By Anna Hope Emerson ’15, Staff Writer 

On Thursday, February 21^st, Dr. Micheal Fowlin visited Newark Academy as part of the annual Feinberg Multicultural Assembly. A psychologist and actor more commonly known as “Mykee,” Dr. Fowlin performed his one-man show “You Don’t Know Me Until You Know Me” for the community.

The Feinberg Multicultural Assembly is an endowment fund established by Peter and Margie Feinberg in 2001. Annually, the Assembly presents speakers who address a wide range of national and global issues. Its mission is to broaden how students look at and reflect on the world around them. According to Nate Feinberg ’13, one of the two creators of the program, “Mykee Fowlin definitely achieved our goal.” This was Dr. Fowlin’s second time at Newark Academy: he made another presentation in 2001, which fostered a similar powerful reaction.

Dr. Fowlin began acting at age 9, when he discovered that he was unusually good at making prank calls. In addition to his dramatic talent, Dr. Fowlin has an undergraduate degree in psychology from the Evangel University in Springfield, Missouri, and a doctorate degree in clinical psychology from Rutgers University. He strives to create a sense of worldwide inclusion through work such as peer mediation, diversity training, gender equality workshops, and violence prevention seminars. In his show, he enacted the roles of several very different and very realistic characters. His presentation dealt with many serious and pertinent issues, such as suicide, discrimination, pressure, and self-identity, and was so poignant that it drove many members of the community to tears. Yet he offset the solemn subjects he touched on by using humor to keep the audience engaged.

The emotional impact of the presentation caught the community off guard. “[It] really shocked me,” said Thomas Bernhardt ’14, “It was very emotional… and I think the fact that he pushed the boundaries and spoke the truth took his presentation to another level.” Not only the students but also the teachers and administration were shocked by its content and the effect it would have. According to Mr. Austin, “I felt bad that many students did not have time to really process the presentation.” Following it there was only one break out session and many students wished there were more to share their own stories with the community.

Dr. Fowlin’s ability to identify and connect with students and faculty alike is what caused presentation to have an emotional, but positive reaction. According to Mr. Austin, “I know that there are kids who have experienced the things that Dr. Fowlin talked about, and I think his presentation definitely touched a cord in many of them.” However many question the longevity of this strong reaction. According to Mollie Wohlforth’15 “I don’t think that the presentation will change all the problems in our community, but I think that people will definitely be much more open and comfortable with each other.”

Although a long-term total transformation may be far-fetched, many students and faculty have already begun working tirelessly to make the change that Dr. Fowlin discussed a reality at Newark Academy.

The day after the presentation Newark Academy students created their very own Oyster club, whose purpose according to co-founder Jessica Lim’14 is to, “try to make a more accepting community…and show that we all appreciate one another.” Rebecca Antwi ’14, the other co-founder, said that the club’s goal is “to prove to the Newark Academy community…or the majority [who] didn’t believe, that the feeling of openness, camaraderie, or general loving atmosphere that had increased because of the presentation would last.” Subsequently one of the manifestations of the Oyster Club was the creation of the “NA Compliments” Facebook page, a campaign allowing students to compliment each other anonymously. This is all in an effort to make the student body happier and give the student’s the ability to take off their “mask.”

Dr. Fowlin’s presentation helped many students to become more comfortable with themselves as individuals.  The presentation, with its emotional appeal, has also increased the student body’s solidarity – at least in recent days.  With the Oyster Club, NA Compliments, and the general emotional state of the Academy, it really seems as though the presentation has encouraged students to open up to one another.  However, it is up to the community to make sure Dr. Fowlin’s message truly becomes embedded in the fabric of Newark Academy’s culture.  How enduring will his presentation be?  Only time will tell.