³ÉÈËAVÊÓƵ

Panelists:
Dr. Lorraine Beach, Senior Advisor to the President
Scott Bennett, VP Administration and Finance
Andrea Jones, VP Marketing & Communications
Dr. Karen Patterson, Provost and VP Academic and Student Affairs

Moderator:
Alison Cruess, Executive Director of Operations, the President’s Office

Learn ³ÉÈËAVÊÓƵ is an opportunity for the campus community to develop a better understanding of ³ÉÈËAVÊÓƵ’s accomplishments and future initiatives. Join four campus leaders for a lively discussion of the current issues and undertakings impacting our campus. This moderated session will include time for questions from the audience.

Panelist:
Dr. Moez Limayem, ³ÉÈËAVÊÓƵ President

Moderator:
Kelly Harrison, Director, Professional Development & Training (CPDT)

Join us for an informal sit down with ³ÉÈËAVÊÓƵ President, Dr. Moez Limayem. We will discuss the current state of ³ÉÈËAVÊÓƵ and what we can look forward to in the future. Time permitting, President Limayem will also field questions from the audience.

Presenters:
Dr. Luke Cornelius, Associate Professor and Program Director of the Higher Education Administration Program, Silverfield College of Education and Human Services
Sean Alexander, Associate Director, One-Stop
Keely Mallory, Advisor, One-Stop

The rise of artificial intelligence in academic institutions presents a complex web of legal challenges, akin to the emergence of a powerful, unpredictable force. Just as the Avengers faced threats that tested the very fabric of reality, universities now grapple with AI's implications for intellectual property, student privacy, data security, and ethical research. In this session, we will discuss some questions surrounding these issues.

Presenters:
Cesar Castellon, Cloud Architect II, Systems Engineering (ITS)
Thomas Stewart, Assistant Direct Cloud Infrastructure, Systems Engineering (ITS)

This interactive workshop focuses on practical applications of Microsoft Copilot Suite to improve workplace communication and team collaboration. Participants will explore tools and techniques for managing tasks, crafting professional correspondence, and fostering productivity. Through hands-on exercises and group problem-solving activities, attendees will leave with tangible skills and strategies to integrate AI into their daily workflows.

Presenter:
Dave Wilson, Associate Director, CIRT

Join us for an engaging and hands-on workshop where you'll discover the power of AI in Adobe Express to create stunning images. This session is designed for staff members who are interested in enhancing their creative skills and leveraging AI technology to streamline their design process. Whether you're a beginner or have some experience with Adobe Express, this workshop will provide you with valuable insights and practical techniques to elevate your image creation capabilities.

Presenter:
Kelly Harrison, Director, Professional Development & Training (CPDT)

Tired of feeling like your work/life balance is a battle you can’t win? Ditch the cape and join us for an action-packed session where we’ll explore best practices for achieving balance, using the wisdom, and sometimes hilarious, struggles of our favorite superheroes. Learn how to manage your “kryptonite” (stress), build a strong “team” (support system), and develop your superpowers for time management and self-care. You will leave this session ready to fly higher, both personally and professionally.

Presenter:
Becki Tankson-Artis, Residence Life Coordinator, Housing & Residence Life

This session will address a critical and timely challenge in student affairs: how to navigate compassion fatigue while maintaining enthusiasm and a sense of purpose in the work we do. Residence life professionals, as well as other professionals within higher education, are often at the forefront of supporting students through their challenges. The emotional and psychological demands of this work can, over time, lead to compassion fatigue. This interactive session will combine theory and practice to help participants build resilience in the face of compassion fatigue. We will explore how to maintain empathy and care for students while preserving our own well-being and sense of joy in the job.

Presenter:
Rhonda Gracie, Horticulturist, ³ÉÈËAVÊÓƵ Botanical Garden

Join us for an exciting and interactive session that combines the beauty of the ³ÉÈËAVÊÓƵ Botanical Garden with the thrill of a virtual scavenger hunt. In this session, we will take you on a virtual journey through the garden. Participants will be guided by our quirky characters: Captain Chlorophyll, Blossom Belle, Professor Pollen, Sprout Scout, Leafy Lou, and Petal Pixie. Explore how the resilience and growth of plants can inspire us to overcome challenges and achieve our goals. Understand the parallels between nature’s adaptability and our own personal and professional development. Our Garden Guardians will provide hints and fun facts along the way, making the experience both educational and entertaining.

