experience dependent plasticity, Michael chose to devote her skills to undergraduate educational formation. She joined the Notre Dame faculty in 2014 to develop the newly created undergraduate program in neuroscience and behavior. Over the years, her dedication to excellence, innovation in education and commitment to community wellness have earned her numerous teaching, advising and community awards, and currently serves as the Director of Education and Co-Director for the Neuroscience and Behavior major at the University of Notre Dame. In addition to her work on campus, Michael partners with multiple community organizations to develop and implement NEAR science approaches that aim to mitigate the impact of toxic stress and promote healing and resilience of individuals and communities. NEAR stands for Neuroscience, Epigenetics, Adverse childhood experiences and Resilience, and a NEAR-science approach uses a community-centered, general capacity building model to mobilize the evidence base of the NEAR sciences in support of practical skill development for individuals and community organizations.Broadly, Dr. Michael’s work collaboratively develops population-specific, NEAR-based strategies to support practical skill building for community healing and resilience efforts. Her work is published across a wide variety of platforms ranging from primary scientific journals, book chapters, to children’s books. Common themes across her writing center around experience dependent plasticity and the critical role relationships play in human learning and well-being. In addition to her written works, Dr. Michael takes a leadership role in designing and executing a wide variety of professional development opportunities to support individuals in the “helping professions” (e.g. educators, youth workers, mental health professionals, community health workers, medical professionals, etc.). Dr. Michael is known for making very complex information accessible and actionable in practical contexts. The breadth of her productivity is indicative of her desire to not only participate in knowledge generation, but to support the translation of the neuroscientific knowledge base into practical skills, behaviors and habits of mind that become present in our daily living.
