2021-2022 Faculty Development and Leadership Programs

Solo Success: How to Thrive in the Academy When You Are the Only _____ in Your Department
Sept. 10, 2021

Identify the common challenges and learn specific strategies for maintaining well-being during challenging times, re-imagining research, serving strategically, teaching efficiently, and building strong and healthy professional relationships. Presented by Angelique Davis, JD, from the National Center for Faculty Diversity and Development. A remote workshop followed by an in-person networking lunch.

New Faculty Welcome: Succeeding at Northwestern
Sept. 17, 2021

Welcome to Northwestern! Meet new colleagues and learn about resources and services that will contribute to your work and life at the University. New faculty are invited to attend this in-person program with welcome remarks and presentations from key university leaders, a faculty panel, and a networking lunch. Please note that your school may also hold an orientation with school-specific information. Learn more.

Every Quarter Needs a Plan
Oct. 6, 2021

Junior faculty identify personal and professional goals, create a strategic plan to accomplish them, and identify the types of community support and accountability necessary for the most productive and balanced quarter or semester ever. Presented by Anthony Ocampo, PhD, from the National Center for Faculty Development & Diversity.  

New/Early Career Faculty: How to Advance Your Research at Northwestern
Oct. 19, 2021

This program is specially designed to highlight the research, funding, networking, and administrative resources available to help you excel in your role as a faculty member at Northwestern. Learn about key opportunities for building your interdisciplinary networks. The program, organized by the Office of the Provost, includes presentations on resources and a faculty panel. 

Networking: Building Your Network During a Pandemic
Oct. 29, 2021

In this interactive communication workshop, faculty will enhance leadership and networking skills. Faculty members will participate in a series of hands-on exercises and improvisational exercises designed to increase communication and networking skills in building relationships and connecting with colleagues, donors, elected officials, and other leaders in their field. Participants will also leave with a toolkit of resources to use for further development.

Delegating for Academics: You Have to Turn Loose
Jan. 19, 2022

In this workshop, faculty will look at the specifics of what it means to delegate in the academic environment. You will examine your mindset and your practices to see what can be adjusted. Lastly, you will learn delegation techniques and ideas so you can do some academic decluttering of your tasks, projects, responsibilities, and commitments.

"Yes, And!": Using Improvisation to Communicate Science to the Public
Jan. 27, 2022

Heather Barnes, an expert in using improvisation to communicate science, leads a series of hands-on improv exercises designed to increase communication skills when working with the public, media, and others in your STEM field.

Navigating Northwestern as a Faculty of Color: When to Say Yes, How to Say No, A Faculty Panel and Discussion
March 1, 2022

The program aims to address unique challenges that faculty of color face, including, but not limited to, service burdens. We hope to provide space for discussion of personal strategies for managing time, priorities, and requests, as well as considerations for systemic change. Robin Means Coleman, Chief Diversity Officer, and Sumit Dhar, Associate Provost for Faculty, will moderate the session, which features a faculty panel and discussion.

Writing Your Second Book: A Faculty Panel Discussion
March 4, 2022

Join us for a faculty panel discussion on writing your second book. We will discuss topics such as leveraging a sabbatical to finish a second book, balancing new demands after tenure with research and writing, and taking your research in new directions. The panel will be moderated by Sumit Dhar, Associate Provost for Faculty, and panelists include: 

• Kate Masur, Department of History
• Héctor Carrillo, Department of Sociology
• Kevin Boyle, Department of History

Navigating Tenure: A Faculty Panel Discussion
April 13, 2022

Join us for a faculty panel discussion on navigating tenure. Moderated by Sumit Dhar, Associate Provost for Faculty, a panel of faculty members representing a variety of disciplines and schools will discuss general tips for navigating the tenure process and learning where to obtain information and resources.

Topics of discussion may include:

• Advice and tips for navigating the structure of a top-tier research university
• How to find information about general and school-specific expectations for tenure and obtain feedback
• How to find department, school or central resources that are available to help junior faculty members with research, teaching, service, well-being and personal lives
• Advice on identifying and cultivating mentoring relationships
• General strategies for developing a tenure dossier

Box lunches will be available after the presentation. Attendees can enjoy the lunch in the room or take to go.

