Project Rise Staff Spotlight!

Today we are thanking Amanda Smith for her dedication and service! Amanda is part of the programming staff and is widely responsible for getting families to our special events and enrichment programming. She also works closely with our partners at @DLM Food & Resources, makes ongoing edits on the Akron Street Card, and much more!

Amanda has a wonderfully big heart and it shows in everything she does. From interacting with other staff members to working with community partners and developing personal relationships with our families.. she is truly an asset to Project Rise.

Amanda has built an admirable rapport with the community partners she works closely with and the families she brings to our events. Her smile and laugh are infectious and she has a special place in all of our hearts!

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Experienced executive level manager with extensive experience in leading program operations and staff to deliver innovative and profitable services tailored to the community’s needs.

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Rachel Ramirez (Ohio Domestic Violence Network)

Rachel Ramirez, LISW-S, RASS, is the Director of Health and Disability Programs and the Founder of The Center on Partner-Inflicted Brain Injury at The Ohio Domestic Violence Network (ODVN). In this role, she oversees several initiatives on the intersection of domestic violence, disability, behavioral health and health access, with a focus on trauma-informed services and partner-inflicted brain injury. She also provides extensive statewide, national, and international training, consultation, technical assistance, and program support. Rachel has been with ODVN for 15 years and has co-authored several peer reviewed journal articles, as well as been featured on National Public Radio, The New York Times Magazine, and The Washington Post discussing brain injury and domestic violence. Rachel is a dedicated and passionate advocate for survivors of abuse and works to prepare systems to provide trauma and brain injury informed services. 

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Over 20 years of experience providing neuropsychological treatment to individuals with known or suspected neurological illness/injury with a special focus on survivors of brain injury and their families. Established a nonprofit organization, Northeast Ohio Brain Injury Foundation (NEOBIF) to help promote information and resources for brain injury survivors and their families in northeast Ohio.

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Profile

Christian Vaccaro’s research interests are in sociological social psychology. Specifically, he has published and presented multiple research manuscripts that link together by their insights into how patterns of interactions between people in real world settings influence emotions, identities, and behaviors.

He serves the university as director of training for the Mid-Atlantic Research and Training Institute for Community Behavioral Health, University Merit Scholarship advisor, Sociology Department program assessment point person, member of the Sociology Department Master’s Committee, board member of the Frederick Douglass Institute for Intercultural Research, Legislative Committee co-chair for APSCUF, and Sociology Department Online Education Sub-committee chairperson. He is also active in public service and was an elected council member for the borough of Leechburg from 2013 to 2018,

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Associate Professor

Office: 506-BB Leonard Hall

Email: Lingyan.Yang@iup.edu

Education

PhD, U of Massachusetts at Amherst, 2000

MA, U of Massachusetts at Amherst, 1994

BA, English, Xiamen University, People’s Republic of China

Academic Interests

Asian American and Asian Diasporic (Women’s) Literatureand Cultural Criticism; 20thand 21st Century Critical Cultural Theories and Literary Criticisms, including but not limited to feminist theories, postcolonial theory, Asian American and Asian diasporic cultural and literary criticisms, poststructuralism, postmodernism, comparative postcolonial and American multiethnic women’s literature and feminisms, and Marxism

MELUS 2013 Conference Committee cochair to organize and host the national conference of MELUS (Society for the Study of the Multi-Ethnic Literature of the US), joined by the US Chapter of Association of the Commonwealth Literature and Language Studies, the national conference of postcolonial literature, on March 14-17, 2013, in downtown Pittsburgh.

Former director, Women’s and Gender Studies Program, IUP, 2012-15

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Lingyan Yang

Education

PhD, U of Massachusetts at Amherst, 2000

MA, U of Massachusetts at Amherst, 1994

BA, English, Xiamen University, People’s Republic of China

Academic Interests

Asian American and Asian Diasporic (Women’s) Literatureand Cultural Criticism; 20thand 21st Century Critical Cultural Theories and Literary Criticisms, including but not limited to feminist theories, postcolonial theory, Asian American and Asian diasporic cultural and literary criticisms, poststructuralism, postmodernism, comparative postcolonial and American multiethnic women’s literature and feminisms, and Marxism

MELUS 2013 Conference Committee cochair to organize and host the national conference of MELUS (Society for the Study of the Multi-Ethnic Literature of the US), joined by the US Chapter of Association of the Commonwealth Literature and Language Studies, the national conference of postcolonial literature, on March 14-17, 2013, in downtown Pittsburgh.

Former director, Women’s and Gender Studies Program, IUP, 2012-15

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Global Entertainment Expo (GEE)

Join us at the Summit Artspace in Akron, Ohio for the most exciting event of the year – the Global Entertainment Expo (GEE)! Get ready to immerse yourself in a world of entertainment like never before. From jaw-dropping performances to mind-blowing educational seminars, fashion show and food fiesta, GEE promises an unforgettable experience for all ages.

Discover the latest trends in international dance, music and song! With a lineup of renowned artists, industry experts, and influencers, GEE offers a unique opportunity to connect with your favorite entertainers and gain insights into their creative processes.

Explore the vibrant exhibition hall filled with cutting-edge technologies, interactive displays, and exclusive merchandise. Whether you’re a die-hard fan or simply curious about the world of entertainment, GEE has something for everyone.

Don’t miss out on this incredible event! Mark your calendars and get ready to be amazed at the Global Entertainment Expo (GEE)!

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Joan Van Dyke is an Associate Professor of Dance, and affiliate faculty for Women’s and

Gender Studies at Indiana University of Pennsylvania. Ms. Van Dyke was appointed ballet

master of the former Pennsylvania Governor’s School for the Arts. She serves as the director of

the dance at IUP and Artistic Director of IUP Dance Theater.. Ms. Van Dyke was awarded

University Dance Teacher of the Year award for the Eastern District for Health, Physical

Education, Recreation and Dance. Ms. Van Dyke is the Artistic Director for the Mahoning

Valley Ballet and director of curriculum Van Dyke and Company. Professor Van Dyke’s

interests include quantitative and qualitative research in dance, cast-based approach to

choreography, dance kinesiology, feminist theory, somatics and the Alexander Technique. Ms.

Van Dyke is an invited choreographer, lecturer, and educator nationally and internationally.

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