The sessions listed on this page are specifically for members of the 2024-25 Faculty Mentorship Academy. If you are not a member of the 2024-25 Cohort, please do not register for any events on this page.
Please click on the session title to see a description and to register for the event.
- Feb11Wed
Strengths Part I: Integrating Your CliftonStrengths to Enhance Faculty Career Planning – (February 11, 2026 02:00 PM – 03:20 PM)
Location:Virtual Session
Room: TEAMS
Available Seats: 279
Facilitator: Dr. Barbie Chambers Faculty & staff juggle many responsibilities in their professional and personal lives. Individuals who can identify and leverage their areas of natural talent are more likely to be successful in planning their careers and experiencing a fulfilling life. Join us to identify your strengths foundation and learn how you can integrate that knowledge into improving your career, research, professional practice, teaching, service, and work/life integration. Participants should take the CliftonStrengths (StrengthsQuest) assessment for this session through the University Career Center at www.strengthsquest.ttu.edu.
Microsoft TeamsMeeting ID: 288 899 885 985 61Passcode: QC9X2nA6For organizers: Meeting options ________________________________________________________________________________
- Feb12Thu
Faculty & AI (February 12, 2026 11:30 AM – 1:00 PM)
Location:TLPDC Room 151
2802 18th Street
Lubbock, TX 79409Room: TLPDC 151
Available Seats: 1
Prof. Po-Shen Loh from Carnegie Mellon University will lead this lunch discussion which examines how faculty are using AI in teaching and academic work, and how AI is influencing students’ experiences in higher education. We will also explore the implications of AI for student engagement, learning, and the evolving role of faculty. The conversation will also consider how AI-driven changes in the job market may affect the perceived value of attending a university, particularly if fewer careers require traditional college degrees, and what this means for the future of higher education. For more information on Prof. Loh, please visit his website: poshenloh.com
- Feb13Fri
Academic Milestones: Achieving Tenure, Promotion, & Continuing Appointment – (February 13, 2026 11:30 AM – 3:00 PM)
Location:TLPDC Room 151
2802 18th Street
Lubbock, TX 79409Room: TLPDC 151
Available Seats: 18
Academic Milestones (previously called Tenure Academy) is an annual event which provides faculty members with information and strategies necessary for them to effectively advance through the tenure, promotion, and continuing appointment process at Texas Tech. This is intended for all full time faculty in their probationary period. Participants will hear perspectives from the Provost and a panel of department administrators. They will also be exposed to an invaluable wealth of experience and advice on topics such as compiling a dossier, developing research projects, defining and fine tuning your story, creative scholarships, outreach and engagement, and successfully navigating the third year review process. This year, the TLPDC will host the event in the afternoon on Friday, February 13th, 2026 with breakout sessions focused on specific areas of the tenure, promotion, and continuing appointment process. We ask those who register to commit to attending so that the facilitators can best prepare materials and to give us an accurate number for the lunch provided. If you register and have a change of plans, please make sure to cancel your reservation or email us to let us know.
