“Neurodiversity in the Rural Community College”
Arkansas State University-Mountain Home (ASUMH) student Abe Unwer will present the APEX Fellowship lecture on April 24 and 25 in the McMullin Lecture Hall in Dryer Hall on the ASUMH campus.
The presentation schedule is as follows:
Wednesday, April 24: 12-1 p.m. in McMullin Lecture Hall
Thursday, April 25: 6-7:30 p.m. in McMullin Lecture Hall (Reception to Follow)
The goal of the Apex Fellowship is for an ASUMH student, in collaboration with an ASUMH faculty member, to pursue and research a subject of inquiry, evaluate the subject’s significance, create a project reflecting the scholarship, and share the experience with ASUMH and the Mountain Home community through a lecture series.
The theme of the lecture will be “Neurodiversity in the Rural Community College” by Abe Unwer. The presentation will focus on the three most prevalent conditions of neurodiversty found in community college populations: Dyslexia, Asperger’s Syndrome, and ADHD.
Neurodiversity is defined as a normal variation in the human population of brain traits and characteristics.
Examining the historical misconceptions of these conditions will provide a contextual relationship to current knowledge. The culmination of action-ready, literature-driven data provides strategies to improve identification, educational opportunities, and community inclusion of neurodiverse students.
Dr. Cynthia Crisel, associate professor of Psychology at ASUMH, will join Unwer at the lecture to offer context and perspective on his research.
Unwer has struggled with dyslexia throughout his life. Despite the challenges, he has excelled in college, serving as
- Student representative to Higher Learning Commission
- Student representative for ASUMH SWOT analysis
- President of Beta-Iota-Epsilon chapter of Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society
- ASUMH outstanding academic achiever in Psychology in 2017
- Member of Student Government
- EMS Club
- Student Representative of ASUMH Diversity Committee
- 2019-2010 Regional Eastern President of Arkansas-Oklahoma Region of PTK
Unwer’s interest in neurodiversity identification, education, and inclusion was ignited by information offered within a 2017 psychology course as well as his personal experiences as a neurodiverse student.
He is currently pursuing an Associate of Arts degree at ASUMH and will graduate in May before beginning a progression of steps leading to becoming a medical doctor specializing in emergency surgery.
Cynthia Crisel serves as assistant professor of Psychology at ASUMH. She is a qualitative research scientist whose interests lie in transformational studies and human potential. She holds a PhD from the California Institute of Integral Studies, a MA degree from Goddard College in Vermont, MA; and a BS from ASU-Jonesboro.
Tickets are not required for the APEX Lecture and there is no admission charge. For more information, contact ASUMH at 870-508-6100.
Photo attached: (left to right) Dr. Cynthia Crisel and Abe Unwer
