2023 Regional Conference 

Keynote Speaker Highlights 

Dr. Nancy Michael 

Dr. Michael will be sharing her time, talents, and experience with us at the North location Regional Conference April 14. 

Dr. Nancy Michael serves as the Director of Undergraduate Studies for the Neuroscience and Behavior major at the University of Notre Dame and is dedicated to excellence, innovation in education and commitment to community wellness. Dr. Michael earned her Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Sciences from Western Michigan University.  In 2012 she earned her Ph.D. in Neuroscience from the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities.

In partnership with multiple community organizations, Dr. Michael works to develop and implement NEAR (neuroscience, epigenetics, adverse childhood experiences, resilience) science approaches that aim to mitigate the impact of toxic stress on individuals and communities by contributing general community capacity.  Her research uses a community-based change theory model to work with community organizations in developing population specific NEAR-based strategies to support organizational and community efforts in becoming trauma-informed.

Keynote Details

Can libraries help build community resilience? Absolutely! During our time together we will celebrate the ways libraries help meet the needs of our nervous systems in building individual wellness and general community capacity (GCC). Thank you for being part of building a Self-Healing Community! 

Self-Healing Communities of Greater Michigan mission is to nurture personal and community well-being through the neuroscience of human resilience and the celebration of our collective strengths. 

Participants will: 

  • Be introduced to Self-Healing Communities of Greater Michiana 
  • Be introduced to the science of resilience and General Community Capacity (GCC)
  • Go over a quick review of the ACEs & PCEs Research and understand why this research is at the foundation of becoming Trauma-informed 
  • Learn the value that Trauma-Awareness and Trauma-Sensitivity play in building staff and community resilience 

Dr. Michael's Regional Conference Schedule 

Friday, April 14 - North Region (South Bend, IN)

Keynote 9:00 a.m. - 10:15 a.m.