Helpful and inspiring conference sessions planned by the SPSSI Teaching and Mentoring Committee

Azenett A. Garza Caballero, Weber State University 

Carolyn Weisz, University of Puget Sound 

Diane Hall, Bay Path University 

Emily Fisher, Hobart & William Smith Colleges 

William S. Ryan, University of Toronto, St. George 

SPSSI’s 2023 Conference is in a little over a month from now. If you are anything like us, you are also eagerly anticipating coming together with like-minded colleagues to learn from each other and support each other’s teaching, mentoring, and research. As you are actively looking over the conference agenda and planning your schedule as to which sessions you will attend, we hope that you will join us for at least one of the three sessions that SPSSI’s Teaching and Mentoring Committee is planning.

On Sunday, June 25th at 11:30 a.m., we will be hosting the SPSSI Teaching Award Winners Symposium where SPSSI Teaching Award Winners (e.g., Action Teaching Award, Outstanding Teaching and Mentoring Award, Innovative Teaching Award, and Teaching Resources Award) will share the work for which they have been honored and will participate in an interactive discussion where we will be able to learn how to implement high impact teaching and mentoring practices. 

On the same day, June 25th at 3:30 p.m., we will facilitate a student-focused interactive and open Q&A mentoring session where Sarah Herrmann, Giselle Laiduc, Diane Hall, and Azenett Garza Caballero will share reflections on the rewards, challenges, and experiences they encountered as they navigated academia and explored career paths. The discussion format allows facilitators to share insights before opening the floor to questions. Some discussion topics that students may be interested in include issues faced by historically minoritized students, finding the right mentor-student relationship, applying to graduate school or a job, selecting a thesis or dissertation advisor, managing research workload, establishing work-life balance, and publishing, among others. 

On Monday, June 26th at 10:40 a.m., we are hosting the SPSSI Teaching and Mentoring Grants, Awards, and Resources: Learning Session. In this session you will learn about the variety of programs and resources SPSSI provides to support and recognize justice-oriented teaching and mentoring. These awards and resources include: the Action Teaching Grants and Awards, Teaching Grant, Innovative Teaching Award, 2-Year College Excellence in Teaching and Mentoring Award, Excellence in Teaching and Mentoring Award, and Teaching Resource Award. Recipients and members of the selection committees will share tips on applying. We will also provide a “tour” of the newly designed teaching and mentoring section of the SPSSI website and resources related to teaching and mentoring, including syllabi, teaching activities, websites, and award and grant information. The session will include Q & A and you will be invited to share ideas about how SPSSI can further support innovation and excellence in justice-oriented teaching and mentoring. 

We look forward to seeing you at the conference!