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Surviving and Thriving: Insights from Caregivers and Breast Cancer Survivors Panel Discussion
About This Webinar
A heartfelt and empowering panel discussion designed to highlight the lived experiences of those directly impacted by breast cancer. This event will feature both survivors and caregivers sharing their personal journeys—from diagnosis and treatment to recovery and ongoing wellness. Through open dialogue, panelists will explore the emotional, physical, and social challenges they faced, the support systems that made a difference, and the lessons they’ve learned along the way. Attendees will gain a deeper understanding of the resilience, advocacy, and community resources that can help individuals and families not only survive, but thrive, after a breast cancer diagnosis.
ADA Accommodation Statement
If you need accommodations to attend this webinar, please e-mail [email protected].
Who can view: Everyone
Webinar Price: Free
Featured Presenters
Senior Specialist, Alumni Engagement
Senior Specialist, Alumni Engagement | Alumni Ambassador Program Manager – Walden University | SVA Faculty Advisor – Walden University | Chamberlain Chats Program Manager – Chamberlain University | ATGE GCCA – Alumni
With nearly 17 years at Walden University/Adtalem Global Education, I am a dedicated Alumni Relations professional passionate about fostering engagement and driving brand growth. I hold a Bachelor's in Sport Management from Winston-Salem State University and a Master of Science in Leadership from Walden University.
As Manager of the Walden Alumni Ambassador program, I lead 50+ alumni volunteers who actively promote Walden University and advance our mission of positive social change through outreach, brand advocacy, networking, mentorship, and testimonials. My work employs a comprehensive, data-driven approach to volunteer and alumni engagement that enhances organizational goals.
In 2019, I received both the Military and Veterans Staff Award and the Pinnacle of Excellence Award in recognition of exceptional contributions that produce results, break barriers, and solve problems.
I am an active member of the Council for Alumni Marketing Membership Professionals and serve as an official social change partner with the Maryland Department of Veterans Affairs cemetery program. Beyond my professional work, I volunteer with local and national youth mentoring programs, empowering the next generation to reach their full potential.
With nearly 17 years at Walden University/Adtalem Global Education, I am a dedicated Alumni Relations professional passionate about fostering engagement and driving brand growth. I hold a Bachelor's in Sport Management from Winston-Salem State University and a Master of Science in Leadership from Walden University.
As Manager of the Walden Alumni Ambassador program, I lead 50+ alumni volunteers who actively promote Walden University and advance our mission of positive social change through outreach, brand advocacy, networking, mentorship, and testimonials. My work employs a comprehensive, data-driven approach to volunteer and alumni engagement that enhances organizational goals.
In 2019, I received both the Military and Veterans Staff Award and the Pinnacle of Excellence Award in recognition of exceptional contributions that produce results, break barriers, and solve problems.
I am an active member of the Council for Alumni Marketing Membership Professionals and serve as an official social change partner with the Maryland Department of Veterans Affairs cemetery program. Beyond my professional work, I volunteer with local and national youth mentoring programs, empowering the next generation to reach their full potential.
CEO of Your Proactive Caregiver Advocate
Dr. Cynthia J. Hickman is the CEO of Your Proactive Caregiver Advocate. She is a nurse educator, keynote speaker, and caregiver advocate. Dr. Hickman is the author of From the Lens of Daughter, Nurse, and Caregiver: A Journey of Duty and Honor, which shares her 20-year journey of caring for her mother, and The Black Book of Important Information for Caregivers, which details the necessity of mindfulness of the business side of being a caregiver. In August 2024, she published her 3rd book, Essentials Caregiver Training Course for Corporations and Community: Empowering Caregivers, Enriching Lives.
Dr. Cynthia J. Hickman retired as a cardiovascular case manager from St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital (SLEH) in Houston, Texas. Dr. Hickman has a Master of Nursing in education and a Ph.D. in Health Services with a leadership specialization from Walden University. Undergraduate studies are from Toledo Hospital School of Nursing(diploma) and Prairie View A & M University College of Nursing. Dr. Hickman was an adjunct professor and taught for 5 1/2 years at Capella University in the Flex Path RN to BSN Nursing program, teaching evidence-based practices, community health, and nursing leadership. Her nursing background spans the fields of nursing and advancing social change as an individual, in the community, and globally.
Dr. Hickman is a local and national speaker. She is passionate about sharing her nursing career experiences and her real and raw caregiving journey, discussing the challenges, reality, mental health complexities, and resilience of caring for her mother over 20 years.
