The sessions listed on this page are only for members on Path II of the 2025-2026 Institute for Faculty Excellence Cohort.
- Sep25Fri
IFE Orientation & Kickoff (September 25, 2026, 11:30 AM – 2:30 PM) – (September 25, 2026 11:30 am – 2:30 pm)
Location:Teaching, Learning & Professional Development Center
University Library, North WingRoom: TLPDC 151
Available Seats: 76
IFE Orientation and Kickoff 11:30 am - 12:30 pm Event with Lisa Garner Santa 12:30 - 2:30 pm Description forthcoming IFE Path I and II Join us for this special kickoff session for the Institute for Faculty Excellence!
- Oct15Thu
The Effective Leader: Learning the Characteristics for Success and Expanding Your Leadership Skills and Abilities
Location:Teaching, Learning & Professional Development Center
University Library, North WingRoom: TLPDC 153
Available Seats: 32
Facilitator: Dr. Angela Lumpkin (Professor and Department Chair, Kinesiology & Sport Management)
This two-hour workshop, which includes lunch, will have two primary foci—the characteristics required for leaders to be successful and the development of efficacious leadership skills and abilities. The characteristics of effective leaders include knowing what their values are and committing to living by and leading through their core values. Successful leaders are people of integrity, trustworthy, self-aware, credible, competent, self-motivated with initiative, positive or optimistic, passionate, approachable, accountable, and decisive. Leadership development requires making relational commitments, nurturing mutual respect and trust, using communication skills including active listening, displaying emotional intelligence encompassing managing ourselves and our relationships effectively, implementing a service orientation, employing others through delegation, managing conflict, and inspiring forward thinking and actions. During this workshop participants will increase their knowledge about and the importance of the effective traits of successful leaders as well as gain insights into the leadership skills and abilities they need to learn, apply, and expand. In small groups, participants will explore real-world scenarios that will help them gain greater self-awareness of their values and beliefs that reveal who they are and what their strengths and areas of improvement may be.
*This workshop is designed for current or aspiring Department Chairs, Area Coordinators, or School Directors as well as faculty members serving in associate roles to these positions and faculty interested in advancing into leadership positions on campus.
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:
Join: https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/23519769919690?p=3bEnyX33nwZoQLLeyc
Meeting ID: 235 197 699 196 90
Passcode: US2qV3aM - Oct29Thu
The Hidden Motivators: What Drives Us (and Drains Us) – (October 29, 2026 12:30 pm – 1:50 pm)
Location:Teaching, Learning & Professional Development Center
University Library, North WingRoom: TLPDC 151
Available Seats: 76
Facilitator: Dr. Lisa Garner Santa The rhythms of academic life are relentless. Over time, we begin to move through the motions—responding to requests, meeting expectations, saying yes before we even pause to ask why. In this session, we’ll explore the six life-alienating motivators named in Nonviolent Communication: reward, punishment, guilt, shame, duty, and approval. What happens when these motivators go unchecked? And what becomes possible when we bring awareness and choice into the picture? Using Rosenberg’s framework, we’ll identify internalized pressures that may be shaping our academic decisions—and begin to shift from obligation to alignment. “The most dangerous of all behaviors may consist of doing things 'because we're supposed to.’” – Marshall Rosenberg
- Oct30Fri
Strengths Part 1: Integrating Your CliftonStrengths to Enhance Faculty Career Planning – (October 30, 2026 11:00 am – 12:20 pm)
Location:Teaching, Learning & Professional Development Center
University Library, North WingRoom: TLPDC 150
Available Seats: 39
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. Lunch will be provided at this session!
- Nov3Tue
Strengths Part 1: Integrating Your CliftonStrengths to Enhance Faculty Career Planning – (November 3, 2026 2:00 pm – 3:20 pm)
Location:Virtual Session
Room: Virtual Session
Available Seats: 299
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.
Nov5ThuFinding Your Authentic Voice: Developing vocal presence, confidence, and courage – (November 5, 2026 12:30 pm – 1:50 pm)
Location:Teaching, Learning & Professional Development Center
University Library, North WingRoom: TLPDC 153
Available Seats: 34
Facilitator: Prof Rachel Hirshorn Description Forthcoming!
Nov12ThuCollaborative Feedback in Academic Relationships: Giving and Receiving Feedback from a Place of Connection – (November 12, 2026 12:30 pm – 1:50 pm)
Location:Teaching, Learning & Professional Development Center
University Library, North WingRoom: TLPDC 151
Available Seats: 74
Facilitator: Dr. Lisa Garner Santa What if giving feedback could be energizing, even enjoyable? In this session, we’ll explore how feedback, when grounded in connection and mutual respect, can become a two-way exchange that strengthens both mentoring relationships and institutional culture. Through the lens of Nonviolent Communication (NVC), we’ll examine how to move from “power over” or “power under” toward “power with,” where everyone’s needs matter. Participants will practice using observations, feelings, needs, and requests to engage in feedback conversations that are clear, kind, and co-created. When mentoring becomes a collaborative process, feedback becomes not only possible but meaningful and rewarding.
Microsoft Teams Need help?
Meeting ID: 272 654 430 723 5
Passcode: rZ6ha2XK
Nov19ThuThe Faculty Reset – Vision, Purpose, Action – (November 19, 2026 12:30 pm – 1:50 pm)
Location:Teaching, Learning & Professional Development Center
University Library, North WingRoom: TLPDC 153
Available Seats: 34
Facilitator: Dr. Angela Walla
In this session, you’ll reflect on your academic journey and re-envision your future with renewed clarity and purpose. Guided by the moderator, participants will engage in a series of reflective activities designed to help assess their career path, explore current goals, and consider new possibilities. This session aims to reignite enthusiasm and offer fresh perspective as you plan the next chapter of your academic career. You’ll leave with concrete action steps and the foundation of a personalized plan to guide your way forward.
The session will be broken down into four sections. Each session has a mini-lecture followed by an activity:- Reflection on past career
- Exploring the possibility: Identification of passion projects and new areas
- Identification of Barriers
- Action Plan
Lunch will be provided!