Applicants must be:

• Professional-track faculty who meet the following criteria:
  • Have a benefits-eligible appointment at UT during the current academic year

Any eligible faculty member may nominate themselves to be considered for selection to the cohort.

Full-Year Offerings

Teaching in the Age of Artificial Intelligence

Facilitated by Robert Quigley, Professor of Practice, School of Journalism and Media, Moody College of Communication

Every other Thursday from 1 pm – 2 pm, beginning September 5th

As artificial intelligence rapidly advances and expands, it’s on us as educators to ensure that the learning environment remains strong and ethical. This peer circle will discuss and share ideas on how to use AI to creatively enhance learning, including creating assignments that encourage ethical AI use. We’ll also discuss how to find boundaries for students’ use, including creating assignments that are designed to avoid students’ AI use. Discussions will be centered around how AI is currently being used in the classroom by educators and students and how we can maintain high ethical and academic standards.

Fall Term Offerings

Digital Accessibility at UT

Facilitated by John Neumann, Associate Professor of Practice, School of Information

Every other Wednesday from 11 am – 12 pm, beginning September 4th

In this circle, participants will discuss issues involving Digital Accessibility for students, instructors, and staff. There is a strong argument that accessibility is a moral imperative to allow everyone an opportunity to get a UT education, but there are now government and legal forces in play that must be considered, too. Additionally, UT is preparing for the results of a recent accessibility audit by the Dept. of Justice, and this may impact faculty and staff across the entire campus. While digital accessibility is not new, it’s been under the radar for decades. This circle is expected to be valuable for people at all levels of experience with accessibility at UT. Whether participants were looking to understand the Ally Canvas course companion or were interested in redesigning their school’s website for accessibility, or getting involved with university-wide efforts, we will share experiences and resources that you can use today.

Incorporating Civil Discourse Across Disciplines

Facilitated by Riyad Alhomsi, Assistant Professor of Instruction, Department of Middle Eastern Studies, College of Liberal Arts

Every other Monday from 2 pm – 3 pm, beginning September 9th

It is crucial that our teaching fosters an academic environment that encourages responsible civil discourse on topics that interest students and the wider community. The ultimate goal of this circle is to help enable students to respectfully engage with differing views and learn how to channel the passion they have about issues into positive change.

The discussion will focus on different strategies to educate students on effective methods of civil discourse, including:

• Curriculum Integration: How can we design a curriculum that equips students to engage in responsible civil discourse?
• Best Classroom Practices: How can we positively model civil discourse in our classroom practices?
• Community Engagement: How can we prepare our students to respectfully participate with the larger community on topics of broader interest?

Spring Term Offerings

Fostering Effective Student Practicum Experiences

Facilitated by Laura Estep, Assistant Professor of Practice, Department of Special Education, College of Education

Every other Thursday from 12 pm – 1 pm, beginning January 23rd 

Integration of practicum site experience with coursework is an important aspect to students’ education across many fields. The ability to practice hands-on skills in a variety of settings provides crucial experience that coursework alone cannot. However, there are several difficulties that can arise with these types of courses from identifying quality sites and finding harmony between the needs of the students with the actualities of the site, to determining how best to tie relevant practical experience to coursework in meaningful ways. This theme uses interdisciplinary peer discussions to explore innovative approaches to integrate practicum or site experiences with coursework, best practices in the logistics of running these courses from set up to on-going management, strategies for dealing with conflict at sites, and creative ways to bring practicum experience to the classroom and bring the classroom to the practicum site.

Doing Research as Professional Track Faculty

Facilitated by Marina Alexandrova, Associate Professor of Instruction, Department of Slavic and Eurasian Studies, College of Liberal Arts.

Every other Monday from 12 pm – 1 pm, beginning January 20th

This circle will meet to discuss a rarely addressed, but increasingly common situation of professional track faculty who want to focus on research projects in addition to their teaching and administrative duties. While UT-Austin does offer valuable resources like faculty writing groups, publishing and grant workshops, and faculty development grants, professional track faculty often struggle to find the time and energy to write articles and books. Now that promotion criteria for professional track faculty is expanded to include research as one of the possible areas of excellence, this circle aims to help faculty coming up for promotion strengthen the research part of their portfolio. In the biweekly meetings, faculty will learn about organizational strategies that work, learn from colleagues who managed to successfully publish while maintaining a full teaching load and other responsibilities, and come up with meaningful plans for pursuing and strengthening their own research agendas.

