Corona Chronicles Contributors

Two Lourdes University members contributed to a new book, The Corona Chronicles: Necessary Narratives in Uncertain Times. Dean of Student Success Alisa Smith, M.Ed., and Associate Professor of Psychology Kristen K. Williams, Ph.D., co-wrote one of the book’s chapters.

“In ‘Leaning on Our Values,’ we addressed how Lourdes values were in play as we served our students through the pandemic semester last spring,” notes Dr. Williams.

In an excerpt from their chapter, Dr. Williams and Dean Smith say: “The Franciscan values guiding Lourdes University are community, learning, reverence and service. I believe these values allowed our institution to successfully support our students in Spring 2020 through the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic in a manner that strengthened them as individuals and future professionals.”

In the chapter, the duo addresses several topics including how University members working remotely and on campus “in the trenches” strengthened their bonds, as well as the learning curve faculty and students faced with the increased dependence and use of technology and online pedagogy.

Published by DIO Press, the two-volume book was compiled and edited by a team of professors from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, and colleagues. The series of first-person narratives shares how administrators, students, parents and community members are traversing through the pandemic.