Decolonizing Higher Education: A 28-Year-Old Professor’s Perspective

This session unpacks the nature and effectiveness of academic tools used by educators (e.g., lateness, exams, and textbooks) and provides participants with an understanding of culturally responsible pedagogy (e.g., school/home life dynamics, social media, and culturally sensitive syllabi). Every facet of life has evolved significantly throughout time, yet education has remained mostly the same. With the oversaturation of music, technology, and social media outside of the classroom, it is important to incorporate these elements into the classroom in order to engage students.

Learning Outcomes:

  • Understand what makes certain academic tools ineffective and learn how to either modify them or eliminate them from the syllabus completely.
  • Understand what cultural (ethnic, generational) components are important to students and learn to incorporate them into the classroom/learning experience.
  • Develop confidence and understanding when applying these newly learned ideas.

Jonathan Cabrera is a Dominican/Ecuadorian Latino from the New York and New Jersey area. He has worked in the fields of criminal justice, government, and nonprofit management for more than five years. These experiences include working in halfway houses, the NYC Department of Corrections, and programs for community organizations that seek to assist adolescents with schooling and employment. In 2014, Jonathan earned his bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from New Jersey City University, and in 2018 he earned his master’s degree in public administration at New York University. Jonathan is now a professor in criminal justice at CUNY, Rutgers University, and a Temporary Full-Time Instructor at Hudson County Community College. Jonathan is the founder and CEO of Abstract Lifestyle, a motivational platform that encourages students to pursue higher education and entrepreneurship through presentation, artistic content, and blogs. Jonathan is also a hip-hop artist who releases music that addresses social ills.

Please Note:

Only those attending the LIVE webinar will receive a certificate of attendance. Thank you!