Teaching. Research. Writing. Balance.
JSU Faculty Development | Spring 2026
Building what matters—together.
About Faculty Development
At Jackson State, faculty development supports the whole faculty member—advancing teaching, scholarship, and career success. Our 2025–2026 theme, THEE Next Level, invites you to strengthen your teaching through innovative, student-centered approaches and engage with emerging technologies, including AI, with confidence and integrity.
All sessions are recorded, with slides and handouts available on demand. Zoom links are shared through your JSU Google Calendar.
Programs and Pathways
Teaching and Learning Workshops
Faculty-led workshops focused on practical teaching strategies you can use immediately—without redesigning your entire course.
- Design assignments that increase student engagement and reduce grading fatigue
- Use inclusive and trauma-aware teaching practices to support persistence and motivation
- Integrate active learning, visual strategies, and emerging tools (including AI) in purposeful ways
These sessions help you refine what you already teach, making classes more effective and sustainable without adding extra prep time.
Career-Building Workshops for New Tenure-Track Faculty
Structured sessions that help early-career faculty understand expectations, plan strategically, and document their work effectively.
- Clarify tenure and promotion expectations and timelines
- Translate teaching, service, and research into dossier-ready language
- Build a realistic multi-year plan aligned with workload and institutional priorities
These workshops reduce uncertainty and help faculty avoid common early-career missteps, leaving participants with concrete planning tools.
AI in Teaching & Learning
Guided sessions that help faculty understand, evaluate, and apply AI tools in teaching, research, and professional practice.
- Understand what generative AI can and cannot do in academic contexts
- Develop ethical and transparent approaches for classroom use
- Explore discipline-specific examples and low-stakes applications
These workshops emphasize informed decision-making and thoughtful exploration rather than tool adoption for its own sake.
Writing Accountability Groups
Small, structured writing communities designed to help faculty make steady progress on articles, chapters, grants, or creative projects.
- Set realistic writing goals and maintain momentum across the semester
- Receive peer support, feedback, and accountability
- Develop writing habits that fit teaching-heavy schedules
Writing groups create protected space for scholarship and help faculty move projects forward, even during busy semesters.
Help Shape Our Programs
Your input helps us design workshops that meet your needs. What topics matter most to you this semester?
Teaching & Learning Workshops
Led by JSU Teaching & Learning Fellows and invited experts.
|
Thu, Sept 4
|
11:00 a.m.
|
Kickoff: Meet the Teaching & Learning Fellows
Launch the semester by exploring JSU’s new peer learning communities, led by the Teaching & Learning Fellows. Connect with colleagues who share your interests, dive into specific teaching challenges or innovations, and preview the fall workshops that will support your goals. This is your chance to find your community, exchange ideas, and spark new approaches for the year ahead.
Find your peer learning community and spark new ideas for the year ahead.
|
Wed, Sept 10
|
3:00 p.m.
|
Open Syllabus Spaces: Student Co-Creation for Engagement
Dr. Sharon Simmons, Department of Accounting, Finance, and Entrepreneurship
Explore practical ways to invite students into the design of your course content and structure. Learn how co-creation can boost engagement and deepen learning —and join colleagues in rethinking what shared ownership of the classroom can look like.
Discover how inviting students into course design can boost engagement and enhance learning.
|
Fri, Sept 19
|
12:00 p.m.
|
Beyond the Essay: Project-Based Multimodal Design
Dr. Brittany Myburgh, Department of Art
Move past traditional assignments and design authentic, multimodal projects that engage students in critical thinking and creative communication. Explore concrete strategies, share examples with colleagues, and leave with new ideas you can adapt for your own courses.
Move beyond essays with projects that build flexible, 21st-century skills.
|
Thu, Sept 25
|
10:00 a.m.
|
From Product to Process and Back Again: Rethinking Writing and AI
Dr. Craig Meyer, Department of English and Modern Languages
Join colleagues in reimagining how AI tools can shape writing as both process and product. Consider new ways to guide students’ learning, explore practical classroom strategies, and reflect on how AI is reshaping what counts as good writing.
Rethink how AI tools shape writing as both a process and a product.
|
Fri, Oct 3
|
11:00 a.m.
|
Culturally Relevant Teaching in Higher Education
Dr. La’Keshia Opara-Nadi, Department of Elementary and Early Childhood Education
Join colleagues in exploring culturally relevant approaches that affirm students’ identities and connect learning to their lived experiences. Discover strategies to strengthen engagement, deepen understanding, and create more inclusive classrooms that support success for all learners.