2023-24 Participants

Mindful Moments

Meaningful peer-led learning, engaging class discussions and experiences, and service-learning opportunities that build belongingness in our classrooms. This circle explored how to connect curriculum with museums, libraries, landmark installations, speaking events, university resources, and other unique spaces to build mindful moments, lasting learning, empathy, and connection.

Jacqueline Evans, Associate Professor of Instruction, College of Liberal Arts, Psychology (Facilitator)
Sarah Angulo, Associate Professor of Instruction, College of Liberal Arts, Psychology

Chikako Cooke, Assistant Professor of Instruction, College of Liberal Arts, Asian Studies

Amrita Kaur, Assistant Professor of Instruction, College of Natural Sciences, Computer Science

Li Chen Lin, Clinical Assistant Professor, School of Nursing

Stephanie Osbakken, Associate Professor of Instruction, College of Liberal Arts, Sociology

Jahanett Ramirez, Assistant Professor of Research, School of Social Work

Marialena Rivera, Assistant Professor of Instruction, Moody College of Communication, Stan Richards School of Advertising and Public Relations

Becca Robertson, Lecturer, McCombs School of Business, Information, Risk, and Operations Management
Astrid Runggaldier, Associate Professor of Instruction, College of Fine Arts, Art and Art History
Adrien Smith, Associate Professor of Instruction, College of Liberal Arts, Germanic Studies

Sarah Villanueva, Associate Professor of Instruction, College of Natural Sciences, Human Development and Family Sciences

Nick Winges-Yanez, Clinical Assistant Professor, School of Social Work\

Betty Jeanne Wolfe Taylor, Assistant Professor of Practice, College of Education, Educational Leadership and Policy

Creating a Public Image

An often-forgotten aspect of being a professor and expert is creating a public image. This circle explored creating a public profile by utilizing successful strategies for creating a public image, establishing individual goals for raising one’s profile as a field leader, as well as setting a plan for implementing individual goals.

Korey Pereira, Assistant Professor of Practice, Moody College of Communication, Radio-Television-Film (Facilitator)
Danielle Alsandor, Assistant Professor of Practice, College of Education, Educational Leadership and Policy

Micah Barber, Associate Professor of Practice, Moody College of Communication, Radio-Television-Film

Deborah Cohen, Assistant Professor of Research, Dell Medical School, Psychiatry

Lia Sifuentes Davis, Clinical Professor, School of Law, School of Law

Ariel Dulitzky, Clinical Professor, School of Law
Rhonda Evans, Associate Professor of Instruction, College of Liberal Arts, Government

Tina Fragale, Assistant Professor of Practice, College of Education, Special Education
Jennifer Flippo, Clinical Assistant Professor, School of Nursing
Justin Hart, Assistant Professor of Research, College of Natural Sciences, Computer Science

Elizabeth Klingbeil, Assistant Professor of Instruction, College of Natural Sciences, Nutritional Sciences

Carlos Jose Landaverde Alvarado, Assistant Professor of Instruction, Cockrell School of Engineering, McKetta Department of Chemical Engineering
Sofia Malik, Assistant Professor of Practice, College of Education, Educational Leadership and Policy

Michael Mrazek, Research Associate Professor, College of Liberal Arts, Psychology
Jim Nelson, Lecturer, McCombs School of Business, Managemen
Nina Palmo, Assistant Professor of Instruction, College of Liberal Arts, Sociology

Supporting Student and Faculty Mental Health

Student mental health is critical to academic success. This circle discussed how to establish flexible classroom practices while upholding academic rigor and maintaining our own well-being. Participants in this circle shared common challenges and struggles in implementing classroom practices that promote student and faculty well-being, as well as our successes and best strategies for maintaining high standards for achievement while supporting student and faculty mental health.

