Faculty News & Achievements

Dr. Portia Cole Serves as Guest Editor for the Health and Social Work Journal

Dr. Portia Cole, Program Director for Social Work for our School of Nursing & Health Professions, has recently served as a guest editor for the August 2025 issue of Health & Social Work Journal (Vol. 50, Iss. 3).

The issue is titled “Revisiting, Reimagining, and Reclaiming our Roots – Interdisciplinary Collaboration and Social Determinants of Health”. Dr. Cole  reviewed 45 submissions from the across the country , some as far away as Portugal and Hungary. In addition, she also oversaw the entire editorial process, selected reviewers, and provided feedback to authors. 

We are thrilled to have faculty and staff who are not only experts in their fields, but leaders in their industries. Congratulations to Dr. Cole for accomplishing this amazing project.

The full journal issue can be found here: https://academic.oup.com/hsw/issue/50/3

Dr. James Stocker’s History Lecture is Featured on C-Span

Dr. James Stocker, Assistant Professor of International Affairs for the College of Arts& Sciences, has recently had his class lecture recorded and featured on the public affairs news network C-SPAN. The lecture titled: the U.S. and the Arab-Israel Peace Process highlighted the key historical and diplomatic peace initiatives between the United States and the Arab-Israelis from the late 1960’s into the early 1970’s.

Current events have reawakened opinions of those who support and critique the involvement of the United Sates in global affairs of the Middle East. This discussion is imperative to understand the importance of international affairs and how interconnected we are on the world stage. We are pleased to have such amazing faculty members to guide thinking and dialogue about some of the most important topics to date!

The full feature can be found on the C-SPAN webpage here: https://www.c-span.org/program/lectures-in-history/us-and-the-arab-israel-peace-process/667156

Dr. LaNail Plummer Publishes her New Book: The Essential Guide for Counseling Black Women

Dr. LaNail Plummer, Program Director for Counseling in the School of Nursing and Health Professions, has published her book The Essential Guide for Counseling Black Women. A short description of the book is found below:

As the fastest growing population in education, economics, entrepreneurship, and international travel, Black women are forging a world of their own. They are breaking generational cycles, reinventing social norms, and developing new identities. However, as a double marginalized minority, Black women are also navigating socially constructed ideas of race, oppression, and privilege. Many well-intentioned clinicians lack the skills and knowledge to properly support, guide, and develop inquiries with these clients.

Clinicians will find foundational information on the types of experiences that cause many Black women to seek therapy as well as ways to support them on their therapeutic journey. Topics such as nontraditional lifestyles, work ethic and legacy, understanding friendships, embracing newfound freedoms and opportunities, moving beyond stereotypes, understanding and working with emotions, addressing trauma, and mental health disorders through a cultural lens are explored.

Throughout the book, therapist tips, catalyst questions (springboard questions on certain topics), examples, and journaling prompts are shared to help clinicians and clients work together to explore undiscovered depths, ways of healing, and improve mental health.

The book is currently available for preorder.

Dr. Kimberly Monroe has been Awarded Crossroads Project Fellowship

Dr. Kimberly Monroe, Associate Professor of History & Africana Studies for the College of Arts & Sciences, was awarded The Crossroads Project: Black Religious Histories, Communities, and Cultures Fellowship, funded by Princeton University, for her research project titled “Finding Faith in the Storm: Black Narratives of Perseverance in Southwest Louisiana.”

The focus of the research project discusses the ability of the Travelers Rest Baptist Church congregation in Lake Charles, Louisiana to persevere as an integral support of the Black community despite adversity in the form of natural disasters, the COVID-19 pandemic, and other forms of environmental racism. 

View the full project on the Crossroads Spirit House website: https://www.crossroads-spirithouse.org/monroe

We’re very proud of this achievement for Dr. Monroe!

