Enhancing Faculty Excellence: Engaging Development Workshops

A faculty-focused development day featured two workshops on Jan. 17, 2025. The first was titled “Learning is Not A Spectator Sport! Get Students in the Game with Active Learning,” with co-presenters Johanna Inman, EdD, MFA, and Magdalena Maczynska, PhD, both from Drexel University’s Teaching and Learning Center (TLC). The center provides resources, workshops and one-on-one support for faculty across all colleges. 

The session discussed reflecting on current teaching practices; a review of research on active and collaborative learning; an experience in active learning; and considering how active learning might be implemented into one’s own teaching context. 

The second session was titled “Understanding the Psychology and Organizational Dynamics of Change,” and was presented by Jeanne DiVincenzo, PsyD. 

“Organizational changes are difficult,” Dr. DiVincenzo said during her presentation. “There’s stress and tension. That’s what happens. We’re going to talk about why that happens and what tools are available to manage that change.” 

The session included tips on understanding oneself and the physiology of change; practical tools for managing change; and insights and applications for managing change together. 

The faculty social was held the previous evening, which included the introduction of new professional staff members and served as a precursor to the development sessions the following day. 

The new professional staff includes: Jahmai Bruce, classroom support technician (Technology and Library Services); Katie Holmbeck, clinical research coordinator; Katie Pearse, grants manager; Jennifer Redmond, office manager for the Speech-Language Institute; and Lakiesha Sanders, assistant registrar.