Message from the CNHS Intercultural Excellence Director
As many of us know, October in Vermont is a truly fascinating month—a time when we celebrate autumn’s beauty, from the vibrant changing leaves to the season’s spirited Halloween traditions. It’s also a time to recognize a range of important awareness campaigns, including Breast Cancer Awareness Month, ADHD Awareness Month, and, for us at UVM, Health Equity Summit Month.
I am deeply honored to represent CNHS as part of the 2025 Health Equity Summit Planning Committee. My heart was full of joy when I was invited to serve, knowing that I would have the chance to both learn from and contribute to the collective wisdom of the committee. Among several subcommittees, I chose to join the Planning Committee—not only to grow personally, professionally, and academically, but also to build an expanded network across the University and learn from others during these challenging times.
This experience has been incredibly rewarding. As a committee, we’ve reconnected with the foundational pillars of our Common Ground while navigating challenging conversations and cultivating compassionate connections. Together, we are exploring long-term strategies to address the root causes of health disparities and find collaborative, community-centered solutions for this year’s Summit.
Hosting a Health Equity Summit is a transformative opportunity for both the University and the wider community. It serves as a powerful platform to confront systemic inequities in healthcare access, outcomes, and representation—especially for marginalized and underrepresented groups. By bringing together scholars, practitioners, students, policymakers, and community leaders, the Summit fosters collaborative dialogue, research partnerships, and culturally responsive solutions that bridge academic knowledge with lived experience.
For UVM, the Summit strengthens our role as a leader in social responsibility and intercultural excellence. It enriches our curriculum, research, and student engagement while amplifying local voices, empowering advocacy, and driving sustainable health innovations that promote equity, dignity, and belonging. Ultimately, this year’s Health Equity Summit is more than an event—it is a movement toward systemic change, shaping a healthier, more inclusive future for everyone.
(Photo below: the UVM Health Equity Summit Planning Committee.)
Apart from being part of the Planning Committee, I also registered to present a poster on the taboo topic—Disability and Health Equity. As someone who has lived, researched, and taught about disability and health equity, I bring personal insight, as well as professional and academic understanding, to these conversations. In view of this, I was very intentional in choosing to present on my memoir, I’m Able: A Woman’s Advice to Disability Change Agents.
As my friend Stephanie once said, “Talking about ableism is uncomfortable—and it should be. But it’s through discomfort that we begin to grow as individuals and as a community.”
The highlight of this presentation for me was the honor of having President Tromp and Dean Anderson stop by for a brief conversation.
In short, “My vision is a world where disability is not hidden, feared, or fixed—but celebrated as a vital part of our collective humanity.” — Judy Heumann
Below are our lovely smiles. (Photo below, from left to right: Dean Anderson, Dr. Komabu-Pomeyie, President Tromp.)
(Photo above: Dr. Komabu-Pomeyie with students in the classroom)
In the Classroom and Beyond It is incredibly fulfilling to see the tangible results of our collective work—especially when it positively impacts our students and strengthens our community. As the Chinese proverb reminds us, “A teacher for a day is like a parent for a lifetime.” It speaks to the profound and lasting influence educators have on their students’ lives.
Recently, through campus-wide planning activities, I had the privilege of visiting several classrooms, including one taught by Dr. Allison Dean: BHSC 1340, Human Cell Biology. I was invited to speak about Kaleidoscope and to address students’ questions about justice, equity, and advocacy.
Students asked thoughtful, challenging questions such as:
“If people constantly undermine you, how do you overcome the fear of failure?”
“How do we distinguish between pain that leads to growth and pain that is simply destructive?”
“How can I become an advocate like you and continue the fight for justice and equity?”
These conversations reminded me of an African proverb I hold close: “If you have a fire, let others light their candles with it.” It beautifully captures the heart of our work as educators—that sharing our knowledge and passion doesn’t diminish our flame; it keeps the fire of change alive. Every day we teach, we also learn.
From the Division of Intercultural Excellence (DOIE) In our most recent DOIE meeting, we discussed updates that connect the ongoing work of our centers and programs. I’m sharing these highlights so we can continue building bridges and aligning our efforts across campus.
Happy New Month and thank you for continuing to build an inclusive and compassionate UVM community.
