Join us and our esteemed guests as they examine how the communication theory of resilience (CTR) enhances the communication strategies of survivor-centered organizations in the anti-human trafficking space. Supported by an ERAU 2024-2025 FIRST grant, their interdisciplinary research bridges communication, human security, and resilience to offer practical, applied solutions that strengthen the resilience of anti-trafficking organizations via CTR.

Dean Siedschlag and the Embry-Riddle Worldwide | College of Arts & Sciences are excited to welcome our speakers:

Maya Adkins is an undergraduate student at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, where she is pursuing a B.S. in Homeland Security with minors in Global Conflict Studies, Psychology, and Geographic Information Systems. Maya has a strong background in international studies, having participated in exchange programs and traveled to over 24 countries. She has experience in intelligence analysis, risk management, and organizational leadership through roles in academia and professional settings. Maya is committed to addressing global security challenges, with a particular interest in human trafficking prevention and intervention, leveraging her education and experiences to make a positive impact.

Dr. Iuliia Hoban serves as the Program Chair for the Master of Science in Human Ssecurity and Resilience. She ​holds a Ph.D. in Global Affairs from Rutgers University, a Master’s in International Development from the Josef Korbel School of International Studies at the University of Denver, a certificate in Human Rights and Humanitarian Assistance, and a B.A. in History from the National University Kyiv-Mohyla Academy in Ukraine. Before joining Embry-Riddle, Iuliia held academic appointments at Radford University and the College of New Jersey as well as an administrative appointment at Virginia Tech as the Assistant Director for Intercultural Learning and Program Director for Mozaiko Living-Learning Community. Dr. Hoban’s research agenda broadly focuses on the children and politics of childhood and youth in conflict and peacebuilding settings, how framing contests and strategic narratives shape policy responses and the implications of the Russia-Ukraine war on vulnerable populations. Dr. Hoban also applied her research skills in NGOs and think tanks such as Watchlist for Children and Armed Conflict (New York, NY), the Institute of World Policy (Kyiv, Ukraine), and the Laboratory to Combat Human Trafficking (Denver, CO) where her major responsibilities focused on analysis and research of multidimensional factors and aspects of human rights.

Dr. Alex Rister serves as the Program Chair for the Bachelor of Science in Communication and as Senior Advisor for VECTOR, Worldwide’s virtual communication center. She holds M.A. degrees in both Communication and English as well as a Ph.D. in Texts and Technology from the University of Central Florida. With over 15 years of higher education experience, Alex’s primary teaching interests include organizational communication, business communication, as well as public speaking and presentation. Her research aligns with her professional service and community volunteer work on communication for social change, especially on issues important to girls and women. She is interested in the communicative elements of advocacy, awareness, and leadership for social change at the individual and organizational levels. Dr. Rister is the Immediate Past President of the Junior League of Greater Orlando, a women’s civic leadership nonprofit organization, and serves on the Association of Junior Leagues International (AJLI) Governance Committee. She is the Secretary for the National Communication Association’s Activism and Social Justice Division, on the Executive Board of the Florida Communication Association, and the Membership Committee for the Global Association of Human Trafficking Scholars.

* * * * *

Join us and our esteemed guests once a month to discuss fresh perspectives on a broad range of topics from a variety of fields and sectors within the vision of achieving whole-community resilience — locally, nationally, internationally, and globally.

This Dean’s Virtual Speaker Series contributes to fostering the vision of the Embry-Riddle Worldwide | College of Arts & Sciences:

To be a destination college for multidisciplinary studies and impactful collaborative research as well as continue to be a national leader in general education, developing opportunities for our diverse student population to fulfill their educational goals and become responsive, responsible global citizens.

Time: 1:00-2:00 pm EST

Free!

Registration