Diversity in education is about acknowledging that every student is different. Inclusion is about taking deliberate steps to encourage all students to engage and succeed. Inclusivity of all people in an educational environment is paramount to creating an educated and thriving community and workforce. Financial support for this conference offsets the costs associated with attendance for North Alabama’s educators and increases accessibility of this exciting new conference regardless of ability to pay. Your support of this conference demonstrates your commitment to diversity and inclusion, as well as the importance you place on addressing these critial issues in the communities where you have a presence. Together, we can create an educational climate that is attractive to current and future residents of the area and drives healthy workforce development. Teach 2 INCLUDE, an annual conference for faculty in K-12 and higher education institutions across North Alabama, explores the challenges surrounding diversity and inclusivity in the classroom and shares methods for making a difference. Through this conference, we will make a positive impact on our community by equipping educators to create more inclusive educational environments for our region’s students. Please email teach2include@uah.edu for more information. Organizers Dr. Michelle Greene Director, Enhanced Teaching & Learning Center UAH Lecturer Co-Chair/Director Dr. Michelle Greene joined The University of Alabama in Huntsville (UAH) in 2016. She earned her B.Sc. in Biochemistry from Rhodes College and Ph.D. in Biochemistry from Indiana University. Throughout her professional career, she has worked in biochemical research laboratories and in sales and marketing for biotechnology companies. She has taught chemistry and biochemistry in higher education for over 10 years. In June 2019, Dr. Greene was named Director of the Collaborative Learning Center, and in June of 2021, the first Director of UAH’s Enhanced Teaching & Learning Center. In this role, she seeks to improve the educational environment at UAH by, among other things, fostering inclusivity and student participation in their courses. Dr. Hamsa Mahafza Clinical Assistant Professor, College of Education Co-Chair/Director Dr. Hamsa Mahafza is a Clinical Assistant Professor in the UAH College of Education and is a 2022 Honors College faculty fellow. She received her Ph.D. in Culture, Literacy, and Language from the University of Texas at San Antonio. Her teaching specialization includes multiculturalism and world language teaching methods. In her research, Dr. Mahafza focuses on service-learning in teacher education, as well as heritage language learning and school choice. In 2022, she joined the Board of Directors of the Alabama World Languages Association (AWLA) and also received the AWLA “Friend of Languages” Award. Currently, she serves as AWLA Advocacy Director. She is the author of "The Arabian Cinderella and the Secret of the Woven Threads." She is the recipient of the 2024 "Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr." Award from the UAH MGSA and ODEI in recognition of her consistent contributions to the community and her dedicated efforts toward diversity and inclusion. Dr. Mahafza's goal is to bridge the gap between cultures through culturally-responsive teaching.