- Feb19Thu
What Empathy is – And Isn’t: Understanding Empathic Connection in Teaching, Learning and Leadership – (February 19, 2026 02:00 PM – 03:20 PM)
Location:TLPDC Room 151
2802 18th Street
Lubbock, TX 79409Room: TLPDC 151
Available Seats: 56
Empathy is widely recognized as essential in teaching and learning spaces, yet it is still often misunderstood. This interactive workshop will explore what empathy actually is, what it isn’t, and why this distinction matters for building supportive learning and working environments. Drawing from the principles of Nonviolent Communication (NVC), we will examine how genuine empathic connection supports clarity, reduces reactivity, and helps navigate conflict without sacrificing accountability or standards. The session will be co-facilitated by Dr. Kerry Griffis-Kyle (Department of Natural Resources Management) and Dr. Lisa Garner Santa (Director of the Institute for Faculty Excellence). Together, we will discuss how different communication and processing styles can shape empathic exchanges. Participants will:
- Differentiate between empathy and sympathy
- Identify habitual communication patterns that can block empathic connection
- Learn simple, repeatable practices for offering empathy in real time
- Explore how neurotype, sensory experience, and cognitive processing can influence how empathy is expressed and received
- Practice short, guided exercises that support self-connection and presence
- Feb20Fri
Advancing Teaching & Learning Conference Morning Keynote: A Pedagogy of Kindness (February 20, 2026 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM)
Location:Virtual Session
Room: https://texastech.zoom.us/j/96169140638
Available Seats: 208
What does it mean to practice a Pedagogy of Kindness? This presentation will explore three tenets of compassionate teaching: justice, believing students, and believing in students. We'll reflect together on what kindness (and its lack) has meant to us within academia, and how we can - piece by piece - assemble a kind approach to pedagogy that meets the needs of our students and ourselves in a time of great change. The session will end with thinking about kindness toward the self and include a period of free-writing for participants. Join via Zoom: https://texastech.zoom.us/j/96169140638
- Feb20Fri
Advancing Teaching & Learning Conference Afternoon Workshop: A Pedagogy of Kindness – (February 20, 2026 01:00 PM – 02:00 PM)
Location:Virtual Session
Room: https://texastech.zoom.us/j/95908109209
Available Seats: 245
This is a reflective workshop that will build on the morning keynote. Participants will discuss real examples in small groups and have the opportunity to refine language in their syllabus and on an assignment. The focus will be on communicating welcome and belonging to students, and participants should walk away with concrete examples of how to move forward in kindness. Please bring a syllabus and an assignment from one of your courses and be prepared to work on them as part of the session! Join via Zoom: https://texastech.zoom.us/j/95908109209
- Feb26Thu
Mentorship Series: Aligning Expectations – (February 26, 2026 2:00 PM – 3:20 PM)
Location:TLPDC Room 153
2802 18th Street
Lubbock, TX 79409Room: TLPDC 153
Available Seats: 34
One critical element of an effective mentoring relationship is a shared understanding of what each person expects from that relationship. Problems between mentors and mentees often arise from misunderstandings about expectations. Expectations change over time, so frequent reflection & clear communication are necessary to maintain a collaborative relationship. This workshop session is designed to be delivered in a face-to-face format; however, we understand that you might need to attend remotely for a variety of reasons. Please use this link to join the conversation remotely: Teams link Meeting ID: 218 447 529 628 33 Passcode: ZK9ia9x4
- Mar3Tue
ONLINE: Neurodiversity on Campus – Supporting Autistic College Students – (March 3, 2026 12:30 PM – 2:00 PM)
Location:Virtual Session
Room: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89717228460
Available Seats: 273
