INCLUSIVE EXCELLENCE WORKSHOP FOR INSTRUCTIONAL STAFF AND TEACHING ASSISTANTS ON TEACHING, STUDENT SUCCESS, ASSESSMENT, BELONGING, AND IMPACT OF AI Workshop for Faculty and Staff Instructors and Post Docs JANUARY 15, 2026 | 8:00 A.M. – 4:30 P.M. WOOD DINING ROOM, IACOCCA HALL, SECOND FLOOR, MOUNTAINTOP CAMPUS
• Identify and select actions they can take in their classrooms that will deepen learning, promote student success, students’ sense of belonging, and improve retention and graduation rates. • Cultivate learning from peers on innovative work in the classrooms to advance excellence for inclusive strategies. • Develop concrete implementation plans, in which they commit to several specific actions in their spring ’26 courses and beyond. • Connect their choices as faculty/staff to the success of their students and the university’s progress in achieving goals in institutional strategic plan. P U R P O S E Help Lehigh Faculty and Staff instructors
8:00 a.m. - 8:30 a.m. ARRIVAL/BREAKFAST 8:30 a.m.- 8:45 a.m. WELCOME : President Helble and Deputy Provost Terry Jones 8:45 a.m. - 10:10 a.m. SESSION 1: PANEL OF SENIOR CORPORATE EXECUTIVES Interactive session focusing personal alumni experience and (AI and its impact on industries and healthcare); expectations for future workforce; potential partnerships with Lehigh University and Higher Education; and advice for university faculty Moderator: Provost and SVP, Nathan Urban Panelists: Ms. Ginelle Julien ’94 ‘96G ‘28P Senior VP, J&J Dr. Sumona De Graaf, ’06 Founder & CEO, Idealis Advisory – Via Amsterdam Dr. Chris Magent COO, Butz Family of Companies Mr. Clyde Ellis ‘99G SVP, Structural Technologies Mr. Mike Wolski ’00 06G Executive VP, Clark Construction Dr. Shaden Eldakar-Hein ‘29P Chief Academic Officer and Senior Associate Dean, St. Luke’s/Temple Medical School Ms. Elizabeth Wolski ’01 ‘05G VP, Customer Experience, Lumeris Company Ms. Sydney (O’Tapi) Gooden ‘18 VP, J.P. Morgan Asset Management Mr. Mike Liebman ’88 Global Executive, Bloomberg Company Ms. Melony Castro ’04 ‘27P Corporate Partner, KPMG A G E N D A Do we know what our students are learning and how much they retain? PROGRAM AGENDA
10:15 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. AI-Ready Learning: Student-Led Session for Faculty Eight students from a wide range of majors share how they interact with AI and what they believe best prepares students to use these tools effectively. Faculty will gain strategies for equitable course design, AI-aligned instruction, and developing the internship and job-ready skills students need beyond the classroom. Advised by : Prof. Burak Eskici, College of Business Student Presenters: Chloe Schunke ‘28: Architecture, Engineering Minor (Infrastructure and Sustainability), Real Estate Minor Forum Patel ‘27: CSB, Entrepreneurship Minor Ibtihal Gassem ‘27: Political Sci/International Rel., GS Minor John Manning ‘27: IBE, Financial Engineering Megan Thomas ’27: Molecular Biology, Pre-Med Track Nathan Balderas ‘27: ISE and IBE Finance Emily Farley ‘27: Behavioral Neuroscience, Soc. Minor, Pre-Med Track Zaki Khan ‘27: CSB, Entrepreneurship Minor 11:35 a.m. - 11:40 a.m. BREAK 11:40 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. FACULTY PANEL Faculty Reaction to What They Heard from The Student Led Session that Would be Helpful as They Prepare for The Spring Semester Classes and Research and Beyond.” Followed by Table Discussion. Moderator: Professor and Vice Provost, Dominic Packer Faculty Panel: Dr. Jiayuan Wang, Math, CAS Dr. Brook Sawyer, Professor, Education, College of Education Dr. Ricardo Castro, Professor, Materials Science and Engineering, RCEAS Dr. Vassie Ware, Professor, Biological Sciences, CAS Dr. Gideon Gogovi, Assistant Professor, College of Health Dr. Kofi Arhin, Assistant Professor, College of Business Dr. Matt Bush, Professor & Chair, Modern Languages and Literatures, CAS Do we know what our students are learning and how much they retain?
