By Isabella Turner-Burrell, Currier Times Contributor///

Levin Library has been hosting a series of Author’s Events this semester, with two more to finish up the semester December 7th and 8th.

On November 17th, 2022, Dr. Ann Marie Leonard-Zabel, a full-time professor at Curry with over thirty-five years of experience as a therapist, educational psychologist, pediatric neuropsychologist, and forensic scientist, shared her work regarding Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI).

Leonard-Zabel wrote the recently published book, “The Dance of Traumatic Brain Injury: Understanding and Implementing Strategies and Approaches to Empower the Afflicted Student,” because of her “compassion for the topic from her professional and personal experiences with TBI patients, their families, and friends,” she said.

The Levin Library and the Faculty Center provided food and drink as Dr. Leonard-Zabel spoke. As Evelyn Ugwu-George, a Curry College assistant professor, general education, and Information Literacy Librarian at the Levin Library said, it was “a very great opportunity to come together as a community.”

With a focus on TBI among children and youth and how it is a public health concern in our country, Leonard-Zabel explored how TBI affects a student’s academic and personal life via a case review. Leonard-Zabel discussed how to foster an awareness of the learning and behavioral consequences of TBIs involving cognitive impairment, personality, and behavioral changes,
along with common lifestyle difficulties when not treated well by the medical, behavioral health, and educational communities.

Leonard-Zabel suggested technological interventions to help with academic planning to foster self-esteem and self-worth that is realistic and effective for a child and youth with a TBI. One such technology is Brain Tapping which helps slow the brain down so it can heal. As Dr. Leonard-Zabel said, “It’s an amazing technology. It’s a game changer for people with anxiety,
depression; it’s a game changer for people with trauma with TBIs.”

By the end of the event, the organizers were excited to see more student attendees than faculty, with an overall turnout of thirty-five individuals. Many left the event saying they were intrigued to learn that TBIs can continue to affect an individual for months.

“It was interesting to learn about TBI’s and how it can affect someone for months on end without them even knowing about it after it happens,” said Maene Falette, a Curry student. It also left her looking forward to future events. “I can’t wait for the next one.”

The next author event is scheduled for December 7th, 2022, from Noon to 1 p.m. with Dr. Natalie West, from the Sports and Recreation Management major. She will be sharing her work entitled “Another hurdle to jump: An analysis of collegiate athletics impact on first generation female students’ academic performance.”

On Thursday December 8th, Dr. Shawn Scott will be sharing his work entitled “Musical tension in advertising and consumer attitudes.”

All events are open to the public inside the Levin Library. A lunch will be provided.