Making a Better New

Parting Reflections from Better [New] podcast co-creator Steven Keshishian

Making a Better [New] is a podcast dedicated to fostering a more inclusive New College campus climate by creating space for "real talk," and amplifying the voices of our community members, with a particular focus on voices we don't often get to hear. 

 

In this episode, Dean of Outreach Bill Woodson interviews May 2021 graduate and podcast co-creator Steven Keshishian about his experiences as a student of color and a student leader at New College. Steven reflects on how student leaders of color who came before him influenced and inspired him, and what he learned inside and outside of the classroom, and as a past  NCSA student government president. He also shares his hope that his example as a leader who brought his authentic self to the table is a positive model for others. Also up for discussion are Steven's post-college career plans—the next exciting chapter includes Officer Candidate School!

What It Means To Be A Novo

Making a Better [New] is a podcast dedicated to fostering a more inclusive New College campus climate by creating space for "real talk," and amplifying the voices of our community members, with a particular focus on voices we don't often get to hear.

In this episode of Making a Better New, we hear directly from our students on what it means to be a Novo. Fehmi Nefatti, Ginnelle Swan, Alyssa Boytman, and Josh Ingram discuss the important traits that make a Novo, the importance of community, and their experiences.

Have something to add to this conversation?

Email us at OOIE@ncf.edu  an audio bit with your opinion on the topic. 

 

Guest Bios

Joshua Ingram was born and raised in the Bradenton-Sarasota area, being very familiar with and involved in the local community. He is now in his fourth year at New College of Florida (NCF) studying statistics and applied mathematics. He spends most of his time conducting research at NASA and the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, but is also passionate about community outreach. He co-founded the NCF Astronomy Club and acts as chair of the Astronomical Outreach Initiative, a program funded by the Mellon Grant that he developed to educate local high school students in the space sciences and to create experiences for members of the Cross College Alliance. He hopes to leave a lasting positive impact on the culture at New College by supporting and engaging with students through all of his efforts while here.

 

Fehmi Neffati, an international student from Tunisia. Currently a 2nd-year with an Area Of Concentration in Computer-Science, a Student Ambassador, and The NCF Gaming Club Co-President. 

 

My name is Alyssa Boynton (she/her). I'm a third-year psychology AOC, with specific interests in developmental psych, Montessori education, and the sociology of gender and relationships. Eventually, I hope to teach in a Montessori classroom for ages 3-6. I'm an out-of-state student from Minnesota, so Florida has been really different for me! I love all the wildlife here, especially the lizards. On-campus, I work as a Student Success Coach, a STAR in Admissions, a Peer Leader in the Motivated Minds SET SAIL course, and I'm also the NCSA Vice President of Academic Affairs. 

 

Ginelle (she/they) is a 4th year International Studies AOC, with big dreams of using technology and language to change the world.  She is also New College's Black Student Union President and the Traditional Events Coordinator of the Student Events Team.

Gringolandia Ep4 Brazil

Brazil, the largest country in Latin America, but is it considered a LatinX country? In this episode, we put on the spotlight major points of division and unity between the Brazilian and the LatinX community. With our two guests we speak about the past and the present to help us understand what makes Brazil so unique in comparison to the rest of the Latinoamericanos.

¡Bienvenidos to Gringolandia Chats! The show where we discuss all about the Latinx experiences here at New College of Florida and Beyond. We’ll be talking with multiple Latinx students about various topics seeking to promote visibility, diversity, and connection in our community. This podcast is brought to you by Latinx faculty members and students from New College of Florida. 

Host: Liz Mena. 

Producers: Liz Mena, José Martínez and Hugo Viera-Vargas

Music and Editing: José Martínez.

Introducing the New Interim Dean of DEI.

 

In this episode of Making a Better New, Crishuana Williams, a Senior Technical Assistant in New College’s Cook Library, interviews the new Interim Dean of Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Dr. Queen Zabriskie. The two discuss the future of DEI at NCF, community building, past achievements, and how the pandemic created an opportunity for Dean Zabriskie to reconnect to her New York roots.

Episode 3 - Language and Identity

¡Bienvenidos to Gringolandia Chats! The show where we discuss all about the Latinx experiences here at New College of Florida and Beyond. We’ll be talking with multiple Latinx students about various topics seeking to promote visibility, diversity, and connection in our community. This podcast is brought to you by Latinx faculty members and students from New College of Florida. 

