Scholar's Council

Belinha De Abreu, Ph.D.

Belinha S. De Abreu, PhD. is the President of the International Council for Media Literacy (IC4ML) and is the founder of the International Media Literacy Research Symposium (IMLRS). She is the recipient of the 2021 National Media Literacy Education’s Media Literacy Research Award. Her work has been featured on NPR, RTP International, Genesis 560-Canada no Ar, National Press Club, American Journalism Review, and U.S. News and World Report among other sources.

Dr. De Abreu served as an International Expert to the Forum on Media & Information Literacy for UNESCO’s Communication & Information Section. Her research interests include media and information literacy education, educational technology, global perspectives, critical thinking, privacy & big data, civic discourse, young adults, and teacher training.​

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Derek Cabrera, Ph.D.

Derek Cabrera, PhD is a renowned systems theorist and cognitive scientist, inducted into the International Academy for Systems and Cybernetic Sciences for his groundbreaking contributions. He is Faculty Director of Cornell’s Graduate Certification Program in Systems Thinking, Modeling, and Leadership and Chief Science Officer at Cabrera Research Lab, where he advances research in complexity and cognition.

A former Research Fellow at the Santa Fe Institute, Derek has authored ten books, including Systems Thinking Made Simple, delivered two TED Talks, holds two US patents, and co-hosts the popular Cabrera Lab Podcast. His DSRP and VMCL theories have transformed systems thinking and leadership globally. An educator, mountain guide, and NSF awardee, Derek lives in Ithaca, NY, with his family.​

Laura Cabrera, Ph.D.

Laura Cabrera, PhD. is a systems scientist and educator with over 25 years of experience at Cornell University. She teaches Systems Thinking, Modeling, and Leadership at Cornell’s Brooks School of Public Policy and directs the Graduate Certification Program in Systems Thinking, Modeling, and Leadership.

Dr. Cabrera is co-founder and Chief Research Officer at Cabrera Research Lab and has led initiatives like the USDA-funded ThinkWater project and National Science Foundation STEM evaluation grants. Her work bridges academic research and practical application, equipping organizations and individuals with tools for systems thinking. She has authored five books, including Systems Thinking Made Simple, and specializes in applying research from the learning sciences to real-world challenges across sectors. She lives in Ithaca, NY, with her husband, Derek, their three children, and dogs.

Jason Ostrander, Ph.D.

Jason Ostrander, Ph.D., M.S.W., is an Assistant Professor of Social Work at Anna Maria College. He has published over 20 peer-reviewed articles and more than 50 presentations on social workers’ political participation, civic engagement, and child welfare. Jason is a frequent presenter at major professional conferences.

Dr. Ostrander brings extensive experience working in the local, state, and federal political spheres including serving as a congressional aide to a former U.S. Congressman.

Dr. Ostrander is working with federal lawmakers on the Ways and Means Committee to create and pass evidence-informed child welfare policies through policy development with social work students.

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Rebecca Morgenstern Brenner, MPA

Rebecca Morgenstern Brenner, MPA is a Senior Lecturer in the Jeb E. Brooks School of Public Policy at Cornell University with additional collaborations as a Cornell Atkinson Sustainable Future Faculty Fellow, Faculty Fellow in the Einhorn Center for Community Engagement, and Mario Einaudi Center for International Studies Faculty Associate.

Brenner’s research and practice focus on translating values into practice and policy and working with communities to reduce vulnerability and build resilience. Her current research and practice include managed retreat and equity, environmental justice, bridging policy with science, climate change education, and building disaster resilience with vulnerable communities.

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Alan Mathios, Ph.D.

Alan Mathios, Ph.D., is an economist and professor in the Jeb E. Brooks School of Public Policy and the Department of Economics at Cornell University. He served as Dean of Cornell University’s College of Human Ecology from 2007-2018. He is co-editor of the Journal of Consumer Policy. He came to Cornell following six years of employment at the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), where he served as a staff economist in the Division of Economic Policy Analysis and was recognized with the Outstanding Scholarship Award, the Excellence in Economics Award, and the Award for Superior Service to the FTC.

A major focus of his research is on the effect of Food and Drug Administration (FDA) regulatory policies on consumer and firm behavior. His most recent research is focused on FDA regulation of both e-cigarettes and cigarettes.