NEURODIVERSITY IN HIGHER EDUCATION: ONLINE MINI-SERIES with the Association for Autism and Neurodiversity (A.A.N.E.) Facilitator: Jay Eveson-Egler is an autistic self-advocate and current Senior Manager of Individual & Family Services with AANE. They’ve worked with neurodiversity-based organizations in a variety of roles, including as a 1:1 community companion, teacher, recruiter, and administrative assistant. Jay’s primary interests lie in assisting autistic individuals with transition into post-secondary educational settings, supporting autistic peer-to-peer connections, and understanding LGBTQ+ issues, and their intersections with autism. They have prior experience founding and facilitating neurodiverse peer support groups at both Holyoke Community College and Mount Holyoke College and remain active as an adviser with the Neurodiverse Students Association at Mount Holyoke, where they graduated with their bachelor’s degree in psychology and education in 2020. Creating responsive and inclusion campus cultures is a priority for colleges across the country. This workshop will highlight how colleges can create classrooms and campus communities that are responsive to the needs of autistic and otherwise neurodivergent students. Through a universal design lens, this workshop will help college professionals build and develop a neurodiversity lens and learn concrete, practical strategies to make their classrooms and campus communities inclusive for neurodivergent students. Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89717228460
- Mar5Thu
Becoming a Professional Chameleon: Navigating Global Work Contexts with Ease – (March 5, 2026 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM)
Location:Virtual Session
Room: https://teams.microsoft.com/l/meetup-join/19%3ameeting_NGQwYjdiN2MtNzE2NS00Y2I1LWE4OTItODMwY2Q2MWI5NGU0%40thread.v2/0?context=%7b%22Tid%22%3a%22178a51bf-8b20-49ff-b655-56245d5c173c%22%2c%22Oid%22%3a%22ba9b8010-8915-4519-9909-b02ad2d5002c%22%7d
Available Seats: 284
In the interconnected world we live in, professionals both inside and outside of academia are increasingly expected to adapt quickly to new cultural environments and different communication styles. This workshop equips participants with practical strategies to cultivate “professional chameleon” skills: being flexible, culturally responsive, able to globally communicate and collaboration, building trust, and improving effectiveness across global work settings. The presenter will guide the participants through her own experiences as a "professional chameleon" as well as research on the matter. Here's a sneak-peak of what you can expect to encounter and take away from this workshop:
- interactive activities and real-world examples
- reading contextual cues and practice to shift communication styles appropriately
- leveraging intercultural competence as a career-advancing asset in today’s globalized workplace
- Mar11Wed
Strengths Part II: Activating Your Strengths in Your Academic Life – (March 11, 2026 2:00 PM- 3:20 PM)
Location:TLPDC Room 153
2802 18th Street
Lubbock, TX 79409Room: TLPDC 153
Available Seats: 24
Facilitator: Dr. Barbie Chambers In this workshop, faculty will develop a deeper understanding of CliftonStrengths, engagement, leadership, and collaboration. It will build on the concepts presented in Strengths Part 1. Participants will engage in discussions and activities about cultivating a strengths-based culture, identifying strengths in others, facilitating strengths-based conversations, using strengths to lead teams, and leveraging strengths for career enhancement. Participants must have completed the Strengths Part 1 workshop to register. TLPDC 153
- Mar12Thu
Reclaiming Attention: Digital Detox Strategies for Higher Ed Faculty – (March 12, 2026 03:00 PM – 03:50 PM)
Location:Virtual Session
Room: https://teams.microsoft.com/l/meetup-join/19%3ameeting_NzA0YzM4NmEtZjRlMi00YTIwLWFjNjctMTU3NDg0NzU4YWMz%40thread.v2/0?context=%7b%22Tid%22%3a%22178a51bf-8b20-49ff-b655-56245d5c173c%22%2c%22Oid%22%3a%22ba9b8010-8915-4519-9909-b02ad2d5002c%22%7d
Available Seats: 85
Presenter: Lisa Low This session introduces a "Digital Detox" approach, helping faculty reclaim focus and joy by limiting digital distractions and fostering deeper, uninterrupted work. Participants will explore the cognitive impact of multitasking, dopamine-driven tech habits, and strategies for implementing focus-oriented routines. Key takeaways include understanding the brain's limits on multitasking, applying the Ivy Lee method for priority management, adopting the Pomodoro Technique to tackle procrastination and sustain deep work, and incorporating movement “snacks” into daily routines. This session empowers attendees to guide students and themselves toward healthier digital habits and improved academic engagement. Teams Link Meeting ID: 272 264 333 387 88 Passcode: Qi7Kv9SE
- Mar25Wed
