12th Annual Faculty Center Conference--In Person/Online

Sheldon L. Eakins, Ph.D., is the Founder of the Leading Equity Center. Dr. Eakins is also the host of The Art of Advocacy Livestream and the Leading Equity Podcast. Furthermore, Dr. Eakins is the author of Leading Equity: Becoming an Advocate for All Students. With over 15 years in education, he has served as a teacher, school principal, adjunct professor, and Director of Special Education. 

Sheldon Eakins is passionate about helping educators accomplish equitable practices in their schools. He has earned a B.S. degree in Social Science Education, an M.S. degree in Educational Leadership, and a Ph.D. in K-12 Education. 

Jaime Hartless is an Assistant Professor of Sociology and the current coordinator of the Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies minor at Farmingdale State College. She regularly teaches DEI-focused courses, such as Intro to LGBTQ+ Studies and Sex, Gender, and Sexuality. Her research explores the politics of allyship and Intersectionality in feminist and LGBTQ+ activism. She has also published work on using horror in the classroom to teach about gender and sexualities.

Eugene Kwak is a licensed architect and an assistant professor in the Department of Architecture and Construction Management at Farmingdale State College, State University of New York. He has been running research-based projects, including the most recent project “Togather” which has been featured in the New York Times, Dwell, and TEDx. “Togather” focuses on the regional food systems, land access, and empowering local farmers through providing affordable housing and long-term free land lease. This project has won the Green Good Design award. His academic research on community gardens as a pedagogical tool for architectural students was presented at the American Society for Engineering Education (ASEE) annual conference. During his tenure in the private sector, he focused on technology-based green and sustainable work including the New Housing New York Legacy Project. Eugene’s entry for the Intersection: Grand Concourse 100 and Reinventing Grand Army Plaza Competition was selected as one of the top 30 proposals to be included in a public exhibition. He is currently serving as a member of the American Farmland Trust New York Advisory Council. He has taught architectural design, urban design seminars, and various workshops at Parsons The New School, Pratt Institute, and New York Institute of Technology. Eugene received a Bachelor of Architecture from Carnegie Mellon University and a Master of Science Degree in Architecture and Urban Design from Columbia University.