New CPH Faculty Collaborate Over Dinner

Being the new kid on the block can sometimes be daunting, but new faculty in the College of Public Health embraced the opportunity to collaborate and learn from one another. Over dinner, this interdisciplinary cohort of new faculty shared best practices, generated innovative ideas, and enjoyed each other's company.

Attendees included: Maryam Sadat Farvid (nutrition and food studies), lulia Fratila (GCH),  Yanika Kowitlawakul (nursing), Allison Miner (nutrition and food studies), and Amy Page (social work).

"Everyone is working hard and very passionate about the work they do in CPH with students, research and administration, and it is evident even in this informal setting. It feels very refreshing to meet with people who are in the same position - i.e., being new to Mason and CPH. We share resources about the college and university with one another. With no agenda, we end up spending about 2 hours talking about all sorts of things, including learning about each other and our various departments."
--lulia Fratila

"Besides laughing a good deal and having fun, we share best practices in teaching. I get so much from my colleagues that I have implemented in my classes. This casual interdisciplinary collaboration is invaluable to me."
--Allison Miner

"It was a great dinner.  We have learned so much from each other, especially on the topic of how to approach students from different cultural backgrounds!" 
--Yanika Kowitlawakul

"I echo what the others have said about the benefits of collaborating across departments for best practices and generating new ideas. I have learned so much from the group and deeply enjoy our time together!"
--Amy Page

"It was indeed a friendly and enjoyable gathering with delicious food, providing an excellent chance for us to catch up and relax while also learning from each other to enhance our teaching at Mason."
--Maryam Sadat Farvid