Celebration of Constitution Day
Time and Date: 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm, Thursday, September 15th
Location: CA 302
Panel Discussion on “The Constitution and Contemporary Justice Issues”
Moderator:Dr. Hemchand Gossai (Associate Dean, Humanities and Social Sciences, Annandale Campus)
Panelists:
*Dr. Noah Cincinnati (Associate Professor, History. Panelist)
*Dr. Jack Lechelt (Professor, Political Science. Panelist)
*Dr. Jennifer Sayasithsena (Professor, Political Science. Panelist)
Bios:
Dr. Hemchand Gossai, is the Associate Dean of Humanities and Social Sciences at Annandale campus of NOVA. He earned his B.A. with a triple major in English, Spanish, and Religious Studies, graduating Summa Cum Laude. He earned his Ph.D. in Biblical Hermeneutics and Hebrew at the University of St. Andrews, Scotland. Dr. Gossai is the author of eight books.
Dr. Noah Cincinnati has been at NOVA since 2012. He is Associate Professor of History at the Annandale campus. He earned a Ph.D. in U.S. history from The Johns Hopkins University. He teaches a range of topics in U.S. history, but is particularly interested in the history of ideas and institutions.
Dr. Jack Lechelt is a political science and history professor at the Loudoun Campus. He has a PhD in political science from the University of South Carolina, in Columbia, SC, and has worked at NOVA since 2006. His areas of focus include American government, international relations, and state and local politics. He lives in the Leesburg area with his wife, two kids, and two mini-Schnauzers!
Dr. Jennifer Sayasithsena is Professor of Political Science at the Annandale Campus. She came to NOVA in 2011 after many years working in health policy. Dr. Sayasithsena earned her Ph.D. in political science from The George Washington University. Her primary interests are American campaigns and elections, public opinion, and state and local politics.
Refreshments will be served.
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Celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month
* Hispanic Heritage Fiesta
Enjoy Good Food, Live Music and Fun!
Time and Date: 11:30 am to 1:30 pm on Wednesday 12th, October 2022. Location: In Front of CF Building
* Talk on Our American Dream; Latino Contributions through Civic Participation”
Guest Speaker: Honorable J. Walter Tejada
Time and Date : from 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm on Wednesday 12th, October 2022
Location: CA 302
In 2003, J. Walter Tejada became the first person of Latin American heritage to be elected to the Arlington County Board, or to any governing body in Northern Virginia. Mr. Tejada was born in El Salvador and immigrated to the United States at age 13. Mr. Tejada got his start as an activist and organizer after witnessing inequities faced by members of the Latinx community. He initially worked in groups addressing fair housing, job opportunities, and the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC). He also helped to establish a Salvadoran festival in Arlington, starting in 1995, focusing on Salvadoran culture. Mr. Tejada served as County Board Chair in 2008 and 2013 and is still active throughout the community to this day, serving on the Board of Directors for the Metropolitan Washington Airport Authority.
- Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA) is a public institution dedicated to serving the Commonwealth of Virginia and to promoting the free exchange of ideas and informed citizenship. Northern Virginia Community College welcomes political candidates, elected officials, and guest speakers from all partisan and ideological perspectives to visit campus and to present their ideas. These appearances do not constitute an endorsement of any party, candidate, or ideological perspective.
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National Bullying Prevention month
Guest Speaker: Dr. Sabrina B. Ricks (Associate Professor-Business & Public Services Department, Manassas Campus, NOVA)
Talk on “Finding Your Voice to Beat Bullying”
Time and Date: 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm on Friday, October 28th
Location: Virtual (Zoom)
Link to the registration:
https://vccs.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZwpd-ihqDIpGNJsnxOdA-Nl7ipxCeqoi4ZU
The discussion will focus on:
- understanding details about the bully, target and witness
- the dangers of cyberbullying and managing your interactions on social media
- how bullying can impact you in the workplace
About the speaker: 
Dr. Sabrina B. Ricks is an associate professor for Northern Virginia Community College (NOVA). She has taught for NOVA for seven years and served in the Business and Public Services Department as well as the Student Development Department. She has taught at multiple campuses, including NOVA Online. She has also served as a first-year advisor.
Dr. Ricks has authored several publications and articles addressing workplace bullying, cyberbullying, dangers in the workplace, tips for working remotely, and was recently interviewed by Prince William Living magazine about the importance of emotional intelligence. Her book, Bullied at Work…A Journey of Growth & Perseverance was released in 2021 and is available on Amazon, sbrleadership.com, and in the NOVA Annandale library.
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Guest Speaker: Mazi Mutafa, Founding Director of Words, Beats, & Life, DC’s longest running, dopest Hip-Hop based arts educational non profit.
Talk on “Creating Your Own Future“
A discussion of the power of imaginative thinking, community and purpose driven decision making.
Time and Date: 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm on Thursday, November 10th
Location: Virtual (Zoom)
Link to the registration:
https://vccs.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZApceChpz4pGtRAfPs1SdADJzRwMw5rgiPr
Mazi Mutafa is the founding Executive Director of Words Beats & Life, a hip-hop non-profit established in Washington D.C in 2002. Mr. Mutafa received his Bachelor’s degree in African American studies from the University of Maryland and became a Brother of Phi BetaSigma Fraternity. He has been a guest lecturer at the University of Maryland, Georgetown University, and George Washington University and, in 2019, was an adjunct professor at American University, co-teaching a course about international hip-hop, called “Whose Hip-Hop Is It?”
As an expert in the fields of Muslimness, Hip-Hop culture, public art and arts education, creative employment, cultural diplomacy, and centering marginalized voices, Mr. Mutafa has made numerous media appearances. They have included all network TV stations in Washington, as well as N.P.R. and other local public radio outlets, plus the Washington Post, Washington City Paper, Kids Post Washington, East of the River and Washington Times.
He contributed a chapter to the Handbook of Research on Black Males, published by Michigan State University Press and an interview with Mazi is included in The Hip-Hop Mindset: A Professional Practice on Rutledge Press. Mr. Mutafa is also the host of a hip-hop show called “Live @ 5,” heard quarterly on WPFW 89.3 FM, featuring performances and interviews with MC’s, poets, DJ’s, producers, and vocalists.