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First-Year Faculty Program Content

Fall 2025 Agenda

Topics: Kickoff / Mentor mapping / Strategic Plans
Discussion with 2024-2025 FYF Alumni


Presenters:
Jeffrey Williams, Director of CAFE
Jamie Botsch, Assistant Professor, Biology
Victoria Fowler, Assistant Professor, Theatre & Dance
Niranga Wickramarathne, Assistant Professor, Agriculture
Stephanie Voris, Instructor, Sociology

Topic: Military & Veterans Affairs

Description: Tour and overview of Newton Military Family Resource Center facility, offerings, and resources


Presenters: 
Walt Lord, Major General, U.S. Army (Retired), Vice President for Military & Veterans Affairs, and team

Topic: Grants & Research Office


Presenters:
Chad Brooks, Associate Provost for Research 
and Dean of the College of Graduate Studies
Kelly Pitts, Assistant Director of Office of Research and Sponsored Programs

Topics: QEP (Quality Enhancement Plan) & Faculty Senate 


Presenters:
Troy Priest, Director of the QEP
Brandon DiPaolo Harrison, 2025-2026 Faculty Senate President

Topic: Supporting LGBTQ students


Presenter:
Zac Moore, Assistant Director of Student Life & Engagement

Topics: Dual Enrollment & Office of Institutional Culture


Description:
“How Did We Get Here? A Dialogue on our Institutional Cultureâ€


Presenters:
Jordan Longan, Director of Dual Enrollment
LaNeeça Williams, Chief of Institutional Culture and Title IX Coordinator

Topic: Essential College Professor text discussion day


Description:
- Assessing Student Learning, Ch.10
- Dealing with Student Problems and Problem Students, Chapter 21


Presenter: 
Jeffrey Williams, Director of CAFE

Topic: College Deans 


Presenters:
Buzz Hoon, Dean, College of Arts and Letters
Dlynn Williams, Dean, College of Behavioral and Health Sciences
Mickey Hepner, Dean, College of Business
John McConnell, Interim Dean, Eriksson College of Education
Karen Meisch, Dean, College of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics

Topic: “Interprofessional Education made Practical: Tools for Facultyâ€


Presenters:
Dr. Adrienne Wilk, Assistant Professor, School of Nursing &
Jessie Wiser, Instructor of Social Work

Topic: “RSI Roadmap: Charting Your Course to Complianceâ€


Description:

  • Identify examples of RSI that promotes student engagement in an online course
  • Accurately document examples of regular and substantive interactions found in your online and/or hybrid courses.
  • Implement effective strategies for demonstrating regular and substantive instructor-initiated interactions.


Presenters: 
Mike Olson and Alexandra Rotzer, Instructional Designers, Distance Education

Topic: Full Spectrum Learning (FSL)


Description:

  • Gain an overview of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), including its characteristics and co-occurring conditions, to better understand the diversity within this population.
  • Explore the unique strengths and challenges faced by students with ASD in higher education, focusing on key domains such as executive functioning, academic skills, self-care, social competence, self-advocacy, and career preparation.
  • Learn actionable strategies to create inclusive and supportive environments using Universal Design for Learning (UDL), explicit communication, and other evidence-based practices.
  • Develop awareness of the importance of regular contact, explicit feedback, and fostering a culture of equity and acceptance for neurodivergent students.
  • Understand the APSU Full Spectrum Learning (FSL) program's mission, resources, and role in supporting students with ASD.


Presenter:
Emmanuel Mejeun, Program Director of Full Spectrum Learning (FSL)

Topic: Watermark & Course Evaluations
Semester recap and celebration


Presenters:
Kyle Christmas, Executive Director of Accreditation & External Compliance
Allie Michael, Assistant Director of Institutional Effectiveness Assessment 
Jeffrey Williams, Director of CAFE