Once Upon A Time: Film as a Narrative Springboard for Investigating Race and Racism

NaJuana Lee is a lifelong learner who believes that an ethic of care in education is a moral imperative, a social responsibility, and a pedagogical necessity. NaJuana (Nancy + Juan pronounced NAH WHAH-nuh) has over a decade of education experience designing engaging and innovative learning solutions for both secondary and post-secondary learners. NaJuana has taught Art Education at the University of Georgia, as well as TAG, Advanced Placement (AP) Art History and AP Studio Art, and Career Tech Courses in Animation and Computer Science in the Fulton County School (FCS) district in Atlanta, GA. During her tenure at FCS she served on the School Governance Council and the Leadership Team at Chattahoochee HS. NaJuana is the recipient of numerous academic and national awards including the University of Georgia’s Excellence in Research Award, Dissertation Completion Fellow Award, Outstanding Teaching Assistant Award, the Graduate School Dean's Award, and the Wilson Center for Humanities and Arts Graduate Student Research Award. She has been nominated twice as Teacher of the Year. She is a published author and consults in areas of arts curriculum development, digital discernment, culturally responsive teaching, social justice, personalized learning, and online learning.

As the Director of Education at DoGoodery, NaJuana analyzes learners’ needs and aligns them to defined learning objectives. She believes in building the learning framework, content and program around learners’ prior knowledge and interests to develop meaningful, engaged, and impactful learning. For over a decade, NaJuana worked as a Subject Matter Expert, developing curriculum and content for the Walt Disney Company. While in the role of Visiting Assistant Professor at the University of Georgia, she joined a team of professors developing educational games and content for Disney’s Club Penguin and Disney’s Connected Learning. On this team, she collaboratively developed the #2 ranked learning game of all time for Club Penguin, Pufflescape, which grossed over 80,000,000 plays its introductory year! She has also worked with the DisneyNature film team to create interdisciplinary educators’ guides for the past 12 years. These guides were used in both formal and informal learning spaces with an impact worldwide. Over 500,000 teachers globally downloaded and utilized these educator guides. NaJuana has presented and lead workshops regionally, nationally, and internationally. She continues to publish, present, consult and create learning content. Client list includes Amazon Films, Journeys In Film, Untold History, All We Can Save, Atlanta Public Schools, Harvard’s Project Zero, and the Getty Museum of Art.

NaJuana’s dissertation, and subsequent publications, focus on transformative art education pedagogy as a means of addressing implicit and explicit racism in educational settings. The research investigated the influence of arts learning on the malleability of art educator’s racial attitudes and its impact on their cultural understandings in the classroom.

In her free time, you can find NaJuana fishing with her husband, gardening, cooking, or playing with their dogs, Pickles and Pepper.

Dr. Lizabeth Fogel is a dedicated and results-oriented executive with over 25 years of proven success in business and academia, spearheading strategic development, fostering visionary leadership, and delivering impactful results within the corporate, media, education, and social impact sectors. Adept at crafting and executing forward-thinking strategies that drive organizational growth, market expansion, revenues, and operational excellence.

With a history as an established leader and adept collaborator, Lizabeth fosters partnerships, leveraging distinct working styles and problem-solving skills to achieve extraordinary outcomes. Her leadership fuels growth and maximizes individual potential. A dedicated listener and eager learner, she is a strategic thinker who forges connections and cultivates cross-sector relationships, leading to substantial, measurable achievements.

As President of LAFogel Consulting, Lizabeth currently advises media and educational organizations on strategy, learning content, and organizational development. Previously, as Vice President of Learning, Strategy, and Development at DoGoodery, LLC, she brought decades of transformative experience in educational media and program design. At USC's Center EDGE, she led global engagement initiatives that advanced sustainable innovation in education.

Previously, as the Director of Education at The Walt Disney Company, Lizabeth's role centered on collaboration with Imagineering, Studios, and Corporate Citizenship teams. She offered pivotal guidance to multiple business units and seamlessly integrated external partners into a collaborative environment. She was entrusted with the creative vision, integrity, and educational validity of the company's products and programs. This included initiatives such as Disneynature Educators' Guides, informal learning experiences at Shanghai Disneyland Resort, outreach content, and programs for films like Finding Dory, The Jungle Book, Inside Out, Big Hero 6, and the innovative Pixar in a Box—a collaboration between Pixar Animation Studios and Khan Academy—reaching millions of users annually.

In addition to her corporate accomplishments, Lizabeth serves as the Immediate Past Chair of the National Board for the American Camp Association and sits on the boards of Participate Learning and Makematic—organizations at the forefront of global education innovation. She holds a doctorate in organizational leadership and two master's degrees from Pepperdine University. Her career reflects a deep commitment to advancing learning systems and building strong, mission-driven organizations.

Dr. Lizabeth Fogel is President of LAFogel Consulting, where she advises media and educational organizations on strategy, learning content, and organizational development. She previously held senior roles at The Walt Disney Company, USC's Center EDGE, and DoGoodery, and currently serves on the boards of Participate Learning and Makematic; she is also the Past Chair of the Board for the American Camp Association and the Partnership for 21st Century Skills.

Dr. Lizabeth Fogel, President of LAFogel Consulting, advises media & education orgs on strategy, learning content, and org development. Former leader at Disney, USC EDGE, DoGoodery. Boards: Participate Learning, Makematic; past chair, ACA & P21.