Humanities Edge Undergraduate Research Symposium | Fall 2021

Kristin Borgwald has been teaching philosophy for the Wolfson Campus Arts & Philosophy Department for over ten years. Her philosophical interests include normative ethics, applied ethics, social and political philosophy, and feminist theory. She studied social science and philosophy as an undergraduate at Webster University, and earned her PhD in philosophy from the University of Miami. Her research focuses on normative sentimentalist ethics, particularly care ethics. Her article, “Women’s Anger, Epistemic Personhood, and Self-Respect…” was published in Philosophical Studies in 2012. Borgwald’s interdisciplinary background influences her research and teaching. In 2013, she co-authored an article concerning the ethics of bullying, “Bullying the Bully: Why Zero-Tolerance Policies Get a Failing Grade,” in the journal Social Influence. The work concerns how we ought to treat those who bully and critiques the current trends from a sentimentalist perspective. She has represented MDC at two AAC&U summer institutes and the Aspen Institute Undergraduate Consortium. She is also a TEAGLE Fellow for the MDC grant, Contextualizing Liberal Education for Applied Reasoning.

Ray Morales has been an active ceramics artist and a Professor of Art at Miami Dade College for over 20 years. His expertise in the field of ceramics range from creating both functional and sculptural forms, glaze chemistry, firing kilns, and developing a range of clays. His artworks are widely sought out and are held in collections all over the world. As a professor, Ray Morales has built curriculums that attract members of the community as well as traditional students. His teaching methodology focuses on putting theory into tangible action and creative problem solving.

Yane Nemeroff is a Communications/Speech Professor at Miami Dade College: Hialeah Campus. Professor Nemeroff has been teaching at the college for over 5 years. His focus in the classroom is for students to understand the complexity in Communications. Mr. Nemeroff ultimately inspires students by deconstructing Communication, and reconstructing effective communicators. He holds a Masters degree in Communication Studies from Florida Atlantic University. Yane also earned a Bachelors degree in Intercultural and Organizational Communication from Florida Atlantic University as well. This is his first year collaborating with the Humanities Edge Undergraduate Research Mentorship Program.

Dr. Alan Ngim is a Professor in the Arts and Philosophy Department at the Wolfson campus of Miami Dade College where he has taught full-time since 2004. Born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area, he started playing piano at age seven. He earned a bachelor's degrees with honors in piano performance, another with honors in computer science from University of California, Santa Barbara, a master's degree in piano performance and pedagogy from Northwestern University, and a doctoral degree in piano and chamber music from University of Miami, where he was awarded a University Fellowship. He also studied at the American Institute for Musical Studies in Graz, Austria. Prior to teaching full-time, Dr. Ngim worked as a full-time pianist in Miami for five years. At MDC Wolfson, Dr. Ngim teaches music theory, private piano, music appreciation, and chamber music. He conducts the orchestra for the musical theater productions each semester and performs each semester in faculty recitals. For the Honors College at Wolfson, Professor Ngim teaches music appreciation and first-year leadership seminar. This is his first time mentoring in the HE-URP program. Aside from academics, Dr. Ngim is interested in technology (especially A.I.), psychology, and environmental issues. He loves swimming long distances in open water, paddle boarding, and yoga.

Emily Andrea Sendin is a professor of English, literature, and creative writing with two decades of teaching experience at Miami Dade College's Eduardo J. Padrón Campus. Sendin is an Endowed Teaching Chair, Fulbright Scholar, National Council of Teachings of English Media Literacy Award recipient, and Florida Campus Contact Service-Learning Faculty of the Year. She earned a BA and MA in English with a concentration in women’s studies from Florida International University. Her areas of expertise are African American literature, post-colonialism and feminist theories, and media studies. At Miami Dade College, Sendin teaches global sustainability and Earth literacy studies, service-learning, and Honors College courses. She is the founding advisor of Urbana, the student-led, award-winning literary and arts magazine of the Padrón Campus, currently on its quinceañera volume. She is also the founding advisor of Hermione’s Army, a chapter of Fandom Forward, an international organization with a mission to use the power of story for social activism. Sendin is the cofounder of the Tengo un Sueño 17-year educational program of FNE International. Her life’s passions are books, art, traveling, teaching, writing, and service.

Prof. Surendar teaches Composition & Writing and Literature at the West campus. Originally from India, she comes with more than 20 years of work experience in both the Corporate and the educational sectors. She has 2 Masters Degrees in English with one from her native country of India and the other from the State University of New York in Albany. Very passionate about literature, Prof. Surendar specializes in 18th century British writing and Gothic Literature. Prof. Surendar joined MDC in Jan 2017 as a full-time professor and has since then set up the English Department at MDC-West and founded Words Are Us- The Literature Club of West campus. Since its inception in Fall 2018, the Literature Club has organized several events promoting writers and iconic texts to the students of the campus. She created their signature event called the Lit Fest which is a theme-based literature festival that is open to all campuses of MDC. Eager to learn new things, you will find Prof. Surendar trying something new every semester.