Humanities Edge Undergraduate Research Symposium | Fall 2020

Valda Adeyiga is currently a Library Professor at the Hialeah Campus of MDC and the Learning Resources librarian Liaison to the School of Education at MDC. Her educational background includes a Doctor of Education from Florida International University and a Master of Arts in Library and Information Science from the University of South Florida. A librarian at MDC since 2000, she has supported student learning in the roles of administrator and faculty. She has taught LIS2004 Strategies for Online Research both face-to-face and in the Virtual College. For the past few years, she has also been a Presenter and Coach for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL), offered by Center for Institutional and Organizational Learning (CIOL) at MDC. Most recently in 2019, she was Presenter of the webinar entitled: Conducting a Review of the Literature, for the President’s Innovation Fund.

Carla Clark has been at Miami Dade College since May 2004 and is an Associate Professor, Senior in the Learning Resources Department at the Medical Campus. She earned a Master’s degree in Education and a Master’s degree in Library and Information Science from the University of South Florida. Carla is a senior member of the Academy of Health Information Professionals. She has been recognized for her involvement in several college committees and professional organizations.

Christina Machado Dillon is a Learning Resources Professional for Miami Dade College, Learning Resources, at the Hialeah Campus. She received her bachelor’s degree in Anthropology from Florida Atlantic University and holds a Master of Arts Degree in Library Information Science from Florida State University. Prior to joining Miami Dade College in 2016, Christina worked for the Hialeah Public Libraries, first as Collection Development Librarian and later as Library Services Supervisor. In addition to her current position, she has also served as an instructor of Intro to Online Research.

Christina is a native Floridian, born of Cuban immigrants. She enjoys spending time with her family, and if time permits, reading and watching classic films. She hopes to instill the same love of reading in her children.

Isabel M. Duque is a native Floridian and a daughter of exiled Cuban immigrants. She has a Master's Degree in Library Science, and a Bachelor's Degree in English with a minor in Film studies. Isabel has a background in both academic and public libraries, as well as teaching English literature in public schools. She is dedicated to equity, arts and letters, as well as having communities experience healing. Isabel hosts social justice community discussions, co-leads the College campus book club, hosts racial healing circles, collaborates with civic and earth ethics groups to promote grassroots activism, and conducts professional development workshops for Miami Dade College’s faculty and students. Her life’s work is to transform the library landscape in higher education, create a more inclusive, interdisciplinary curriculum and making curiosity contagious.

Isabel’s areas of interest are in storytelling, critical pedagogy, regenerative culture, and liberation studies, all of which are avenues to developing multi-literacies, community, and self.

Lizeth Garcia is a Learning Resources Professional at Miami Dade College’s Homestead campus. She received her Bachelor of Science in Biology Education from Florida International University, as an Honors College student. She also holds a Master of Arts in Library and Information Science from the University of South Florida. Lizeth is proud to have spent the last fifteen years in support of education. First, as a classroom teacher at a Title I school and currently as a campus librarian at democracy’s college where she serves as library liaison for the School of Aviation and English for Academic Purposes (EAP).

Shamsha Karim is a Learning Resources Professional at the Kendall Campus of Miami Dade College. Shamsha is the collegewide liaison for the business discipline. Her educational background includes a Master’s of Business Administration from FIU and a Master’s of Library Science from the University of North Texas. Previously, she worked at Forsyth County Public Library in Georgia as an Information Services Librarian. Before moving to Georgia, Shamsha served as the Assistant to Dean of Academic Affairs at MDC. She has also taught as an adjunct for the School of Business. Shamsha loves to travel and try out different ethnic recipes.

Adria Leal is an Associate Professor, Sr., in the Learning Resources Department at MDC Wolfson Campus Library.  She has a Bachelor's Degree from St. Thomas University and earned a Master's Degree in Library and Information Science from the University of South Florida.  She has served as an instructor for the LIS2004 Strategies for Online Research course, and as a student mentor.  She is the library liaison for the Law Center, the Fashion Institute, and MAGIC: Miami Animation & Gaming International Complex. She is also a member of the Dade County Library Association.