This year's symposium will explore the rich and complex
experience created through children's use of social media.
What social behavior and relationships are healthy and helpful?
What environments foster appropriate developmental growth?
What are outcomes of these experiences and concerns over time?
How can parents and professionals support a healthy
connection between social media and social development?
The evening will begin with a
social cocktail reception followed by a keynote address and a panel of diverse professionals who will support an extended discussion on this topic and address audience questions.
Mega M. Subramaniam, Ph.D., is Assistant Professor and Associate Director
of Information Policy and Access Center (iPAC) at the
College of Information Studies at the University of Maryland.
She is the designer/director of several social media/literacy after school programs for tweens, as well as a teacher, researcher and writer on social media use and the mother of two children. Mega studies privacy/confidentiality issues, parent concerns, tween perspective on social media and the balance of freedom and safety.
Panel Speakers
Dr. Orit Goldhamer
Middle School Psychologist at The Churchill School
Dr. Goldhamer is also a private practice psychologist for children, adolescents and young adults. She has consulted with other schools on their Digital Citizenship, Media Literacy, Learning Disability & Health curriculums and with school clinicians regarding implementation of affinity groups for students who are adopted or have divorced parents. Furthermore, she provides workshops for parents, teachers and students regarding Digital Citizenship, Internet Safety, and Media Literacy. Dr. Goldhamer received her doctorate degree in School and Clinical Psychology at Ferkauf Graduate School of Psychology of Yeshiva University, where she is also an Adjunct Supervisor.
Carl Anhalt
Dean at the Ethical Culture Fieldston School
Mr. Anhalt supports and guides the class of 2017, where he is also a mathematics teacher, water polo & swimming coach and a faculty advisor to both the Queer-Straight Alliance and Men's Leadership groups. He has a rich experience addressing social media issues with students, including guiding community learning experiences resulting from disciplinary action and inspiring students to regularly form Facebook groups to help each other study course material. Mr. Anhalt posts on Facebook and Instagram accounts where students can see his insight and interact with him through social media as well.
Janine Francolini
Founder of The Flawless Foundation
Ms. Francolini has gained tremendous success in social media with thousands of followers and viral sharing of her Huffington Post blogs. She serves on the board of the Saks Institute for Mental Health Law, Policy and Ethics at the USC Gould School of Law and is a member of the Dorothea Dix Think Tank. Ms. Francolini earned a Masters' degree from Columbia University and spent much of her career as an educator in the New York City Independent Schools. Ms. Francolini 's expertise and advocacy is centered on holistic approaches to working with children including Collaborative Problem Solving,
