In Spring 2023, the Faculty Development team worked with Professor Gautami Shah, the 2022-2023 Provost’s Academic Leadership Fellow, and a team of three professional-track faculty facilitators to launch a pilot of a new program. Professor Shah, Associate Professor of Instruction, Department of Asian Studies, played a leading role in creating and implementing a new, campus-wide peer networking and career development program for professional track faculty—The Professional- Track Peer Networking Circle Program.

Due to the overwhelmingly positive response to the pilot, the program expanded in 2023-24 to offer five circles, designed for and facilitated by professional track faculty. The Professional-Track Faculty Peer Networking Circle program allows individuals to connect and share experiences with peers from across the University. Each “circle” will promote discussion of best practices centered on a particular theme. Facilitated by a professional-track faculty colleague, each circle will typically meet twice monthly for in-person discussions.

In addition to providing focused development on a particular theme, we anticipate participants will benefit by becoming constructive team players in a peer network, experiencing an increase in belonging in the University community, and gain visibility internally and among their national networks.

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.

Themes and Facilitators to be announced soon.

2023-24 Participants

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.

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

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

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.

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

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

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.

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.

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.

2022-23 Participants

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

Professional-track faculty

Circles will run on either a semester or yearly basis.

Applications for facilitators are due by noon on Friday, May 23.