Mentorship Series: Maintaining Effective Communication – (March 25, 2026 02:00 PM – 03:20 PM)
Location:TLPDC Room 153
2802 18th Street
Lubbock, TX 79409Room: TLPDC 153
Available Seats: 27
Facilitator: Dr. Barbie Chambers
Effective communication is foundational to successful mentoring relationships. While many recognize good communication when they experience it, mentors must deliberately cultivate and practice these skills. In this interactive session, participants will identify key characteristics of effective communication and engage in practical exercises to strengthen their mentoring dialogue.TLPDC 153 and TEAMS:Microsoft TeamsMeeting ID: 290 423 492 793 30Passcode: Zf6GA7EU - Mar30Mon
Building Bridges, Not Walls: A Fresh Approach to Academic Integrity – (March 30, 2026 3:00 PM – 3:50 PM)
Location:Virtual Session
Room: https://teams.microsoft.com/l/meetup-join/19%3ameeting_ZTEwMzdmODMtNWJlZi00MjYwLTljZDctYzM1ZWY0OWE1ZTg2%40thread.v2/0?context=%7b%22Tid%22%3a%22178a51bf-8b20-49ff-b655-56245d5c173c%22%2c%22Oid%22%3a%22ba9b8010-8915-4519-9909-b02ad2d5002c%22%7d
Available Seats: 285
Why do some students see academic integrity as an outdated formality while faculty view it as fundamental to education? This interactive workshop facilitated by Barbie Chambers and Mitzi Ziegner from the TLPDC explores the gaps that shape how we and our students approach academic honesty. You'll discover practical strategies for moving beyond rule enforcement to meaningful conversations about character and professional preparation. Through real scenarios and discussion, we'll explore innovative ways to help students embrace integrity as a cornerstone of their Red Raider identity. Join us to transform how you think about and teach academic honor! Teams link Meeting ID: 213 766 984 396 53 Passcode: hv9Ca3rS
- Apr2Thu
Building Bridges, Not Walls: A Fresh Approach to Academic Integrity – (April 2, 2026 12:30 PM – 1:50 PM)
Location:TLPDC Room 153
2802 18th Street
Lubbock, TX 79409Room: TLPDC 153
Available Seats: 33
Why do some students see academic integrity as an outdated formality while faculty view it as fundamental to education? This interactive workshop facilitated by Barbie Chambers and Mitzi Ziegner from the TLPDC explores the gaps that shape how we and our students approach academic honesty. You'll discover practical strategies for moving beyond rule enforcement to meaningful conversations about character and professional preparation. Through real scenarios and discussion, we'll explore innovative ways to help students embrace integrity as a cornerstone of their Red Raider identity. Join us to transform how you think about and teach academic honor! Lunch will be provided.
- Apr7Tue
AI-Workshop (Formal Title Forthcoming) – (April 7, 2026 12:30 PM-2:00 PM)
Location:TLPDC Room 153
2802 18th Street
Lubbock, TX 79409Room: TLPDC 153
Available Seats: 22
Facilitator: Dr. Shan Xu Full description to come. Below is the current content provided by Shan:
- Research evidence on effective human–AI collaboration (including two studies from her lab)
- Teens and their AI companions
- How AI shapes student learning
- How AI is reshaping the job market
- Apr10Fri
Strengths Part 2: Activating Your Strengths in Your Academic Life
Location:Virtual Session
Room: https://nam04.safelinks.protection.outlook.com/ap/t-59584e83/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fteams.microsoft.com%2Fl%2Fmeetup-join%2F19%253ameeting_ZjRiNmJiYmQtZjY0MC00MzUyLWEwNmEtNDk0NTU0M2ZhYmIx%2540thread.v2%2F0%3Fcontext%3D%257b%2522Tid%2522%253a%2522178a51bf-8b20-49ff-b655-56245d5c173c%2522%252c%2522Oid%2522%253a%2522ba9b8010-8915-4519-9909-b02ad2d5002c%2522%257d&data=05%7C02%7CTrisha.D.Pettiet%40ttu.edu%7C63c4f0e935494580b28008de642dcfb7%7C178a51bf8b2049ffb65556245d5c173c%7C0%7C0%7C639058345071461056%7CUnknown%7CTWFpbGZsb3d8eyJFbXB0eU1hcGkiOnRydWUsIlYiOiIwLjAuMDAwMCIsIlAiOiJXaW4zMiIsIkFOIjoiTWFpbCIsIldUIjoyfQ%3D%3D%7C0%7C%7C%7C&sdata=ovUHmCY%2FQavry2h%2B%2B4po%2FT6VhVJ%2B2olM1SVwbtUEmsY%3D&reserved=0
Available Seats: 300
In this workshop, faculty will develop a deeper understanding of CliftonStrengths, engagement, leadership and collaboration. It will build on the concepts presented in Strengths part I. Participants will engage in discussions and activities about cultivating a strengths-based culture, identifying strengths in others, facilitating strengths-based conversations, using strengths to lead teams, and leveraging strengths for career enhancement. Participants must have completed strengths 1 to register.