Nina Palmo, Assistant Professor of Instruction, College of Liberal Arts, Sociology (Facilitator)
Audrey Blood, Lecturer, College of Fine Arts, Art and Art History
Christin Davis, Assistant Professor of Practice, College of Fine Arts, Theatre and Dance
Kelly Fulton, Assistant Professor of Instruction, College of Liberal Arts, Sociology
Smyth Johansson, Assistant Professor of Instruction, College of Liberal Arts, Germanic Studies

Professional Well-being

Professional-track faculty are in a unique position that places consistent demands on the capacity to support others who need assistance, and one of the best ways to help students is by giving to ourselves first. This circle provided a place where faculty discussed resources and practical skills as they relate to topics such as mindfulness and meditation, self-compassion, work/life balance, preventing and managing burnout, social support, and making meaningful connections in our professional lives.

Lara Latimer, Assistant Professor of Instruction, College of Education, Kinesiology and Health Education (Facilitator)

Sanchita Bhadra, Research Assistant Professor, College of Natural Sciences, Molecular Biosciences

Taylor Brown, Lecturer, McCombs School of Business, Accounting
Joe Cutbirth, Assistant Professor of Instruction, Moody College of Communication, Communication Studies
Jennifer Fritz, Assistant Professor of Instruction, College of Natural Sciences, Biology Instruction Office

Laura Gonzalez, Assistant Professor of Instruction, College of Natural Sciences, Integrative Biology

Moira Monge, Associate Professor of Pediatrics, Dell Medical School, Pediatrics

Moira Muldoon, Lecturer, Cockrell School of Engineering
Sarah Ozuna, Associate Professor of Practice, College of Natural Sciences, Human Development and Family Sciences

Safeer Siddicky, Assistant Professor of Instruction, College of Education, Kinesiology and Health Education
Katherine West, Assistant Professor of Instruction, Moody College of Communication, School of Journalism and Media

Amy Wright, Assistant Professor of Instruction, College of Liberal Arts, Human Dimensions of Organizations

Feedback Conversations

Professional careers are full of feedback conversations. This circle offered a safe, curious, reflective space to delve into the successes, joys, failures and challenges involved in feedback conversations in our professional lives.

Gretchen Fuller, Assistant Professor, Dell Medical School, Surgery and Perioperative Care (Facilitator)
Angelique Karditzas, Lecturer, College of Education, Health Education

Goheun Kim, Assistant Professor of Instruction, College of Natural Sciences, Molecular Biosciences

Sunguen Kim, Research Assistant of Pediatrics, Dell Medical School, Pediatrics

Janice Hernandez, Clinical Assistant Professor, School of Nursing

Michael McQuaid, Associate Professor of Instruction, School of Information

Monica Jane Milonovich, Associate Professor of Instruction and Director, Integrated Coordinated Program in Dietetics, College of Natural Sciences, Nutritional Sciences

Mary (Katie) Sanders, Clinical Assistant Professor, School of Nursing
Larry Schooler, Assistant Professor of Practice, Moody College of Communication, Communication Studies

Madeline Shaw, Lecturer, College of Education, Health Education

Dana Thomas, Lecturer, Jackson School of Geosciences, Energy and Earth Resources, Earth and Planetary Sciences
Liliana Valenzuela, Lecturer, Moody College of Communication, Journalism
Pilar Zazueta, Associate Professor of Instruction, College of Liberal Arts, Teresa Lozano Long Institute of Latin American Studies

2022-23 Participants

Building Community in the Classroom

Keely Finkelstein, Assistant Professor of Instruction, College of Natural Sciences, Astronomy (Facilitator)

Angie Beasley, Assistant Professor of Instruction, College of Natural Sciences, Computer Science

Antonia Chimonidou, Associate Professor of Practice, Natural Sciences, UTeach
Thomas Connolly, Assistant Professor of Instruction, Cockrell School of Engineering, Mechanical Engineering