A G E N D A Inclusive Excellence in Teaching: And Learning January 2026 Workshops PROGRAM AGENDA Melana Sheldon ’27 CAS – via Zoom Henry Scott ’27 CAS Tiana Eshaghoff ’27 CAS – via Zoom Julia Widding ’27 CAS – via Zoom (Australia) Jashlyn Gomez ’26 RCEAS - via Zoom David Okeh ’27 RCEAS Rhema Hooper ’26 CoH – via Zoom Amanda Baran (Graduate Student) –PhD Cand - RCEAS Wenyan Feng (Graduate Student) – PhD Cand - CAS 12:30 p.m. - 1:15 p.m. Working Lunch: Student Panel: Student Perspectives on Teaching, Learning, Success and Belonging: What Your Professors Have Done in The Classroom to Enhance Your Learning and Belonging; What Advice Would You Give to the Professors to Enhance Your Learning and Their Inclusive Teaching. Moderator: Professor and Assoc. Dean, Kelly Austin Student Presenters: Tasfia Ahmad ’27 CAS Sara Goldin ’27 CAS– via Zoom Mariana Roldan ’28 CAS Kaidin Hein ’29 CAS Trevor Busch ’26 RCEAS Rachid Pierre Louis Seraphin ’26 RCEAS Emma Valle ’26 CAS/CoB Charlie Keenan ’28 CAS Kamara St. Paul ’26 CoB 1:20 p.m. - 2:20 p.m. FACULTY PANEL How Do We Recognize and Reward Excellence and Impact in Inclusive Teaching? Moderator: Professor and Deputy Provost, Larry Snyder Faculty Panel: Dr. Andreea Kiss, Professor, College of Business Dr. Michelle Thompson, Assistant Professor, College of Health Dr. Rita Jones, Adjunct Professor and Director, Center for Gender Leadership & Empowerment Dr. Zilong Pan, College of Education Dr. Roberto Palmieri, College of Engineering
2:25 p.m. - 3:15 p.m. INTERACTIVE AND TABLE DISCUSSION How Faculty, Teaching Assistants and Postdocs can develop can Implement an Action Plan for their respective courses based on the Lessons Learned from Today’s Workshop. Identify one-two things you can do to advance Inclusive Excellence in Teaching. Table Discussion. Moderator: Vice Provost Greg Reihman 3:15 p.m. - 3:25 p.m. CLOSING REMARKS Vice President Donald Outing 3:25 p.m. - 3:30p.m. WRAP- UP Program Assessment and Next Sessions on Friday, March 20 and Friday, Sept. 4, 2026 Deputy VP and Associate Provost Dr. Henry Odi 3:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. NETWORKING RECEPTION Second Floor Conference Center Inclusive Excellence in Teaching: And Learning January 2026 Workshops
S P E A K E R S Dr. Nathan Urban Ginelle Julien Dr. Sumona De Graaf Dr. Chris Magent Clyde Ellis Mike Wolski Dr. Shaden Eldakar-Hein Dr. Joseph Helble Dr. Terry-Ann Jones Elizabeth Wolski
S P E A K E R S Sydney (O’Tapi) Gooden Mike Liebman Melony Castro Prof. Burak Eskici Dr. Jiayuan Wang Dr. Brook Sawyer Dr. Ricardo Castro Dr. Gideon Gogovi Dr. Vassie Ware Dr. Kofi Arhin Dr. Dominic Packer Dr. Matt Bush
S P E A K E R S Assoc. Dean Kelly Austin Dr. Andreea Kiss Dr. Rita Jones Dr. Zilong Pan Dr. Roberto Palmieri Deputy VP and Associate Provost Henry Odi Dep. Provost Larry Snyder Dr. Michelle Thompson Vice Provost Greg Reihman Vice President Donald Outing
STUDENT PRESENTERS & PANEL Chloe Schunke Forum Patel Ibtihal Gassem John Manning Nathan Balderas Emily Farley Zaki Khan Sara Goldin Tasfia Ahmad Mariana Roldan Megan Thomas Kaidin Hein
STUDENT PRESENTERS & PANEL Trevor Busch Rachid Pierre Louis Seraphin Emma Valle Charlie Keenan Melana Sheldon Henry Scott Tiana Eshagoff Jashlyn Gomez Julia Widding David Okeh Kamara St. Paul Rhema Hooper Wenyan Feng Amanda Baran