Microsoft TeamsMeeting ID: 288 563 757 862 49Passcode: AV6W6A6H - Apr15Wed
Matters of Importance: Employing the concept of “Mattering” to better serve students – (April 15, 2026 2:00 PM – 2:50 PM)
Location:TLPDC Room 153
2802 18th Street
Lubbock, TX 79409Room: TLPDC 153
Available Seats: 26
Student success is often framed through the lens of “sense of belonging,” yet emerging research shows that the deeper driver of engagement and persistence is the feeling that one matters. Or in other words: that one’s presence, contributions, and experiences are noticed and valued. This workshop introduces the concept of mattering as a transformative framework for supporting students. Through discussion and applied strategies, participants will learn how to identify gaps in mattering, redesign touchpoints in advising and teaching, and implement communication practices that affirm students’ significance. Attendees will leave with actionable tools to foster environments where students not only fit in or belong for a certain period of time, but genuinely feel that they matter.
- Apr17Fri
Compelling Conversations: Developing Effective Communication Through Myers-Briggs Type – (April 17, 2026 11:00 AM – 02:00 PM)
Location:TLPDC Room 151
2802 18th Street
Lubbock, TX 79409Room: TLPDC 151
Available Seats: 71
Facilitator: Dr. Barbie Chambers This workshop will explore how personality preferences shape communication patterns in academic and professional settings. Using the Myers-Briggs framework, participants will explore their type preferences, identify strengths and growth areas, and develop strategies to enhance their communication effectiveness. After registering, participants will receive an invitation to take the MBTI®. The assessment must be completed by Wednesday, April 2nd. During the workshop, the facilitator will provide an overview of MBTI concepts so individuals can receive their verified, personalized results reports. Lunch will be provided!
Microsoft TeamsMeeting ID: 245 201 724 972 94Passcode: UJ3Si3qy - Apr22Wed
Power Over & Power Under vs. Power With: Reimagining Power in Higher Education – (April 22, 2026 1:30 PM – 2:50 PM)
Location:TLPDC Room 151
2802 18th Street
Lubbock, TX 79409Room: TLPDC 151
Available Seats: 66
Facilitator: Dr. Lisa Garner Santa This session invites faculty to examine how power dynamics shape our work in higher education, both in formal structures and in everyday interactions. Using core processes from Nonviolent Communication (NVC), we will explore the distinctions between “power over,” “power under,” and “power with,” and consider how these patterns influence communication, decision-making, and relationships across campus. Through guided reflection, NVC-based exercises, and small-group discussion, participants will reimagine power as a collaborative, generative force that supports mutual respect, shared purpose, and a healthier academic culture. TLPDC 151 or TEAMS Microsoft Teams: Join the meeting now Meeting ID: 287 597 623 005/Passcode: f5dV3wi9
- Apr24Fri
The Swings That Have Missed – (April 24, 2026 11:00 AM – 12:00 PM)
Location:TLPDC Room 153
2802 18th Street
Lubbock, TX 79409Room: TLPDC 153
Available Seats: 30
This discussion invites participants to rethink the role of failed attempts in academic life—not as a flaw or a dead end, but as an essential and often unseen part of growth, learning, and persistence. The Swings That Have Missed will center on the moments that don’t make it onto résumés or CVs: the rejected proposals, unsuccessful teaching techniques, misses in mentorship, and other paths that didn’t unfold as planned this semester. It may feel vulnerable to participate in a conversation about endeavors we wish would have turned out differently and share stories about the successes that were not to be, but it is important for our wellbeing to be able to do so. It is our hope that participants can find a supportive space and think about how setbacks shape our academic journeys at every stage and feel comfort that we are not alone as we “swing and miss”. Join Mitzi Ziegner, Associate Director at the TLPDC, for a facilitated discussion that will help us acknowledge that both wins and losses are a normal part of our academic journeys. By the end of the conversation, we hope to foster resilience, authenticity, and connection. This session is designed for anyone navigating academic spaces who seeks a more honest, compassionate, and realistic in their approach to achievement.
- May6Wed
Faculty Mentorship Academy Graduation and Celebration – (May 6, 2026 03:30 PM – 05:00 PM)
Location:TLPDC Room 150
2802 18th Street
Lubbock, TX 79409Room: TLPDC 150
Available Seats: 37
Join us as we recognize your achievements and dedication to FMA. At 4:00, mentors and mentees will receive awards, and we'll take a group photo. TLPDC 150 & TEAMS for remote faculty Microsoft Teams Need help? Join the meeting now Meeting ID: 256 265 647 372 22 Passcode: YQ3xY6VV