Dr. Hickman was the 66th Winter Commencement speaker for Walden University and the keynote speaker of the National Veterans Black Chaplains Conference of America, and she shared the stage with Shawn Fair and the Leadership Experience Tour. She has become a storyteller, passionate about education, caregiving, and strategies to help others navigate life challenges when caring for aging loved ones.
Dr. Hickman has received many honors and awards. In February 2025, she received the Presidential Lifetime Leadership Award, presented by 180 LYFE ENTERPRISE, 2024 Woman Entrepreneur of Excellence Caregiver Advocate of the year, and recipient of the Texas Business Alliance Foundation's inaugural 2022 Lifting While We Climb Legends Award. She was also the keynote speaker at Chamberlain University Nursing School, Tyson Corner, in Virginia.
Dr. Hickman founded the Socks 4 Seniors Community Project in Missouri City, Texas, an annual community event, in 2020. As of 2024, she has given over 2,500 pairs of socks to nursing homes and assisted living residents in her community. Last year, she partnered with Bombus Socks, an apparel brand that donates socks to her community programs.
Dr. Hickman is involved with professional organizations: National Black Nurses Association, Omicron Gamma Zeta Chapter of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., Fort Bend County Black Nurses Association, National Society of Leadership and Success, Chi Eta Phi Nurses Society, and a Prairie View A&M College of Nursing Alum.
Dr. Cynthia J. Hickman retired as a cardiovascular case manager from St. Luke's Episcopal Hospital (SLEH) in Houston, Texas. Dr. Hickman has a Master of Nursing in education and a Ph.D. in Health Services with a leadership specialization from Walden University. Undergraduate studies are from Toledo Hospital School of Nursing(diploma) and Prairie View A & M University College of Nursing. Dr. Hickman was an adjunct professor and taught for 5 1/2 years at Capella University in the Flex Path RN to BSN Nursing program, teaching evidence-based practices, community health, and nursing leadership. Her nursing background spans the fields of nursing and advancing social change as an individual, in the community, and globally.
Dr. Hickman is a local and national speaker. She is passionate about sharing her nursing career experiences and her real and raw caregiving journey, discussing the challenges, reality, mental health complexities, and resilience of caring for her mother over 20 years.
Dr. Hickman was the 66th Winter Commencement speaker for Walden University and the keynote speaker of the National Veterans Black Chaplains Conference of America, and she shared the stage with Shawn Fair and the Leadership Experience Tour. She has become a storyteller, passionate about education, caregiving, and strategies to help others navigate life challenges when caring for aging loved ones.
Dr. Hickman has received many honors and awards. In February 2025, she received the Presidential Lifetime Leadership Award, presented by 180 LYFE ENTERPRISE, 2024 Woman Entrepreneur of Excellence Caregiver Advocate of the year, and recipient of the Texas Business Alliance Foundation's inaugural 2022 Lifting While We Climb Legends Award. She was also the keynote speaker at Chamberlain University Nursing School, Tyson Corner, in Virginia.
Dr. Hickman founded the Socks 4 Seniors Community Project in Missouri City, Texas, an annual community event, in 2020. As of 2024, she has given over 2,500 pairs of socks to nursing homes and assisted living residents in her community. Last year, she partnered with Bombus Socks, an apparel brand that donates socks to her community programs.
Dr. Hickman is involved with professional organizations: National Black Nurses Association, Omicron Gamma Zeta Chapter of Zeta Phi Beta Sorority, Inc., Fort Bend County Black Nurses Association, National Society of Leadership and Success, Chi Eta Phi Nurses Society, and a Prairie View A&M College of Nursing Alum.
Director of Student Engagement and Workforce Solutions, Adtalem Elevate
Dr. Tonya Kimber Jones is the Director of Student Engagement and Workforce Solutions within Adtalem Elevate, the innovation and strategic partnership engine supporting Chamberlain and Walden University. She leads a national team dedicated to serving working adults, specifically employees of employer partners, by building education to workforce pathways that strengthen organizational outcomes and promote career mobility. Her work advances institutional growth, workforce readiness, and community transformation.
A seasoned healthcare strategist and care forged leader, Dr. Kimber Jones brings more than two decades of experience across healthcare, education, and business development. She is known for building transformative partnerships, turning strategy into results, and championing access, equity, and opportunity, especially for underserved and frontline populations. Her leadership is rooted in service, driven by impact, and guided by a deep belief in the power of education to transform lives and communities.
