Program

Session Location: Hall of Science (HoS) Room T-07 | Google Map

Presenters: Alison Thomas (Assistant Dean for Academic Integrity) & Luis Cerezo Ceballos (CFE Faculty Associate / Associate Professor, CAS | World Languages and Cultures)

In this session, presenters will offer a snapshot of common student uses of generative AI tools, drawn from the Office of Academic Integrity’s experience and from current research. Facilitators will lead a discussion focused on how these insights might inform classroom practice and further research about student motivations and needs.

Session Location: Hall of Science (HoS) Room 103 | Google Map

Presenters: Andressa Monteiro Venturini (Assistant Professor, CAS | Environmental Science), Marjan Alaghmand (Senior Professorial Lecturer, CAS | Chemistry) & Tabitha Kidwell (Senior Professorial Lecturer, CAS | World Languages and Cultures)

Moderator: Elizabeth Worden (Elizabeth “”Lizzie”” Worden (Associate Dean of Undergraduate Education and Professor, Baker School of Education)

Join us for one of eight sessions where faculty discuss the process of integrating AU Signature Skills into their course assignments and classroom activities. Educators are often looking for activity ideas that they can implement immediately—i.e., in class tomorrow! The session will help faculty identify signature skills that are already in their course syllabi and overview the process for creating simple yet effective activities that highlight these skills. Walk away with engaging, practical tools you can implement immediately with your students.

The AU Signature Skills were developed by a group of AU faculty and staff this spring to operationalize AU’s goal to help students develop into thoughtful and engaged professionals, and are an extension of AU’s Meet Our Moment Strategic Plan.

Session Location: Hall of Science (HoS) Room 113 | Google Map

Presenters: Egis Zilinskas (Director, Chemistry Laboratories and Adjunct Professorial Lecturer, CAS | Chemistry), Nabina Liebow (Director of the CAS Leadership Program and Senior Professorial Lecturer, CAS | Philosophy/Religion), Piper Campbell (Hurst Senior Professorial Lecturer, SIS | Foreign Policy & Global Security) & Yana Sakellion (Associate Professor, CAS | Art)

Moderator: Martyn Oliver (Faculty Chair, AU Core and Senior Professorial Lecturer, CAS | Critical Race, Gender & Culture Studies)

Join us for one of eight sessions where faculty will talk about how easy integrating AU Signature Skills into your course assignments and classroom activities can be, helping you to uncover and give prominence to skills you already cover. With additional intentionality, instructors can help students to link their course assignments to the signature skills we are helping them build – and to understand why those skills are professionally important.

The AU Signature Skills were developed by a group of AU faculty and staff this spring to operationalize AU’s goal to help students develop into thoughtful and engaged professionals, and are an extension of AU’s Meet Our Moment Strategic Plan.

Session Location: Hall of Science (HoS) Room T-07 | Google Map

Presenter: Elizabeth “Betsy” Cohn (Assistant Professor, SIS | Foreign Policy & Global Seurity)

This interactive session will analyze the characteristics and learning needs of our current student body, Gen Z. A handout will describe Gen Z characteristics, giving us time to brainstorm how faculty and staff can build on students’ strengths and help them develop the skills they need to gain the knowledge we want them to master.

Session Location: Hall of Science (HoS) Room 103 | Google Map

Presenters:  Jennifer Maher (Director, Research Services & Communications, Vice Provost for Research Office), Rachel Borchardt (Scholarly Communication Librarian, University Library) & Katherine Mahajan (Instructional Technology and AI Manager, Center for Faculty Excellence)

Moderator: Nicole Angotti (CFE Faculty Associate and Associate Professor, CAS | Sociology)

Put three powerful research tools (Research Compass, Dimensions, and Pivot) into practice to expand your research impact! Learn how to identify internal and external collaborators and explore personalized funding opportunities, all in real time. Through live demonstrations and guided activities, participants will gain hands-on experience using these tools and leave with actionable strategies to strengthen their networks, visibility, and funding success.

