Spotlight Series: Signature Workshops & Special Event PD Programs : Spring 2025
Program Description and Goals
The Special Events Series highlights unique, limited-time opportunities and annual events designed to enrich our campus community. These events and training workshops are often sponsored in collaboration with various campus units, offering engaging and meaningful experiences or specific training sessions that do not require its own multi-meeting series.Each event is carefully curated to address timely topics, support faculty collaboration, and provide professional and personal growth opportunities for participants. Whether it's a keynote lecture, an interactive workshop, or a celebratory gathering, the Special Events Series brings together faculty and staff for impactful moments that enhance our shared mission.
Meeting Locations, Dates, and Times
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Date: Day 1: Tuesday, February 4th Day 2: Wednesday, February 5th Time: 8:00-4:30 Location: 11th Floor, Houston Cole Library
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Event: 3rd Annual Success Summit Presenter(s): Student Success Center; Various Faculty and Staff Title: Student Success & Mental Health--Strategies for Faculty and Staff to Enhance Student Outcomes Description: The 3rd Annual Success Summit: Student Success and Mental Health: Strategies for Faculty and Staff to Enhance Student Outcomes will take place on February 4–5, 2025, hosted by the Student Success Center and supported by Faculty Commons. This two-day professional development event focuses on the critical connection between student success and mental health, offering faculty and staff actionable strategies to support students during challenging times. The summit begins with a keynote address from Dr. Sarah Cavanagh, author of Mind Over Monsters, exploring how mental health influences student outcomes. Day one features presentations from various faculty and staff including a discussion from Josh Robinson, Dean of Students, on cannabis use and its impacts on mental health, a lunch and learn session with Dr. Torsten Dryden discussing intermittent fasting and mental health, and post-lunch presentations from Julie Nix on designing trauma-informed learning spaces, Dr. Lola Johnson on loneliness on campus, and Matt Hill and Ingrid Galinat on supporting international students’ well-being. Day two opens with a keynote address by Alexa Silverman from EAB, focusing on the faculty role in student success with a mental health component and other EAB resources. Additional presentations include Dr. Ben Gross's discussion on human development through the Jax MIX initiative, Dr. Monica Trifas and Joseph McMullen's look at compassionate pedagogy, Dr. Taylor Ellis and Dr. Sean Creech's examination of anxiety and depression, and Roxanne Stancil and Noelle Stovall's update on mental health-friendly messaging and events in admissions. A lunch and learn poster session will showcase student success resources. Both days include free food and a collaborative atmosphere and allow attendees to participate in sessions as their schedules permit. This year's summit promises engaging presentations, research insights, and practical strategies to empower faculty and staff in enhancing student outcomes and well-being, so register today. |
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Date: Thursday, February 13th, 2025 Time: 2:30-4:30 Location: 11th Floor HCL
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Workshop 1: Understanding AI in Higher Education: Strategies for Teaching and Learning Duration: 1.75 hours
By the end of this workshop, participants will feel more confident navigating the complexities of AI in education and equipped to take a thoughtful, informed approach to its integration in their own teaching. Note: This workshop will be dynamic and engaging, so participants are encouraged to bring a laptop for hands-on activities. About the Speaker: Lindsay Doukopoulos, PhD, is the Associate Director of the Biggio Center at Auburn University and a nationally recognized expert in teaching and learning with artificial intelligence in higher education. She leads the award-winning Teaching with AI course, which has been licensed by the SEC Academic Committee and is now implemented on over 100 campuses, engaging more than 10,000 faculty members across higher education. A sought-after speaker on AI in education, Lindsay shares actionable strategies and insights that empower faculty to navigate AI disruptions thoughtfully and confidently. Her faculty-centered approach emphasizes practical, research-informed solutions that support meaningful learning experiences. In addition to her work on AI, Lindsay is also a leader in active learning and playful pedagogies. As Co-PI on an NSF-funded grant, she examines how professional development in active learning impacts students’ sense of belonging and engagement in the classroom. Her expertise in gamification, storytelling, and faculty development reflects her commitment to fostering equity and innovation in teaching practices. You can learn more about her work by listening to her episode on the Teaching in Higher Ed podcast, titled Teaching with Artificial Intelligence, or reading her Chronicle of Higher Education Letter to the Editor, “Now More Than Ever, Job of a Faculty Member Is to Design Experiences That Lead to Learning.” |
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Date: TBA Time: TBA Location: TBA |
Event: Faculty Fellows Showcase Led By: President’s Faculty Fellow, Dr. Mark Sciuchetti and Provost’s Fellow, Dr. Laura Pitts Description: Join us for the Fellows Showcase & Celebration, where this year’s fellows will share their accomplishments, insights, and ongoing projects from their fellowship journey. This event highlights the progress they’ve made while celebrating their dedication to growth and collaboration. Let’s come together to recognize their hard work and inspire the next steps forward! |
During regular business hours, you will receive a calendar invite sent to your JSU Outlook email within two hours of registering for an event. Once you accept the invite, the event information will appear on your Microsoft Outlook Calendar. Calendar invites are manually updated by Brandy Roberts, so if you do not receive yours, please contact Brandy Roberts at broberts@jsu.edu for assistance.
While Faculty Commons encourages registration for On-Site Writing meetings, it is not a requirement to pre-register to attend meetings.