Focused on imaginative, effective teaching and learning, Conversations Advancing Faculty Excellence (CAFEs) draw faculty from a range of disciplines to engage in thoughtful dialogue. CAFEs cover a variety of topics across teaching, service, and career path development.
The attention to both professional and personal creates a generative space that focuses on the whole person of our faculty members. We aim to aid faculty in facilitating an education that allows students to address real-world problems and serve not only their community, but also the world as competent, conscientious, and compassionate individuals.
What to Expect
CAFEs are typically occur over lunch (sponsored by Faculty Development) and are hosted by a moderator who chairs a panel of experts from across SCU's faculty and staff. Panelists share essential and emerging tools to nurture and challenge students, to innovate on pedagogical praxes, and to support career milestones and administration, among other topics. These micro talks are followed by lively discussion amongst and between the panelists and attendees.
Attend a CAFE
All faculty and staff are welcome to attend CAFEs!
If you plan to attend a CAFE, we appreciate an RSVP to aid our planning process. Please RSVP via the CAFE LiveWhale event page.
Find all Faculty Development events on the Teaching and Learning LiveWhale Calendar.
If you'd like to suggest a future CAFE topic or become a panelist yourself, get in touch: facultydevelopment@scu.edu
Upcoming Events
Past CAFEs Arranged by Theme
AI is not going away. How do we develop strategies to acknowledge, understand, and make use of new tools effectively and ethically to support our scholarly and creative work and our students’ learning?
"Community Read-AI" With Mythri Jegathesan (Anthropology), Maura Tarnoff (English), and Nicole Branch (Dean, University Library)
"AI in Action: Enhancing Teaching and Learning in the Classroom" With Wilson Lin (Business), Hussein El Hajj (Business), Meg Gudgeirsson (History), and Juan Montermoso (Business).
"AI Curricular Grant Shareout 2"
Eric Haynie (AT), Linsey Krolik (Law), Wilson Lin (Information Systems & Analytics), Haibing Lu (Information Systems & Analytics), and Vincent Zhang (Accounting)
"AI Curricular Grant Shareout"
Eric Haynie (AT), Sean Yeh (Modern Languages and Literatures), Katia Moles (Engineering), and Meg Gudgeirsson (History)
"What is the Future of Teaching, Learning, and Knowledge Production in the Age of AI?"
Amy Lueck (English), Brian Green (Markulla Center for Applied Ethics), Meg Gudgeirsson (History), and Kat Saxton (Biology and Public Health)
"What AI Is, What it Isn't, and Why It Matters"
Matt Gomes, Assistant Professor, English; Eric Haynie, Manager, Instructional Technology; Denise Krane, Lecturer, English & Director, HUB Writing Center, with guest Cynthia Alby
"AI Goes to Class (Whether You Invite it or Not)"
Melissa Brown, Communications
Gain insights into a wide range of strategies for and approaches to effectively cultivating productive, engaged, and welcoming classroom cultures.
"Gen Z in the Classroom" (May 2025) with Laura Nichols (Sociology), Maggie Hunter (Sociology), Maya Diaz, and Sydney Nguyen
"Engaging Students in the Classroom" (May 2025) with Kenna Arana (Teaching Education), Mike Dana (Finance), Dosun Ko (Education and Counseling Psychology), Brian Thomas (Ciocca Center), Sofia Kotsiri (Business)
Are you curious about how faculty members are utilizing technology in their hybrid or virtual environments? Learn more about what tools and resources SCU faculty used in their teaching and why they may be adaptable for fully in-person instruction as well!
"What's New on Camino" Nina Tanti, Senior Lecturer, Modern Languages & Literatures; Linda Burks, Lecturer, Mathematics & Computer Science; Tonya Nilsson, Senior Lecturer, Civil, Environmental, and Sustainable Engineering; Jeremy Kemp, Online/Hybrid Learning Specialist
"Bringing Online Innovations to In-Person and Hybrid Courses"
Featuring Missy Donegan, SCU English Department
"Strategies for Asynchronous Learning Experiences"
Sofia Kotsiri, Adjunct Lecturer, Economics; Dawn Hart, Senior Lecturer, Biology; Justin Boren, Associate Professor, Communications
"Designing Engaging Synchronous Zoom Sessions"
Missy Donegan, Senior Lecturer, English; Juan Montermoso, Professor of Practice, Marketing
Learn about strategies and practices that support diverse populations at SCU with a focus on cultivating belonging in the classroom, understanding differences and diversity, and enhancing engagement between students and faculty.