Warm regards,
Sefakor Komabu-Pomeyie, Ph.D. Director of Intercultural Excellence
What Has Been Done:
The CNHS Intercultural Environmental Challenges discussion among faculty and staff was held on 10/13/2025.
As the new Office Coordinator for the Department of BHSC, I'm excited to be the newest addition to the CNHS Intercultural Excellence Committee. I truly believe that cross-department collaboration and connection are essential to the work we do here. I’m grateful to have attended the CNHS Intercultural Environmental Challenges meeting, where I was brought up to speed on the "Dear Colleagues Letter" sent out in February 2025, and the compromises and decisions faculty and staff are having to make in fear of retribution.
Despite being a predominantly white state, it’s estimated that 15% of the population in Chittenden County are people of color, many of whom are first- or second-generation immigrants and/or the first in their families to see college as a viable option. Dr. Ahmed spoke about the “both/and” approach of DEI initiatives—both learning about and from others’ experiences and histories, coupled with increasing access to educational opportunities and support for BIPOC at UVM.
I learned about the early termination of funding for the New American Youth on the Rise (NAYR), led by Paula Deming, and the continued support from the UVM Health Network and local donors to ensure the program continues. This initiative is especially close to my heart, as my first job out of college was with a small immigrant-led nonprofit organization in the Twin Cities (MN), where I led a college preparation and leadership development program for first-generation refugee youth for four years. Programs like these ensure that all youth are given opportunities and exposure to post-secondary education options.
I feel hopeful that through the work of Intercultural Excellence, we can use the “both/and” approach to foster a supportive environment for BIPOC students, faculty, and staff—while immersing ourselves in cross-departmental connections to grow our own skills of vulnerability through sharing, learning through active listening, and coming together to celebrate our similarities, differences, shortcomings (yes, I mean it!), and successes.
I look forward to working and learning alongside you all!
Best, Laura Selin (she/her) BHSC Office Coordinator
This Month at BHSC Great things have happened this month at BHSC to promote our students’ overall success. We continue to build trust as we bond with our students and their families—sharing meals together outside of our professional setting. This type of gathering reflects the sentiment expressed by Chinua Achebe in Things Fall Apart:
“A man who calls his kinsmen to a feast does not do so to save them from starving. They all have food in their own homes. When we gather together in the moonlit village ground, it is not because of the moon. Every man can see it in his own compound. We come together because it is good for kinsmen to do so.”
BHSC Research Updates Dr. Bikki Tran Smith was awarded a grant (as Co-PI with Sarah Nowak from LCOM) from the Society of Family Planning for the project “Contraceptive Misinformation and Disinformation.” This mixed-methods study will examine the types of contraceptive mis- and disinformation circulated on BabyCenter—a popular parenting platform—how it is discussed, and its influence on reproductive health thinking and decisions.
Student Corner
I recently joined the College of Nursing and Health Sciences as a sophomore to pursue the Accelerated Public Health Sciences–Occupational Therapy 3+3 program. I felt called to pursue occupational therapy because of my passion for disability advocacy. I've had the opportunity to be a lead mentor for UVM CDCI's Think College program, a college transition program for young adults with disabilities.
My experience has revealed to me that young adults with disabilities are a group who often go unseen. There is a lack of resources and community support, and I have made it my goal to make a difference by being an advocate. I am also a leader for the Best Buddies club at UVM, which works to bridge the social gap between adults with and without disabilities. I have been working to expand this program to include not just UVM students, but adults in need in the Burlington community.
Disability is an aspect of diversity and human identity that is often ignored—and sometimes uncomfortable for people to talk about. I am grateful that CNHS is providing me with the resources and opportunities to make a difference, and I cannot wait to be more involved!
Chloe Krebs Sophomore Public Health Sciences Major
(Photo above: Chloe Krebs working together with her team.)
New First-Generation Graduate Student Community First-gen students are those whose parents or caregivers did not attend college. We’re launching a new campus community for first-generation graduate students! Visit the First-Generation Student Resources Fair on Friday, November 7 to learn more. Stay tuned for details about our November coffee social and upcoming programming. Questions? Contact: emily.dombrowski@uvm.edu or ilaria.coero-borga@uvm.edu
Responding When Your Classroom Gets Odd: Navigating the Unexpected Offered once in January 2026 Time: 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM Location: Davis Center, Room 413 (Chittenden Bank Room)
