Afternoon Breakout Sessions (1:30 - 2:15 p.m.)
Stop Chasing Squirrels: Practical Strategies for Managing Time, Tasks and Priorities
Kerri Caine, Ed.D., Assistant Dean, Student Affairs
While supporting the College's commitment to student success, innovation and operational excellence, higher education professionals must balance competing priorities, frequent interruptions, student needs, meetings and project deadlines. This interactive session will explore practical time management and prioritization strategies that empower professionals to work more intentionally to directly impact student outcomes. Through live polling, self-reflection exercises and collaborative discussions, participants will identify common time-management challenges, explore tools for prioritizing work and examine ways to align responsibilities with institutional goals. Attendees will leave with a personalized action plan designed to create space for productivity and enhance their ability to support students while advancing the priorities of Vision 2030.
The K-12 Pipeline: Bridging Regional Educational Inequities for Tri-C Student Success
Jennifer Cooper, Instructor, Encore
Many incoming Tri-C students face deep-seated structural hurdles long before arriving on our campuses. This collaborative roundtable will examine the connection between regional K-12 inequities — such as those seen in local districts like CMSD — and student retention at the community college level. Faculty, staff and administrators will analyze how these external barriers impact classroom performance and engagement. Participants will collaborate to share cross-functional insights and co-create practical, equity-focused support strategies. This dialogue directly supports Tri-C's Vision 2030 by building actionable, barrier-free pathways that empower our diverse regional community to succeed.
Beyond First-Generation: Experiencing the Newcomer College Journey
Jenelle Cozza, Adjunct Faculty, General Studies
First-generation and newcomer students often share the challenge of learning the unwritten rules of college. But newcomers may also be navigating a new language, culture, educational system and legal circumstances. Through interactive reflection on real Tri-C students' experiences, participants will explore the distinct college journeys of students from refugee backgrounds and consider why "first-generation" does not always tell the whole story. Participants will examine how these experiences affect college navigation and identify available supports. Ultimately, the session will consider how Tri-C can help every student connect their educational path with their purpose, regardless of background.
Evidence, Arguments and Accreditation: Can You Crack the Case?
Holly Craider, VP, Curriculum and Academic Quality
Lindsay English, EVP, Academic Affairs
Think you know accreditation? Put your investigative skills to work! Join us for an interactive introduction to Tri-C's upcoming comprehensive evaluation for reaffirmation of accreditation with the Higher Learning Commission (HLC). Participants will become accreditation investigators, exploring what accreditation is, why it matters, the HLC Criteria and the major phases of Tri-C's evaluation journey. Working in teams, participants will examine "evidence files" and build the strongest possible case for meeting an HLC Criterion. Along the way, participants will discover how everyday work across Tri-C provides evidence of our quality, effectiveness and commitment to student success.
The Evolving Landscape of Academic Technology and Industrial Design: What does it mean for employees across Tri-C?
Mario Bynum, Ph.D., Executive Director, Online Learning and Academic Technology
Kevin Dranuski, Director, Instructional Design and Learning Excellence
Technology and the way we support teaching and learning are constantly changing. As new tools emerge and student needs and expectations evolve, it's important to understand what these changes mean for our work at Tri-C. This interactive session will explore some of the trends and technologies shaping teaching and learning across the College. Through real examples, discussion and hands-on activities, participants will consider how technology can support student success, accessibility, teaching and professional development. We'll also highlight new possibilities within the tools you may already use and share OLAT and ID&LE resources that can help you make the most of these opportunities in your role.
The Burden of Leadership
Todd Kitchen, President, Eastern Campus
Leadership is often discussed in terms of skills, behaviors and outcomes — but less often do we explore the deeper questions that shape effective leadership. This presentation examines leadership through three lenses: What is leadership? What is the burden of leadership? And what is the "why" of leadership, the purpose and motivation that drive our actions and decisions? Together, we will reflect on how leaders navigate responsibility, inspire others and lead with purpose in an increasingly interconnected and complex world. While this session will not provide every answer or tool for success, it will offer practical insights and strategies to strengthen your leadership capacity and sharpen your effectiveness. Ultimately, our conversation begins with a fundamental question: What does it mean to carry the burden of leadership, and why does that burden matter?
The Power of Every Voice: Creating Change Through Communication and Collaboration
Dee Dee Pfister, Ph.D., Associate Vice President, Academic Professional Development, Instructional Design and Online Learning
Every employee has a voice, and every voice has the potential to contribute to positive change. In this interactive session, participants will explore how communication, listening, collaboration and shared governance can build trust and strengthen our ability to navigate change together. Through real-world examples, conversation and small-group activities, participants will examine what it means to have a voice, to create space for the voices of others and to turn dialogue into action. Participants will leave with practical strategies for communicating through change, engaging constructively in decision-making and using their individual and collective voices to help move Tri-C forward.
Beyond the Tool: Building Your Own Structure for Working With AI
James Jarc, Ed.D., Director, Faculty Professional Development
Melissa Resnick, Instructional Design Specialist
Most of us have tried AI at work. Some of it helped. A lot didn't stick. After Tri-C's Momentum AI training, we encountered two different challenges, so we each built a solution: a coordination method you could copy onto an index card and a utility that turned 575 award nominations into accurate, personalized emails in half the time. You'll see live demos, compare points of friction with those of the people sitting near you, and get straight answers about sensitive data and what belongs in College-supported tools. No laptops or coding required — just bring your curiosity and some problems you need to solve!
Respond, Refer: Supporting Students in Distress
Terry Webb, Ed.D., Assistant Dean, Counseling
This workshop, designed for faculty and staff, will equip participants with practical skills to support students experiencing psychological distress. Led by a psychotherapist, the session will draw upon evidence-based approaches from Positive Psychology to foster resilience, engagement and well-being. Attendees will learn to recognize early signs of student distress, respond empathetically while maintaining professional boundaries and facilitate effective referrals using the warm handoff technique. The workshop emphasizes collaboration with student services to help bridge academic and support systems. Participants will leave with actionable strategies to create a supportive campus environment where all students can thrive.
Joy on Purpose
Chava Witt, Director, Student Life
We spend a significant portion of our lives at work, but how often do we pause to consider how we want to experience that time? Between deadlines, unexpected challenges, busy days and things that don't go as planned, it's easy to lose sight of what makes work meaningful and enjoyable. This interactive session will invite participants to pause, let go of what they can't control and explore how small, intentional choices can bring more joy, connection and presence into the workday. Together, we'll consider four simple ways to experience joy at work: noticing it, creating it, sharing it and inviting others into it.