Affirm students’ identities and foster inclusive, engaging classrooms.
|
Wed, Oct 15
|
10:00 a.m.
|
Building Articles from Classwork: Mentoring Graduate Students Through Co-Authorship
Dr. Anwar Ahmad, Department of Biology
Join colleagues in exploring ways to transform graduate student coursework into publishable scholarship. Learn how structured prompts and guided mentorship can support co-authorship, strengthen students’ research skills, and expand opportunities for collaborative publication.
Turn graduate coursework into publishable scholarship through guided mentorship.
|
Tues, Oct 28
|
11:00 a.m.
|
Trauma-Informed Pedagogy for Faculty and Student Thriving
Dr. Amirah Nelson, Department of Counseling, Rehabilitation, and Psychometric Services
Join colleagues in exploring trauma-informed strategies that connect course content to students’ lived experiences and strengths. Discover approaches that foster safety, inclusion, and resilience—and leave with practices you can adapt to support both student and faculty thriving.
Learn strategies to connect teaching to students’ lived experiences and strengths.
AI On-Ramp Trainings
Focused on AI tools, applications, and ethics at JSU.
|
Thu, Sept 18
|
10:00 a.m.
|
AI On-Ramp Mini-Series Session I
Your AI Toolkit-Ethics, Engagement, and Everyday Use
Join colleagues in exploring the new Canvas AI Resource Hub and Faculty Readiness Self-Assessment Tool. Preview highlights from Intel’s modules on ethics, equity, and inclusive AI, and see sample engagement paths—from adapting assignments to adding modules into your courses. Leave with a clear roadmap for integrating AI responsibly into your teaching and research.
Get oriented with JSU’s AI Resource Hub and discover pathways for ethical, practical AI use.
|
Thu, Oct 9
|
10:00 a.m.
|
AI On-Ramp Mini-Series Session II
Designing Smarter: Creative Course Strategies with AI
Dr. Brittany Myburgh, Department of Art
Join colleagues in experimenting with AI as a tool for reimagining course activities and assignments. Explore design thinking approaches, try out discussion prompts and reflection exercises from Intel modules, and consider how AI can enhance creativity and engagement in your classroom. Leave with practical strategies and adaptable models for your own courses.
Use AI to design smarter learning activities that spark creativity and engagement.
|
Thu, Oct 30
|
10:00 a.m.
|
AI On-Ramp Mini-Series Session III
AI as Your Startup Buddy: Explore, Test, & Build Solutions
Join colleagues in experimenting with AI as a creative partner for generating, testing, and refining ideas. Explore Intel module strategies for entrepreneurial thinking, see classroom use cases, and try out adaptable templates for AI-resilient assignment design. Leave with concrete tools to help students approach AI as a resource for innovation and ethical problem-solving.
Experiment with AI as a partner in building, testing, and innovating new ideas.
Career-Building Workshops
Mentoring Program — designed for first- and second-year tenure-track faculty, open to all.
|
Wed, Sept 17
|
3:00 p.m.
|
Creating Your Tenure Roadmap
Map goals for teaching, research, and service to align with JSU’s tenure expectations.
|
Wed, Oct 15
|
3:00 p.m.
|
Build a Research Pipeline and Protecting Time for It
Turn ideas into long-term projects while managing competing priorities and safeguarding writing time.
|
Wed, Nov 12
|
3:00 p.m.
|
Collaborative Research at JSU: Finding Partners and Projects
Build interdisciplinary connections for co-authorships and grant opportunities.
|
Wed, Dec 10
|
3:00 p.m.
|
Balance Service, Teaching, and Research Without Losing Focus
Strategies for setting boundaries, protecting priorities, and making intentional commitments.
Writing Accountability Groups (WAGs)
Join a supportive community to set goals, write with focus, and track progress. WAGs provide accountability and momentum for your writing. Signup required.
|
Mondays
|
3:00–5:00 p.m.
|
Tuesdays
|
7:30–9:30 a.m.
|
Each session includes a brief goal-setting check-in, focused writing time, and a wrap-up to track progress.
Faculty Development for Student Success Center · Jackson State University ·
jsucus@jsums.edu · 601-979-6949