As an Afro-Caribbean professor in education, Blessed Chaminade's words - "New times call for new methods" - resonate deeply with both my personal journey and my professional mission. Raised in a culture rooted in oral tradition, community resilience, and creative problem-solving, I learned early on that adaptation is not merely a response to change - it is a form of resistance and renewal.

In this era of heightened challenges and direct attacks on higher education - particularly on institutions committed to equity, inclusion, and critical inquiry - I am blessed to work at a Catholic Marianist university that fosters a true community of belonging. Here at UD, I am not simply navigating the shifting tides of academia; I am sustained, seen, and empowered to thrive.

At UD, Marianist values of community, service, and adaptation are not just aspirational - they are lived daily. With supportive colleagues and engaged students, we work in concert: sharing ideas, challenging one another with care, and co-creating knowledge that meets our world's evolving needs. In this collaborative space, I find both hope and renewal.

The skills that have best prepared me include the ability to listen deeply across the differences and to respond with both empathy and strategy - creating inclusive, dynamic learning environments in a rapidly changing educational landscape. Grounded in my spiritual life and nurtured by fellow MEAs, the attitudes I carry are rooted in humility and hope, guiding me to discern when to lead, when to listen, and when to innovate.

Click here to read Novea's full reflection.

Posted in 2025 Spring Newsletter, News