A seasoned healthcare strategist and care forged leader, Dr. Kimber Jones brings more than two decades of experience across healthcare, education, and business development. She is known for building transformative partnerships, turning strategy into results, and championing access, equity, and opportunity, especially for underserved and frontline populations. Her leadership is rooted in service, driven by impact, and guided by a deep belief in the power of education to transform lives and communities.
Strategic Director of the American Cancer Society National Breast Cancer Roundtable (ACS NBCRT)
Dr. Melissa Thomas is the Strategic Director of the American Cancer Society National Breast Cancer Roundtable (ACS NBCRT), leading national initiatives to advance equity across the breast cancer continuum through partnerships, community engagement, and evidence-based strategies. A native of rural Appalachia Ohio, she founded the Center for Appalachia Research in Cancer Education (CARE) and Project Hoffnung (“Hope” in German), a multi-state Amish and Mennonite Breast Health Project that has served thousands of women across Ohio and beyond. As a certified Community Health Worker (CHW), Dr. Thomas has trained and employed CHWs from Amish, Mennonite, and Appalachian communities to support trusted, culturally sensitive care.
Formerly an Assistant Professor at Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, she also served as Founding Director of the Office of Health Equity at one of Ohio’s largest healthcare systems. Her research examines patterns in cancer outcomes, food insecurity, community health worker models, and rural health.
Formerly an Assistant Professor at Ohio University Heritage College of Osteopathic Medicine, she also served as Founding Director of the Office of Health Equity at one of Ohio’s largest healthcare systems. Her research examines patterns in cancer outcomes, food insecurity, community health worker models, and rural health.
Associate Vice Provost, Center for Impact Development
Dr. Rochelle Gilbert is the Associate Vice Provost within the Office of Civic Engagement and Leadership, a division operating under the broader purview of the Office of Institutional Effectiveness, Engagement, and Academic Performance. In this distinguished capacity, Dr. Gilbert assumes a multifaceted role that involves a spectrum of responsibilities aimed at quantifying outcomes for initiatives pertaining to student and graduate citizenship, leadership strategies, and the fostering of graduate engagement. Her extensive portfolio encompasses providing professional development, mentorship, and cultivating a global citizenry mindset among the university's graduates. Furthermore, she exercises oversight over a diverse array of responsibilities, including the management of student organizations and the facilitation of pertinent events. In this capacity, Dr. Gilbert collaborates closely with central university stakeholders to foster meaningful inter-institutional collaborations.
Central to Dr. Gilbert's role is her responsibility for the comprehensive development of Walden University's undergraduate and graduate students, as well as graduates themselves. This remit extends across various dimensions, encompassing the nurturing of competencies in communication, teamwork, conflict management, negotiation, leadership, self-evaluation, adaptability, flexibility, learning, creativity, innovation, and problem-solving.
With over a decade of administrative and leadership experience at Walden University, Dr. Gilbert's tenure is marked by a series of impactful roles. Prior to her current position, she held the role of Executive Senior Director of University Relations and Advancement within the Office of the President and Dean for the Center for Social Change. In this significant capacity, her responsibilities encompassed advocating for social change, championing academic excellence, promoting inclusiveness, encouraging community engagement, and devising and executing strategies to establish mutually beneficial partnerships with various stakeholders within the university community.
Dr. Gilbert commenced her Walden journey in 2010, previously serving as the Dean of Student Affairs, overseeing a diverse and sizable student body exceeding 50,000 individuals. In this role, she provided comprehensive oversight for critical domains, including Career Planning and Development, Student Life, Leadership and Engagement, Alumni Engagement, Student Judicial and Restorative Services, OMBUDS, Student Counseling Services, and Student Wellness and Disability Services. Within this purview, she championed the values of civility, academic excellence, inclusiveness, and community engagement and provided a crucial resource for advocacy and crisis management for all students. Notably, Dr. Gilbert spearheaded the establishment of Communities of Practice and Professional Development Communities tailored to student leaders, as well as the creation of Career Resource Hubs, the Readers for Good Book Club, and new student organizations.
In her prior role as the Senior Director of Academic Residencies, Dr. Gilbert played a pivotal role in strategic planning and the implementation of residency programming. She also provided crucial oversight for faculty and staff, ensuring the successful delivery of online learning aligned with residency goals and learning outcomes. During the pandemic, she exhibited exemplary leadership by orchestrating the essential shift of on-ground Residency experiences to fully virtual events, thereby rejuvenating the delivery experience.