Dr. Allen Pietrobon Guest Lectures with Hiroshima University

Dr. Allen Pietrobon, Associate Professor of Global Affairs for the College of Arts and Sciences, was invited to lecture during the Nuclear History Summer Camp at Hiroshima University. The event was partly to mark the 80th anniversary of the atomic bombing. The Hiroshima Organization for Global Peace hosted an intensive seminar for young student researchers from around the world for nine days of lectures, discussions, and exchanges. Experts from Japan and around the world served as the instructors for this seminar.

Dr. Pietrobon comments “With the continued proliferation of nuclear weapons is one of the most pressing security issues of our time…it is imperative that we train a new generation of young nuclear scholars who are able to see the world through a more diverse lens and tackle these growing challenges diplomatically rather than through the use of force, which was the goal of this seminar”.

We are proud to have faculty who actively engage in dialogue pertaining to global politics and statesmanship.

Dr. Luse Participates in Association for Women in Mathematics Hill Day

President's Blog: Dr. Luse Participates in Association for Women in Mathematics Hill Day

Dr. Kerry Luse participated in the Association for Women in Mathematics (AWM) Hill Day in DC. The visit was structured for professionals in STEM to visit congressional offices and call attention to the the decline of women who pursue mathematics as the level of education rises.

Last Wednesday, April 9th, Dr. Kerry Luse, Associate Professor of Mathematics for the College of Arts & Sciences, participated in the Association for Women in Mathematics (AWM) Hill Day in DC. The visit was structured for professionals in STEM to visit congressional offices and call attention to the the decline of women who pursue mathematics as the level of education rises. The AWM advocates for sustained financial supports for women in STEM fields and encourages people to contact their elected officials and vocalize the importance of women in STEM fields.

This was an amazing opportunity for Dr. Luse and we are proud to have faculty who advocate for women’s education at high levels.

Dr. Greer’s Manuscript on Professional Development for Mental Health Professionals Accepted by NASW Press

Dr. Cynthia Greer, Associate Professor of Counseling for Trinity Washington University’s School of Nursing and Health Professions (NHP), has had her manuscript accepted by the the peer-reviewed journal NASW Press. Dr. Geer partnered with Dr. Monica Woodard, D.S.W., to develop the article titled “Reimagining Professional Development for Mental Health Professionals: A Collaborative Approach to Achieve Mental Health Equity” discusses the professional development model that Dr. Greer and Dr. Woodard developed with the support of Kaiser Permanente. The collaboratively designed model is currently being used for the Kaiser/Trinity Practitioner Scholars program, which provides professional development and continuing education for mental health professionals across disciplines.

The manuscript is expected to appear in an issue of Health and Social Work this upcoming November 2025. Congratulations to Dr. Greer!

Trinity’s Dr. Jamal Watson Moderates Panel, “DEI Under Attack: The Truth from the Frontlines of Academia”

President's Blog: Trinity’s Dr. Jamal Watson Moderates Panel, “DEI Under Attack: The Truth from the Frontlines of Academia”

Panel featuring esteemed professors & journalists convened to discuss attack on academia at 2025 NAN Convention.

The 2025 National Action Network (NAN) Convention continues to be a clarion call for justice, strategy, and truth-telling. In a climate where DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) is being vilified, this year’s panels didn’t hold back. Amid attacks on civil rights, public education, and academic freedom, one of the most critical conversations came from a powerful panel of scholars and journalists who delivered an unflinching perspective on the state of DEI in higher education and beyond.

Read the whole article in Diverse Issues in Higher Education.

Dr. Jamal Watson named to Rick Hess’s 2025 RHSU Edu-Scholar Public Influence Rankings

Dr. Jamal Watson, Associate Dean of Professional Graduate Studies, has been ranked in the 2025 RHSU Edu-Scholar Public Influence Rankings list.  The list, published by Education Week, ranks 200 university-based scholars who have made the most significant impact on educational practice and policy this past year. Dr. Watson noted: “Trinity’s name appear[ing] alongside major research universities gave me a moment of real pride. It made me think about the unique perspective we bring to national education conversations as a Predominantly Black and Hispanic-serving institution… It’s also a testament to how institutions like ours – deeply committed to serving first-generation students and students of color – are helping to reshape the conversation about American education.”