"Minimizing Peer-to-Peer Microaggressions in the Classroom" Dawn Hart (BIO), Jes Krusienczi (ENGR), Loring Pfeiffer (ENGL), Natalie Linnell (Math)
"Fostering Belonging for First-Generation College Students" With Giselle Laidac (Psychology), Vanessa Errisuriz (PH), Yacanex Posadas (Business), and Laura Nichols (Sociology)
"Towards Inclusive Teaching: Addressing the "Hidden Curriculum"
Giselle Laiduc (Psychology), Ezinne Ofoegbu (Education), Tonya Nilsson (Civil Engineering), Won Jung Kim (Education), Laura Doyle (Environmental Engineering)
"Innovative, Fair, and Accessible Grading"
Stephanie Hughes (Environmental Science), Tonya Nilsson (Civil Engineering), Maria Kyrarini (ECE), Matt Gomez (English)
"Moving from International Student Enrolling to International Student Serving"
With the Global Engagement Office and facilitated by Christelle Sabatier
"Access Check-In: Supporting Neurodivergent Students at SCU"
Mythri Jegathesan, Associate Professor, Anthropology; Emily Park, Lecturer, Bioengineering; Ericka Fur, Learning Specialist, Consultant
"Supporting Neurodivergent Students and Increasing Access"
Ericka Fur, Learning Specialist, Consultant, Office of Accessible Education
"Teaching SCU's International Students: Moving from Enrollment to Inclusion and Support"
Christelle Sabatier, Senior Lecturer, Biology and Director of the Neuroscience Program; Melissa Heid, Director of International Students and Scholars; Susan Popko, Associate Provost for International Programs
"Finding Belonging at SCU: The Undergraduate Student Experience in Classes and Beyond"
Bronco Assessment Student Ambassadors: Rianna Maulino, Jordan Myhre, Tomisin Opaleye, Varsha Pai, Shubhaan Saxena
"Student Belonging at SCU: Who Feels Alienated, Why, and Strategies for Inclusion"
Maggie Hunter, Professor, Sociology; Mythri Jegathesan, Associate Professor, Anthropology, Danielle Morgan, Associate Professor, English
Additional Resources:
"Closing the Distance between Student and Teacher," Marcia Chatelain, Ph.D.
Inclusive Teaching Strategies with Bryan Dewsbury, Ph.D.
Supporting students' mental health and their sense of wellness is key to their success at SCU. Learn more about classroom practices that promote a culture of care and enhance student learning and engagement, as well as campus resources.
"How Do We Engage Students Now?"
Tamsen McGinley, Associate Professor, Mathematics & Computer Science; Esther Sackett, Assistant Professor, Management
CAPS Presentation
"Cross-disciplinary Collaborations"
"Best Practices in CBL" With Claudia McIsaac (ENGL), Ray Furata (MUSIC), Long (MGMT), Kristin Kusanovich (Dance)
"Campus Partnerships for Student Success" With James Marik (Student Life OAE), Heather Dumas-Dyer (CAPS), Laura Fujeida (Drahmann), CJ Gabbe (Core), Denise Krane (HUB), Eric Haynie (Academic Technology), and Summer Reid (Title IX)
"Civic Education After the Election" With Chad Raphael (Communication), Nicholas Hayes-Mota (Religious Studies), Darcy Phillips (Ignatian Center for Jesuit Education) , Chris Bacon (Environmental Studies and Sciences) & Marlene Bennett (Public Health Sciences and School of Law)
"Peer Observations of Teaching" Lisa Whitfield (PSYC), Christelle Sabatier (BIO), Laura Doyle (CENG), Matt Gomes (ENGL)
"Preparing for the FAR" With Maggie Hunter (Sociology) and Mythri Jegathesan (Anthropology)
"CAFE GIFTs" With C.J. Gabbe (ENVS), Amy Lueck (ENGL), Maggie Hunter (SOCI), Patti Simone (NUER), Justin Boren (COMM), Mythri Jegathesan (ANTH), and Emily Park (BIOENGR)
"Supporting your Scholarship: Responding to Reviewers" With Ryan Anderson (Anthropology), Lee Panich (Anthropology), Chris Weber (Physics), Patti Simone (NEUR), Sharmila Lodhia (Women and Gender Studies), Haibing Lu (Information Systems & Analytics)
Wouldn’t it be great if students walked away from each of our courses with a clear sense of how much they learned and pride in the effort they invested in their learning activities? Class assignments are one of the ways we can facilitate this kind of meaningful learning, but we don’t always take advantage of simple techniques that can transform assignments into productive challenges where students can shine!
"Transparent Assignment Design"
"Managing Alternative Grading"
"Resources for Enhanced Assessment of Student Learning" Ahmed Amer (ENG), Maggie Wander (Art/Art History), Lang Chen (Psychology)
"Innovative, Fair, and Accessible Grading" Stephanie Hughes (Environmental Science), Tonya Nilsson (Civil Engineering), Maria Kyrarini (ECE), Matt Gomez (English)
"Designing and Assessing Multimodal Assignments"
Michelle Burnham, Professor, English; Maria Judnick, Adjunct Lecturer, English, Angela Holzmeister, Lecturer, Classics
"Assignment Redesign for Equitable Learning"
Barbara O'Brien, Adjunct Lecturer, Psychology; C.J. Gabbe, Associate Professor, Environmental Studies & Sciences; Matt Gomes, Assistant Professor, English; Erin Schwartz, Senior Laboratory Instructor, Biology
"Ignatian Pedagogy," With Maria Kyrarini (ECE), Nicholas Lindberg (Classics), Madeline Cronin (Philosophy), Rob Scholla (Religious Studies), and Sofia Kotsiri (Economics).
"Transforming Pedagogy: Jesuit Ways of Teaching" John Beltramo, Lecturer & Director of Catholic Programs, ECP; Pascale Guiton, Assistant Professor, Biology; Long Le, Lecturer & Director of International Business Minor, LSB; Brian Thorstenson, Senior Lecturer, Theatre & Dance