In addition to her administrative roles, Dr. Gilbert has contributed significantly to the university's broader initiatives. She has served as a Positive Leadership Champion, represented the institution on the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Advisory Committee, and been a member of the President's Council for Student and Alumni Employees. Furthermore, she has served as an advisor for Walden's chapters of esteemed organizations, including the National Society of Leadership and Success, Divine Nine Alliance, and Virtual Fulbright Chapter. Dr. Gilbert is also a proud member of Chi Sigma Iota, Golden Key International, and Tau Upsilon Sigma Honor Societies. Nevertheless, her most cherished role is that of a Walden Alumni Ambassador, where she enthusiastically shares her exceptional experiences as a Walden Alum and Mentor.
Dr. Gilbert's scholarly interests are wide-ranging, encompassing areas such as women's leadership in higher education administration, mental health within communities of color, and the superwoman syndrome.
She holds a doctoral degree in Educational Leadership from the University of Louisiana Monroe, complemented by a Master's in Educational Leadership and Administration. Additionally, she has earned an Executive MBA and Master's degrees in Clinical and Mental Health, School Counseling, and Human Services, all from Walden University.
Dr. Gilbert takes immense pride in her role as an advocate, mentor, and ambassador for Walden University, further cementing her legacy as a dedicated and accomplished leader in the field of higher education.
Central to Dr. Gilbert's role is her responsibility for the comprehensive development of Walden University's undergraduate and graduate students, as well as graduates themselves. This remit extends across various dimensions, encompassing the nurturing of competencies in communication, teamwork, conflict management, negotiation, leadership, self-evaluation, adaptability, flexibility, learning, creativity, innovation, and problem-solving.
With over a decade of administrative and leadership experience at Walden University, Dr. Gilbert's tenure is marked by a series of impactful roles. Prior to her current position, she held the role of Executive Senior Director of University Relations and Advancement within the Office of the President and Dean for the Center for Social Change. In this significant capacity, her responsibilities encompassed advocating for social change, championing academic excellence, promoting inclusiveness, encouraging community engagement, and devising and executing strategies to establish mutually beneficial partnerships with various stakeholders within the university community.
Dr. Gilbert commenced her Walden journey in 2010, previously serving as the Dean of Student Affairs, overseeing a diverse and sizable student body exceeding 50,000 individuals. In this role, she provided comprehensive oversight for critical domains, including Career Planning and Development, Student Life, Leadership and Engagement, Alumni Engagement, Student Judicial and Restorative Services, OMBUDS, Student Counseling Services, and Student Wellness and Disability Services. Within this purview, she championed the values of civility, academic excellence, inclusiveness, and community engagement and provided a crucial resource for advocacy and crisis management for all students. Notably, Dr. Gilbert spearheaded the establishment of Communities of Practice and Professional Development Communities tailored to student leaders, as well as the creation of Career Resource Hubs, the Readers for Good Book Club, and new student organizations.
In her prior role as the Senior Director of Academic Residencies, Dr. Gilbert played a pivotal role in strategic planning and the implementation of residency programming. She also provided crucial oversight for faculty and staff, ensuring the successful delivery of online learning aligned with residency goals and learning outcomes. During the pandemic, she exhibited exemplary leadership by orchestrating the essential shift of on-ground Residency experiences to fully virtual events, thereby rejuvenating the delivery experience.
In addition to her administrative roles, Dr. Gilbert has contributed significantly to the university's broader initiatives. She has served as a Positive Leadership Champion, represented the institution on the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Advisory Committee, and been a member of the President's Council for Student and Alumni Employees. Furthermore, she has served as an advisor for Walden's chapters of esteemed organizations, including the National Society of Leadership and Success, Divine Nine Alliance, and Virtual Fulbright Chapter. Dr. Gilbert is also a proud member of Chi Sigma Iota, Golden Key International, and Tau Upsilon Sigma Honor Societies. Nevertheless, her most cherished role is that of a Walden Alumni Ambassador, where she enthusiastically shares her exceptional experiences as a Walden Alum and Mentor.
Dr. Gilbert's scholarly interests are wide-ranging, encompassing areas such as women's leadership in higher education administration, mental health within communities of color, and the superwoman syndrome.
She holds a doctoral degree in Educational Leadership from the University of Louisiana Monroe, complemented by a Master's in Educational Leadership and Administration. Additionally, she has earned an Executive MBA and Master's degrees in Clinical and Mental Health, School Counseling, and Human Services, all from Walden University.
Dr. Gilbert takes immense pride in her role as an advocate, mentor, and ambassador for Walden University, further cementing her legacy as a dedicated and accomplished leader in the field of higher education.
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