Congratulations to Dr. Watson for this magnificent achievement. Please find the article and the full ranking list in EducationWeek.

Dr. Poirier Highlights the Importance of Textisms in a New Publication

Dr. Rachel Poirier, Assistant professor of Psychology for the College of Arts and Sciences, recently had a publication with Frontiers in Psychology titled “Read. This. Slowly: mimicking spoken pauses in text messages” (2025). The publication was an analysis of how certain texisms such as sending one text or multiple texts, or using periods after every word for emphasis, often have differing perceived emotional impacts to recipients of the text. The publication has been highlighted both in the New York Post as well as DailyMail.

We are thrilled to have faculty members contributing to important discussions in academia that can have impacts on communication practices for personal or professional use.

Dr. Shizuka Hseih Delivers “Lessons from Advocating for Environmental Justice in DC with Air Quality Data,” with Georgetown University

Our very own Assistant Professor of Chemistry, Dr. Shizuka Hseih, delivered a guest talk “Lessons from Advocating for Environmental Justice in DC with Air Quality Data,” with Georgetown University’s ECo Talk series on Friday, January 24, 2025.

The talk highlighted fascinating details regarding how air quality in DC disproportionately has a negative impact on communities of color in the district. The talk goes on to discuss how air quality data can be used to support environmental justice initiatives. Dr. Hseih has a long standing investment in advocating for environmental health and we are proud to have Dr. Hseih as a valued member of our faculty and spreading knowledge on important issues both in and out of the classroom. Additional details of the event can be found through this link.

Dr. Agnes Conaty Awarded Two NASA Robert H. Goddard Honor Awards

Dr. Agnes Conaty, adjunct faculty member for Trinity Washington University’s College of Arts & Sciences, has won not one, but two NASA Robert H. Goddard Honor Awards. Dr. Conaty was awarded the Exceptional Achievement for Outreach for both the GLOBE Observer Program and the Goddard Eclipse Engagement Partnership on September 24, 2024 at the NASA Goddard Space Flight Center, Greenbelt, MD. Congratulations to Dr. Conaty for this achievement!

Professor Bezil Taylor is Selected to Deliver Keynote Address for the Regional College Hunger Conference

Professor Taylor is the Director of Fieldwork & Asst. Professor with Trinity Washington’s Nursing and Health Professions. Professor Taylor has been selected to deliver the keynote address at this year’s Regional College Hunger Conference. The conference will gather leaders in Washington, D.C. metro area to share practices and ideas to combat food insecurity for students. Congratulations to Professor Taylor!

Dr. Kimberly Monroe Awarded the Proud Shoes Book Fellowship

Dr. Monroe is a prolific writer, researcher, teacher and leader in the development of Trinity’s curricula and programs in Africana Studies, History and Global Affairs. She has recently been awarded the Proud Shoes Book Fellowship. The fellowship supports scholars who are developing their first full academic book manuscript in history, social justice, politics, law, race, gender, and sexuality studies or related fields. Many congratulations to Dr. Monroe for this amazing achievement.

Dr. Nicole Betschman has Become President of the D.C. Public Health Association

Dr. Nicole Betschman, Program Director of Trinity’s Public Health and Health Services Programs, has become President of the D.C. Public Health Association (DCPHA). An affiliate of the American Public Health Association (APHA), DCPHA protects and promotes personal, public and environmental health, shares knowledge and expertise to resolve health problems, advocates for governmental action to meet health needs, and promotes continuing education for the allied health workforce. Dr. Betschman has been a member of Mayor Bowser’s Healthcare Workforce Task Force. She has built the Community Health Worker certificate and degree programs as well as the baccalaureate and master’s programs in Public Health. She has joined forces with the D.C. Department of Employment Services to open more pathways for D.C. residents to earn credentials in healthcare, particularly in Wards 7 and 8.