Session Location: Library Café Room B30 | Google Map

Presenters: Stefano Costanzi (Horace S. and May Davidson Isbell Professor of Chemistry and Policy, CAS | Chemistry), Colin Saldanha (Professor, CAS | Neuroscience), Jennifer Poole (Associate Professor, SIS | Politics, Governance, and Economics) & Bridget Trogden (Dean of Undergraduate Education and Academic Student Services)

Are you looking to broaden your horizons beyond teaching and research and gain new skills within your faculty position? Learn how your colleagues have pursued advanced degrees in totally new fields, temporarily worked for federal agencies, pivoted to administration, and more.

Session Location: Hall of Science (HoS) Room 103 | Google Map

Presenter: Regina Curran (Director of Privacy & Cyber Policy, OIT | Information Security)

Join co-chair of the Responsible Use of AI Working Group, Regina Curran, for a walkthrough of AU’s 2026 AI guidance, with a focus on the faculty, staff, and research sections. We will cover real campus examples, unit-specific guidance already in development, and how to apply the guidance in your own work. The Guidance can be found here: https://www.american.edu/oit/security/responsible-use-of-ai.cfm

Session Location: Hall of Science (HoS) Room T-07 | Google Map

Presenter: Katherine Mahajan (Instructional Technology and AI Manager, Center for Faculty Excellence)

Your students form an impression of your course before they read a single word. This hands-on session explores how visual design shapes learning, introduces foundational principles you can apply immediately, and demonstrates practical tools including AI to help you design better slides, documents, and course materials.

Session Location: Hall of Science (HoS) Room 113 | Google Map

Presenters: Karen Knee (CFE Faculty Associate and Associate Professor, CAS | Environmental Science), Anna Olsson (Assistant Vice Provost, Center for Faculty Excellence), Rachel Borchardt (Scholarly Communication Librarian, University Library), Noemí Enchautegui de Jesús (Associate Dean of Faculty & Associate Vice Provost for Academic Affairs, Deputy Provost & Dean of Faculty Office), Abigail Puskar (Assistant Dean of Faculty Affairs, Deputy Provost & Dean of Faculty Office), and Kristi Gibson (Senior Coordinator of Student Evaluation of Teaching and Learning Assessment, Office of Institutional Research & Assessment)

Are you preparing a file for tenure, promotion, continuing appointment, or reappointment? Whether you are just getting started or planning to submit your file this fall, this practical session will cover the timeline, steps, and materials to include in your file as well as tips for presenting your record in the best light.

Session Location: Hall of Science (HoS) Room 103 | Google Map

Presenter: Russell Robinson (Director, Key Undergraduate Leadership Program and Professorial Lecturer, SPA | Public Administration & Policy)

This interactive session explores three essential elements that help first-year students thrive: academic planning, meaningful relationships, and personal well-being. Participants will examine practical, evidence-informed strategies that strengthen belonging, resilience, and student success while identifying approaches they can immediately apply within their own programs and student interactions.

Session Location: Library Café Room B30 | Google Map

Presenters: Derrick Cogburn (Professor, SIS | Environment, Development & Health and KSB | Information Technology & Analytics), Emily Peterson (Associate Professor, Baker School of Education), Krisztina Domjan (Senior Professorial Lecturer, CAS | Literature) & Moya Malcolm (Postdoctoral Fellow, Baker School of Education)

Moderator: Rebecca Comfort (Assistant Director, AU Core)

Join us for one of eight sessions where faculty will discuss the process of integrating AU Signature Skills into their course assignments and classroom activities. Panelists will present example assignments and activities that can be used to support the development of AU signature skills in first-year Core classes.

The AU Signature Skills were developed by a group of AU faculty and staff this spring to operationalize AU’s goal to help students develop into thoughtful and engaged professionals, and are an extension of AU’s Meet Our Moment Strategic Plan.