Presenters:
Sydnie Steele, Assistant Director, Taylor Leadership Institute
Dr. Matthew Ohlson, Executive Director, Taylor Leadership Institute

In a world where employee engagement and satisfaction drive organizational success, leaders who genuinely celebrate and invest in their teams inspire loyalty, boost morale, and enhance productivity. This session will explore actionable strategies for leaders to "give their best" to their teams, going beyond standard recognition practices to foster a genuine appreciation and support culture. Through interactive discussions, participants will learn how to create a positive work environment that empowers employees to thrive and consistently give their best in return. Discover the transformative power of championing your team to build a more resilient and motivated workplace. This approach taken by the ³ÉÈËAVÊÓƵ Taylor Leadership Institute highlights giving “your best” as both a leadership mindset and a cultural investment.

Presenters:
Dr. Justin Sipes, Director, Office of Experiential Learning
Amy Lorenz, Director, Housing and Residence Life

Many offices across ³ÉÈËAVÊÓƵ hire student employees, and these students help make the University run. In fact, at any given moment, there are upwards of 1400 student employees at ³ÉÈËAVÊÓƵ. With ³ÉÈËAVÊÓƵ ushering in a new Experiential Learning requirement for undergraduate students, we want to give you the tools to make your student employment opportunity a formally recognized EL activity that will allow these students to meet the requirement. You might be wondering what do we mean by Experiential Learning (EL)? Experiential Learning engages students beyond the classroom and offers practical insight into world readiness while building knowledge and skills and establishing professional connections. When engaging in these applied experiences, students can reflect on their unique value to the world or work and gain confidence in their career direction. In this session, we will provide multiple frameworks and resources to align student employee opportunities with best practices and the Experiential Learning (EL) criteria at ³ÉÈËAVÊÓƵ. By doing this, you will help students explicitly make connections between their work, emerging/refining skills, and what they are learning. Ultimately, this will help ³ÉÈËAVÊÓƵ students to better articulate their knowledge, skills, and experiences from a real work setting to future employers. Moreover, you will hear from a unit that started making these changes and about their experiences. You will learn it does not require an overhaul of what you are doing already, and that can be a series of small tweaks. You will receive templates, handouts, and resources to help you in the development process. The session will have time for you to consider the frameworks/resources and the chance to start applying them to your student employee opportunities. With summer around the corner, it is a great opportunity to make changes now in preparation for new student employees in the Fall term.

Presenter:
George Boston, Change Manager, Enterprise Services & Strategy (ITS)

Step into the playful side and discover how AI tools can add a dash of excitement and creativity to your everyday life. In this session, we'll explore a variety of AI applications designed to entertain, inspire, and amuse. Topics range from tools for creating unique digital art, composing music, generating memes, exploring travel destinations, and engaging in interactive storytelling. Whether you're a tech enthusiast or just looking for new ways to have fun, this session will provide you with plenty of ideas and hands-on experiences to enjoy AI in a new way.

Presenter:
Joslyn Simmons, Assistant Director, Operations and Communications, Coggin College of Business Dean’s Office

Come for an engaging session as we explore methods on how you can make an impact in your role. During this session, we will focus on culture building, networking and tips for operational success. Let’s create a culture of care together Ospreys!

Presenter:
Callie Funderburk, Assistant Director, University Center

Inspired by the iconic Marvel Universe "Infinity Stones", this session explores six essential elements and how to combine them to develop a seamless event plan. Each “stone” represents a core component that will help elevate your event planning skills: Logistics, Budget, Experience, Marketing, Timeline, and Purpose. Just like the Avengers needed all the stones to save the universe, event planners need to harness these key “stones” to create successful and well-organized events. Attendees will leave with actionable insights to develop their own event planning "Infinity Gauntlet" for truly impactful events.

Presenters:
Daniel Choisser, Associate Director, IT Service Operations (ITS)
Jason Jones, Assistant VP, Shared Technology Infrastructure & Services (ITS)

Discover how the ³ÉÈËAVÊÓƵ Support Portal can become your personal JARVIS for campus support. This session will introduce you to the ³ÉÈËAVÊÓƵ Support Portal, and demonstrate how it can help you find answers, submit requests, and access resources quickly and easily—just like Ironman's AI assistant. Learn to navigate the portal like a superhero and make the most of its powerful features!

Presenter:
Jason Edgar, Associate Director, Student Government

Ultimately, "no" can be one of the most positive words in your vocabulary. Whether you crave more family time, more time for yourself, or more time to pursue a dream, saying no frees up room for the "yeses" in your life. It's more important than ever to protect your time, focus on your top priorities, and use the power of saying no to reach your goals at work and at home. Empowered refusal is a unique, positive, and meaning-filled approach to managing your energy and ambition effectively, allowing you to make lasting, positive changes in your life.