Presentations

Roni Kay M. O’Dell is a public-facing scholar and would be delighted to explore options of speaking at your event about her scholarship and teaching experience and expertise.

Speaking topics include: Global Governance, Diplomacy, Sustainable Development Goals, United Nations, Negotiations in International Organizations, Civil Society and the United Nations, and more. Consider reaching out to see if Dr. O’Dell can speak on the specific international or global topic you are interested in hearing about. Please send a request using the contact form.

See specific examples below.

Presentation Titles and Topics

Active Learning with CFR Education Extended Simulations, CFR Presentation to Global Ambassadors (February 2025)

As a Council on Foreign Relations Global Higher Education Ambassador I had the opportunity to present to the Global Education Ambassadors about my experiences with over a decade of implementing simulations in the classroom.

Human Connection, Story, and Pedagogies of Hope (November 2024)

I had the honor of presenting research and teaching practices--on how to teach about refugee and immigrant issues and rights--with my co-author and colleague Dr. Emily Wierszewski at a conference this November. Minute 19:40 in the linked video: Dr. Wierszewski and I presented teaching practices, research, and findings from last year when we co-taught a section of our courses about refugee and migrant rights and issues. I introduced Global Governance and Immigration/Refugee law and policy information and led the students in a Council on Foreign Relations Model Diplomacy simulation. Dr. W introduced narrative, story-telling, and building empathy as a teaching practice and led students through a Narrative4 exchange and several sessions on hearing from refugees and immigrants themselves - reading about their stories and their perspectives.

https://www.youtube.com/live/cZpArq_MOWo?feature=shared&t=1180

Amplifying Youth Activism: Exploring Mechanisms, Barriers, and Strategies in the Global South (November 2024)

I presented on a panel about how youth and marginalized groups engage in international negotiation processes, especially on sustainable development and climate governance. My fellow panelists and I shared about our respective research and some of our findings about the obstacles and successes that individuals and groups face when engaging in activism or working to have their ideas heard. It was a great panel and I'm grateful for the opportunity to share!

https://hd-ca.org/videos/amplifying-youth-activism-exploring-mechanisms-barriers-and-strategies-in-the-global-south

Conducting Qualitative Content Analysis Research Methodology (February 2024)

I had the opportunity to present to my colleague, Dr. Jen Jones Qualitative Methods course at Seton Hill University and talk with her students in the course about my research. I gave a short overview of how to go about conducting a research project using qualitative methods (I've included my slides in photos here). The particular project I shared about is on analyzing the Three Body Problem Trilogy by Cixin Liu through the lens of negotiation theory, asking how negotiation practices appear in the Trilogy and what it can tell us about international relations. In my paper I contend that while the Trilogy represents Humans interacting with other species through the lends of realism (and self-interest), there is another possibility for interaction built on mutual respect and care for all living beings (principled negotiation). I'll share more when it is published!

Negotiating the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): A Civil Society Perspective

Dr. O’Dell’s current research project and forthcoming book investigates the tools, methods, and techniques that civil society organizations use to have their voice heard and included in international negotiations - the creation and continued implementation of the SDGs and the associated targets and indicators is the case study. Dr. O’Dell has given several presentations on this topic including to the Academic Council on the United Nations (July 2023 and 2024), the International Studies Association (March 2022), and Seton Hill University Faculty Seminar Series (March 2022).

Globalization and Human Development

Understanding how the human development and capabilities approach (HDCA) has influenced and shaped the way we think about and implement international development practice comprises this speaking topic. Dr. O’Dell’s book (co-authored with Dr. Devin K. Joshi) entitled Human Development and Globalization: From Counter-Ideology to the SDGs covers the history and practice of human development. One important contribution of the book is in the way that the research assesses how people and countries of the Global South were influential in creating the ideology of human development, and also reviews the challenges that such people and countries face in international development practice. Dr. O’Dell and Dr. Joshi presented on this topic to the Human Development and Capabilities Association in September 2022.

Project-based methods to engage students in environmental-sustainability and climate-change learning: Building a learners’ toolbox (November 2023)

Presentation workshop for the Human Development and Capabilities Association presented with Amanda DeWitt, Director of Service Experience at Seton Hill University. In an era when it seems overwhelming to ameliorate or keep up with the scale of environmental problems, it can be challenging to find teaching methods that engage students and empower them to be agents of change. Drawing on experiences from an undergraduate course on the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, this panel introduces project-based learning activities that students can take into their communities. Course instructor Roni Kay M. O’Dell will introduce her learner-centered teaching approach to curriculum and course design. Amanda DeWitt, Director of Service Experience, will introduce service-learning theory and practice that can be implemented in college campuses. She will be joined by two students who will describe the two projects they created and implemented: An on-campus walk that introduced university students to the SDGs, and a project on sustainable clothing where students created messages for social media and worked with a local thrift store to host an on-campus clothing drive. Together presenters will share what worked, offer suggestions for successful course and project design, and provide examples of teaching and learning resources. Participants in this workshop will be encouraged to contribute their own ideas.