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Â鶹´«Ã½’s (CWI) annual faculty professional development events welcomed Dr. J. Luke Wood as this year’s keynote speaker Friday, March 4. Dr. Wood, Vice President of Student Affairs and Campus Diversity, Dean’s Distinguished Professor of Education at [2], and Co-Director of the [3] (CCEAL), presented “Underserved Students in Community Colleges: Trends, Challenges and Opportunities [4]” to faculty and staff via Zoom. The interactive workshop discussed societal and institutional factors that influence belonging, welcomeness to engage, and success for underserved students within community colleges.

“I felt Dr. Wood’s presentation gave my colleagues and me a framework and critical vocabulary to have important conversations and take actual steps in creating a culture of inclusivity at CWI,” said English Professor, Andrea Ascuena.

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Beyond the keynote, faculty also participated in the 2022 Innovation in Action contest which celebrated the contributions faculty make toward retention through sharing of their best practices.

2022 Innovation in Action Winners

• Individual Connections:  Annie Estvold, Social Work [6] faculty, for “Extra Credit Encounters”
• Classroom Connections: Elisa Lowenstein, Software Development [7] faculty, for “Team Learning”
• College Connections: Michal Yadlin, Honors Program [8] Coordinator, for “Understanding our Students”
• Teaching Strategies: Sara Palmer, Psychology [9] faculty, for “Weekly To-do”

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Congratulations to the School of Social Sciences and Public Affairs (SSPA) for winning the school-wide Innovation in Action trophy!

“While I’m excited to see the trophy return to SSPA for the third year in a row, all of the submissions demonstrated creative ways our faculty care for and encourage students,” said SSPA Dean, Courtney Santillan.

Thank you to all for a great week of learning!