Jennifer Flippo, Clinical Assistant Professor, School of Nursing, Pediatrics

Theresa Gage, Adjunct Associate Professor,  LBJ School of Public Affairs

Madeleine Holland, Assistant Professor of Instruction, Moody College of Communication, Communication Studies
Stephanie Houghton, Associate Professor of Instruction, College of Liberal Arts, Economics
Steph Osbakken, Associate Professor of Instruction, College of Liberal Arts, Health and Society Program, Sociology

Nina Telang, Professor of Instruction, Cockrell School of Engineering, Electrical and Computer Engineering
Liliana Valenzuela, Adjunct Lecturer, Moody College of Communication, School of Journalism and Media

Soo Hyun Yang, Associate Professor of Practice, College of Natural Sciences, Freshman Research Initiative

Building a Successful Professional Track Faculty Career

Stephanie Holmsten, Associate Professor of Instruction, College of Liberal Arts, Government (Facilitator)
Niveen Abi Ghannam, Assistant Professor of Instruction, Cockrell School of Engineering, Electrical & Computer Engineering

Jennifer Austin, Associate Professor of Instruction, College of Natural Sciences, Mathematics

Laura Gonzalez, Assistant Professor of Instruction, College of Natural Sciences, Integrative Biology
Katie Gray, Professor of Instruction, McCombs School of Business, Information, Risk, and Operations Management

Layla Guyot, Assistant Professor of Instruction, College of Natural Sciences, Statistics & Data Sciences

Guan-Soon Khoo, Associate Professor of Instruction, Moody College of Communication, Advertising & Public Relations

Lara Latimer, Assistant Professor of Instruction, College of Education, Kinesiology & Health Education
Jeremiah McCallister, Lecturer, Cockrell School of Engineering, Mechanical Engineering
Dana Stauffer, Associate Professor of Instruction, College of Liberal Arts, Government
Ann Thijs, Assistant Professor of Instruction, College of Natural Sciences, Biology Instruction Office

Pilar Zazueta, Associate Professor of Instruction, College of Liberal Arts, Lozano Long Institute of Latin American Studies

Anastasia Zervou, Assistant Professor of Instruction, College of Liberal Arts, Economics

Inclusive Classroom Content

Diane Rhodes, Senior Lecturer, School of Social Work (Facilitator)
Laura Brown, Assistant Professor of Practice, Moody College of Communication, Communication Studies

Chikako Cooke, Assistant Professor of Instruction, College of Liberal Arts, Asian Studies

J.E. Johnson, Assistant Professor of Practice, College of Fine Arts, Theatre and Dance and Scenic Studio Supervisor

Joanna Mendez, Adjunct Assistant Professor, School of Social Work

Kelvin Phan, Clinical Assistant Professor, College of Education, Kinesiology & Health Education

Sally Ragsdale, Associate Professor of Instruction, College of Natural Sciences, Statistics & Data Science
Carol Ramsey, Assistant Professor of Instruction, College of Natural Sciences, Computer Science

Eleanor Reynolds, Assistant Professor of Practice, Cockrell School of Engineering, Civil, Architectural, & Environmental Engineering
Danica Sumpter, Clinical Associate Professor, School of Nursing

Oksana Lutsyshyna, Assistant Professor of Instruction, College of Liberal Arts, Slavic & Eurasian Studies  

Difficult Dialogues

Gautami Shah, Associate Professor of Instruction, College of Liberal Arts, Asian Studies (Facilitator)
Mary Beer, Clinical Assistant Professor, School of Social Work

Robert Carroll, Assistant Professor of Instruction, Moody College of Communication, Communication Studies

Jennifer Fritz, Assistant Professor of Instruction, College of Natural Sciences, Biology Integrative Office

Kristie Loescher, Associate Professor of Instruction, McCombs School of Business, Management

Angela McDermott, Lecturer, McCombs School of Business, Management
Sarah Norris, Assistant Professor of Practice, School of Information

Nina Palmo, Assistant Professor of Instruction, College of Liberal Arts, Sociology
Tom Rauzi, Lecturer, McCombs School of Business, Management

Michael Romero, Clinical Assistant Professor, School of Social Work
Jennifer Smith, Assistant Professor of Instruction, College of Education, Curriculum & Instruction