Candid Conversations, a series of webinars organized by the libraries’ Student Outreach and Engagement Committee, is designed to address student needs and raise awareness of campus resources.
Jamie Pope, assistant professor of practice in Medicine, Health, and Society, looked at how our diets can affect our mental health. Can food boost our mood? Evidence supports that mental health can suffer when our eating pattern is irregular or we aren’t consuming sufficient essential nutrients to supply our body’s needs. Multiple studies have found associations between diets rich in ultra-processed foods and unhealthy fats with increased risk of depression – and conversely, diets higher in vegetables, fruits and healthy fats with lower risk of depression.
We featured Next Steps at Vanderbilt staff and members as they described the 4-year inclusive higher education program committed to providing students with intellectual disability an inclusive, transformational post secondary education in academics, social and career development and independent living, while honoring equality, compassion, and excellence in all endeavors. Outreach Librarian Kashif Graham moderated the discussion.
We featured Rosevelt Noble, the director of the Bishop Joseph Johnson Black Cultural Center, discussing his research project, “Lost in the Ivy,” about the history of Black students, faculty, postdoctoral scholars and staff at Vanderbilt.
Assistant Chief of Police Rick Burr discussed how the Vanderbilt University police department is training to respond to civil unrest. He spoke about policy and Blue Courage training for officer intervention.