Student Academic and Behavioral Concerns: Partnering with School Advising Leadership
April 20, 2022

This workshop introduces faculty to a protocol for partnering with their School Advising Leadership when undergraduate students exhibit academic or behavioral concerns. Schools’ Advising Leadership and Student Assistance and Support Services (SASS) will identify actions faculty should take when a student displays concerning behavior, with a particular focus on behaviors that show up in academic engagement.

In this workshop, faculty will:

• Learn protocols that ensure campus experts, including School Advising Leadership and SASS, have oversight of students in distress
• Receive a guide to identify actions to take when a student stops showing up for class, completing assignments, or exhibits other concerning academic behaviors, as well as whom to contact for non-academic concerns
• Discuss how to apply the guidelines to scenarios faculty may encounter 

If you have any questions, please contact Joan Marie Johnson, Director for Faculty, Office of the Provost, at faculty@northwestern.edu. 

Hosted by the Schools Advising Leadership, Student Assistance and Support Services (SASS) in the Dean of Students Office, and the Office of the Provost. 

Strengthening Relationships: Addressing Common Challenges for Couples
April 28, 2022

The pandemic has affected many aspects of faculty members' lives, including relationships with partners and significant others. This event will share common challenges couples face during challenging times and provide strategies to see and build on strengths in ourselves and our partners. They will discuss prevalent concerns and offer advice on topics such as:

• How to get on the same page or disagree without being disagreeable, especially related to decisions relating to risk and COVID-19 anxiety
• How to deal with changing dynamics while working from home more often and/or returning to the office/school
• How to manage different approaches to managing stress
• How to create healthy boundaries and distinguish between boundaries and disconnection

About The Family Institute at Northwestern University:

Through research, education and therapy, The Family Institute practices relationship-based behavioral healthcare and is committed to strengthening and healing children, adolescents, families and individuals from all walks of life. The workshop will be facilitated by Tamara Faulkner, LCSW, CADC; Daniel Lopez, M.S.W., LCSW; Emily Klear, LMFT; Mudita Rastogi, Ph.D. LMFT; Neil Venketramen, LMFT; and Sharday Love, M.A., LPC.

Office of the Provost Faculty Awards Reception
May 3, 2022

The Office of the Provost is hosting our annual Faculty Awards Reception, honoring the recipients of our Daniel I. Linzer Awards for Faculty Excellence in Diversity and Equity as well as the Provost Awards for Exemplary Faculty Service.  This year's awards will take place in person and will be available via live stream.

Creating a Board of Advisors as a Faculty of Color
May 5, 2022
 
Please join Professor P. Gabrielle Foreman, Penn State University, for a career development workshop for faculty of color. Participants in this workshop will:  

• Compose a professional “board of advisors” who can help advance career goals in more specific, less stressful and more successful ways than the conventional mentor model ever could
• Identify the specific elements of support you need at this juncture of your career and identify people who can fill those roles
• Reflect on how to create reciprocal relationships, identify what your potential board members can do most easily, and discuss how to identify and approach people on their list

P. Gabrielle Foreman is the founding director of the Colored Conventions Project, an award-winning professor of English, African American Studies, and History, and an endowed chair in Liberal Arts at Penn State University.

Creating a Board of Advisors as an Early and Mid-Career Faculty Member
May 6, 2022
 
Please join Professor P. Gabrielle Foreman, Penn State University, for a career development workshop for early and mid-career faculty. Participants in this workshop will:  

• Compose a professional “board of advisors” who can help advance career goals in more specific, less stressful, and more successful ways than the conventional mentor model ever could
• Identify the specific elements of support you need at this juncture of your career and identify people who can fill those roles.  
• Reflect on how to create reciprocal relationships, identify what your potential board members can do most easily, and discuss how to identify and approach people on their list. 

P. Gabrielle Foreman is the founding director of the Colored Conventions Project, an award-winning professor of English, African American Studies, and History, and an endowed chair in Liberal Arts at Penn State University.

Think Through Your Summer Planning with Wisdom, Intention, and Truthfulness
May 20, 2022

Meggin McIntosh, Professor Emerita at the University of Nevada, Reno, will facilitate a planning session for your summer to include research, writing, renewal, and restoration. This hands-on workshop will provide faculty the tools and time to plan their summer projects.