Host: Liz Mena. 

Producers: Liz Mena, José Martínez and Hugo Viera-Vargas

Music and Editing: José Martínez.

 

For any Latino/a/ or Latinx person living in the U.S. there exists this debate of whether or not you’re Latino if you don’t speak Spanish. Although this is a somewhat common tension within Spanish speaking communities in the U.S, most of us would disagree that there exists only one way of being Latinx. In this we sit with five New College students who tell us about their experience between language and Latinidad.

Assessing Civility

Making a Better [New] is a podcast dedicated to fostering a more inclusive New College campus climate by creating space for "real talk," and amplifying the voices of our community members, with a particular focus on voices we don't often get to hear. In this episode, we explore the benefits and limitations of civility. New College 2021 alum Steven Keshishian asks computer science professor Matt Lepinski, and 12th judicial circuit judge Charles Williams to share their perspectives on civility. Their take on civility on the college campus, from an outsider's perspective looking in, and from an insider’s perspective, offer a revealing contrast. The discussions shine a light on engaging with people who have different points of view and the importance of humility in civil discussion

Gringolandia Ep2

Bonus Show Info
¡Bienvenidos to Gringolandia Chats! The show where we discuss all about the Latinx experiences here at New College of Florida and Beyond. We’ll be talking with multiple Latinx students about various topics seeking to promote visibility, diversity, and connection in our community. This podcast is brought to you by Latinx faculty members and students from New College of Florida. 
Host: Liz Mena. 
Producers: Liz Mena, José Martínez and Hugo Viera-Vargas
Music and Editing: José Martínez.

Episode 2 - Immigration Stories

In this episode, we sit down with New College students to talk about immigration, specifically about their first and second-hand experiences coming to the United States. 

We discussed three important themes, what it means to be legally and American, Chain Migration, and the American Dream. 

What is Staff Council? How might it Impact campus climate at NCF

Making a Better [New] is a podcast dedicated to fostering a more inclusive New College campus climate by creating space for "real talk," and amplifying the voices of our community members, with a particular focus on voices we don't often get to hear.  In this episode,  we learn about the recent focus on creating a staff council at  New College of Florida. Two staff members, Naomi Copeland and Mike Jones, talk with professor Katheleen Casto, about their vision for a staff council that would not only benefit staff, but also serve to improve the climate of the entire New College community. Enhancing staff awareness, and providing staff with a voice on matters of campus-wide importance is seen as an opportunity to improve staff morale as well as organizational effectiveness. We also did a bit "person on the street" staff interviews, and Marguerite Cristiani shares her feelings about why the creation of a staff council would be valuable.

Gringolandia Ep1

Bonus Show Info
¡Bienvenidos to Gringolandia Chats! The show where we discuss all about the Latinx experiences here at New College of Florida and Beyond. We’ll be talking with multiple Latinx students about various topics seeking to promote visibility, diversity, and connection in our community. This podcast is brought to you by Latinx faculty members and students from New College of Florida. 
Host: Liz Mena. 
Producers: Liz Mena, José Martínez and Hugo Viera-Vargas
Music and Editing: José Martínez.

Episode 1
We’re in a time where labels, terms, and pronouns are playing a huge role in identity. Yet, more specifically we’re seeing various groups of different identities use labels as a way to carve their own space in society. to empower themselves and the people who share in the same community as them. In this episode we’re joined by students from New College of Florida and we’ll discuss what labels mean in our community. We will hear about what terms like Hispanic, Latino, Latina, and Latinx, mean to them.

Talking to your Family About Social Justice Issues

Episode 8:Talking to family members about deeply held personal values can be challenging—and even divisive. Conflicting forces make talking about things we care about deeply with the people we love and grew up with, things like social justice, simultaneously desirable and something we may tend to avoid at all costs. In this episode of Making a Better [New], 2021 New College graduate Steven Keshishian interviews classmates Ayeola Whitworth and Lee Collings, learning how they approach talking to members of their family about social justice. Steven and Dean Bill Woodson reflect on their trials and tribulations as they’ve tackled tough issues in their own families.