The 鲍鱼tv School of Social Work Diversity and Equity听Diversity and Equity Committee (DEC) Conversation Series
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School of Social Work, 鲍鱼tv University COMMEMORATES AFRICAN HERITAGE MONTH
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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 12, 2026 | 5:30 PM - 8:00 PM (Atlantic Time)
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PANEL DISCUSSION ON:
AFRICAN-CENTRED APPROACHES TO BLACK HEALTH

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Nancy Eleanor Reeves, BSW, MSW, RSW, is a PhD candidate at Memorial University, Newfoundland. She is Professor of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion at Conestoga College and Executive Director of Global Education Consulting and Counselling Services. Holding social work degrees from the University of Manitoba, her PhD focuses on trauma, war, displacement, refugee resilience, and health. A registered social worker, she brings over 15 years of experience in education, clinical practice, and human rights advocacy. A former Liberian refugee, UNFPA researcher in Ghana, WUSC-sponsored student, and former Interim Executive Director of EDI at the University of Waterloo.
Topic: African-centred and culturally adapted trauma-informed approaches to Black health

Israel Ikechukwu Adandom is a licensed physical therapist and a PhD candidate in Kinesiology (Exercise Science) at The University of Alabama. He holds a master鈥檚 degree in Gerontology from the University of Southampton, United Kingdom, and has over eight years of clinical experience in orthopedic and geriatric settings. His clinical work highlighted the long timelines between research evidence and its translation into practice, shaping his interest in research, health surveillance, and digital health. Drawing on training and research experience across multiple global contexts, Israel contributes to conversations on digital health design and physical activity data interpretation at scale.
Topic: Neutral technology, unequal outcomes: rethinking digital health design through African-centred lenses

Irene Maeri is a PhD student in the Faculty of Health at 鲍鱼tv University, originally from Kenya. Her background is in public health and population studies, with a strong foundation in qualitative research and a deep commitment to community-based interventions. Irene's research interests include mental health, substance abuse, and HIV treatment and prevention, particularly among vulnerable populations. Her current research focuses on family-based non-pharmacological mental health interventions for adolescents living with HIV. She is passionate about lived experiences and the co-creation of knowledge. Irene enjoys walking in nature and listening to music of any genre that speaks to her soul.
Topic: Centering African family systems in the mental health healing of adolescents living with HIV

Bala Harri is a PhD student in the Department of Psychiatry at 鲍鱼tv University, Nova Scotia, Canada. He is a medical doctor from Nigeria and holds two master鈥檚 degrees from the United Kingdom: one in Global Health Policy and another in Public Health. Prior to starting his PhD, he worked at the Policy and Planning Division of the Federal Ministry of Health, Nigeria. His research focuses on the mental health of internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Nigeria, using mixed-methods approach to explore lived experiences and to examine PTSD and resilience following the validation of Hausa-language psychometric tools.
Topic: Bridging policy, practice, and lived experience to address PTSD and strengthen resilience among internally displaced persons

Moderator:
Thabani Nyoni is an Assistant Professor in the School of Social Work at 鲍鱼tv University.

VIA MICROSOFT TEAMS WEBINAR

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EVERYONE IS WELCOME. REGISTER ON TEAMS TO ATTEND
With Al-generated Captions
Contact: Ifeyinwa Mbakogu, Chair of the Diversity and Equity Committee (DEC) sswdec@dal.ca
NOTE: The Diversity and Equity Committee (DEC) Events are not recorded to offer safe spaces for presenters and audiences to engage in critical discussions