Faculty Retreat

Building Resilience Through Community, Connection, and Collaborative Problem-Solving

Date: Friday, March 6, 2026

Time: 8:30 am to 3 pm
Location: Illini Union, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

Description

In today’s sociopolitical climate, teaching and mentoring can feel like navigating shifting terrain. We are asked to uphold teaching excellence, academic freedom, and foster civil discourse, all while keeping ourselves grounded and safe. This retreat is a space to pause, reflect, and reconnect. It’s about building collaboration and learn that you are not alone in this work.

The retreat is a space where faculty can show up as their whole selves to share stories, swap strategies, and build the kind of community that makes resilience possible. It isn’t about perfection; it’s about connection. It’s about learning from each other and leaving with tools and relationships that make the hard stuff feel a little lighter.

Tentative Agenda

This year’s theme, Building Resilience Through Community, Connection, and Collaborative Problem-Solving, will frame a program designed to bring faculty together to exchange ideas, reflect on teaching and mentoring practices, and consider approaches for addressing current challenges with empathy and confidence.

Sponsors: The Teaching Advancement Board and Inclusion, and the Center for Innovation in Teaching and Learning.

Collaborators: The Institute for Citizens and Scholars, University Library, Faculty/Staff Assistance and Well-Being Services, and the Office of the Vice-Chancellor for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.

Agenda

Agenda
Time	Session
8 – 8:30	Coffee & Community Icebreaker
8:30 – 8:45	Welcome & Agenda Overview Amy Santos, Associate Provost for Faculty Affairs Michel Bellini, Associate Professor of Cell & Developmental Biology Director, Center for Innovation in Teaching and Learning Manny Rodriguez Rivera, Associate Director for Teaching Excellence and Research Beverly Sanford, Executive Vice President, Chief Program & Fellowships Officer, Institute for Citizens & Scholars Rachel Piontak, Program Officer, Faculty Institute, Institute for Citizens & Scholars
8:45 – 9	Remarks: Reminder of Support for Faculty in their Civil Discourse Work John Coleman, Provost and Executive Vice Chancellor for Academic Affairs
9 – 9:45	Faculty Lightning Talks: Stories from the Community Dana Rabin, History Professor Professorial Scholar, College of Liberal Arts and Sciences. Emily Stone, Director of Public Engagement and the Executive Director for School Partnerships for the College of Education Ross Wantland, Interim Director, Office of Academic Inclusive Excellence at the Office of the Vice Chancellor for Access, Civil Rights & Community Sara Maxwell, Assistant Director in Well-Being for Faculty/Staff Assistance and Well-Being Services
9:45 – 10	Wellness Break Sara Maxwell, Assistant Director in Well-Being for Faculty/Staff Assistance and Well-Being Services
10 – 11	From Dialogue to Action—Tools for Civil Discourse Beverly Sanford, Executive Vice President, Chief Program & Fellowships Officer, Institute for Citizens & Scholars Rachel Piontak, Program Officer, Faculty Institute, Institute for Citizens & Scholars
11 – 11:20	Faculty Spotlight: Practices in Action Avital Livny, Associate Professor of Political Science and Lynn M. Martin Professorial Scholar Clarion Mendes, Clinical Associate Professor, Department of Speech and Hearing Science. Emily Van Duyn, Associate Professor Department of Communication
11:20 – 12:30	Lunch & Thematic Table Conversations: Campus Café Kevin Tan, Associate Dean, Associate Professor of Health and Behavioral Health, Social Work Education and Workforce Development Kelsi Walters, Program Coordinator School of Social Work
12:30 – 1:10	The Case for Academic Freedom Chris Napolitano, Associate Professor of Education Psychology David Forsyth, Fulton Watson Copp Chair in Computer Science Jason Mazzone, Albert E. Jenner, Jr. Professor of Law
1:10 – 1:15	Coffee Break
1:15 – 1:30	Lighting Talks: Connecting and Co-Creating Communities of Support Alex Deeke, Assistant Professor and Undergraduate Teaching and Learning Librarian Datia Flowers, Assistant Director of Bias Response Initiatives
1:30 – 2:45	Interactive Workshop: Dialogue in Practice Beverly Sanford, Executive Vice President, Chief Program & Fellowships Officer, Institute for Citizens & Scholars Rachel Piontak, Program Officer, Faculty Institute, Institute for Citizens & Scholars
2:45 – 3	Closing Reflection & Call to Community Amy Santos, Associate Provost for Faculty Affairs Manny Rodriguez Rivera, Associate Director for Teaching Excellence and Research

For additional resources around these topics, we invite you to explore the Discourse Series.

What You’ll Experience

Expert Insights from The Institute of Citizens and Scholars: Learn practical strategies for navigating disagreement and fostering inclusive dialogue from national leaders in civil discourse.
Stories from Across Campus: Faculty lightning talks on resilience, navigating difficult conversations, and balancing mental health.
Interactive Sessions: Hands-on activities, dialogue circles, and role-play scenarios to practice strategies for civil discourse.
Student Perspectives: A panel discussion on co-creating learning environments that foster trust and collaboration.
Thematic Table Conversations: Table discussions with faculty and staff across campus on topics like academic freedom, mental health, and inclusive dialogue—designed to spark collaboration.

Framework

Connect: Build community and reduce isolation through reflective practice and authentic dialogue.

Co-Create: Develop actionable tools for navigating challenging conversations with students, colleagues, and administrators.

Carry Forward: Strengthen faculty leadership and collaboration by establishing networks that support dialogue, wellness, and professional growth.

Guiding Questions

How do we create classrooms that invite honest and constructive dialogue?

What does resilience look like in the face of academic and political pressures?

How can we support one another in fostering inclusive and respectful learning environments?

Resources

Interested in learning more about civil discourse, academic freedom, and self-care?

Listen to the latest episodes of Off-Syllabus with Manny, where professionals from the Institute for Citizens and Scholars and faculty from across campus share their strategies on how to facilitate difficult conversations with their students.

Join Us

This retreat is more than a professional development event—it’s a call to community. Together, we will explore strategies, share stories, and build partnerships that carry forward beyond a single day. Come ready to listen, learn, and lead.

Registration details and full agenda coming soon.

Questions: Please contact Manny Rodriguez Rivera