Lehigh's Adoption of the Chicago Principles In October of 2025, Lehigh joined the more than 100 colleges and universities that have adopted the University of Chicago Statement on Freedom of Expression, known as the Chicago Principles. These principles articulate a broad and intrinsic belief in the freedom of expression on campus. At Lehigh, these principles were adopted including a Lehigh Preamble. Lehigh University Principles on Freedom of Expression Preamble The mission of Lehigh University is to advance learning through the integration of teaching, research, and service to others. We best achieve this mission in an environment in which we all feel valued, welcomed, and respected. We adopt the University of Chicago’s Report of the Committee on Freedom of Expression (“Chicago Principles”) as a set of principles we believe are essential to establish foundational guidance for our community. We see this statement as an expression of our shared commitment to academic freedom in the pursuit of the truth and our mission. By adopting this statement, we seek to empower our campus community, including Lehigh University faculty, students, and staff, to debate and deliberate in an open and responsible manner that serves our institutional core values and mission. The Chicago Statement, coupled with existing University policies which govern freedom of expression for our campus community, our Principles of Our Equitable Community, and our robust culture of inquiry, is adopted to promote open and respectful dialogue on campus, exploration of a plurality of thought, inquiry and expression as part of the Lehigh experience. It is expected that the Chicago Statement will be used as a principled guidepost for future decisions regarding freedom of expression within the University. History Discussions around the Chicago Principles at Lehigh University began as early as 2018. By September 2022, exploratory discussions on free expression were formally underway under President Helble’s leadership. On January 30, 2024, the Committee on Free Expression began its work in earnest, engaging with more than 30 different groups across the University to gather input. Following this period of consultation, the Committee submitted its formal report on May 7, 2024, recommending that Lehigh adopt the Chicago Statement on Free Expression. In February 2025, a group was formed to draft a Lehigh University Preamble to the Chicago Principles, which was subsequently presented to the student and faculty senates, as well as the Employee Relations Advisory Committee (ERAC), for review and feedback. The preamble was formally endorsed by the graduate student senate executive board, undergraduate student senate and faculty senate. The process culminated in October 2025 with the formal approval of Lehigh's adoption of the Chicago Principles by Lehigh University’s Board of Trustees.
SPONSORS LEHIGH UNIVERSITY • Office of the President • Office of the Provost • Office of Inclusive Excellence and Belonging • Office of Strategic Initiatives • Office of Educational Innovation and Assessment • Academic Colleges and Leadership • Office of Library and Technology Services • Office of Student Affairs • Office of Graduate Education • Office of Research –Postdoctoral Affairs • Office of Student Auxiliary Services • Lehigh University Auxilliary Services • Faculty Senate • Educational Policy Committee BARNES AND NOBLE CORPORATION EDUCATION FOUNDATION SPECIAL THANK YOU TO ALLK OF THOSE WHO CONTRIBUTED TO THE PLANNING FOR THE 2026 INCLUSIVE EXCELLENCE WORKSHOP FOR TEACHING, STUDENT SUCCESS, BELONGING, AND IMPACT OF AI WORKSHOP Pedagogical, logistical, and technical support for this workshop was provided by the Distance Education staff in Lehigh’s Center for Innovation in Teaching and Learning (CITL). The Office of Distance Education provides professional special event productions for academic and non-academic programs across the University and external clients. The dedicated team provides technical support and works collaboratively to meet the technical needs for a successful event. The CITL is directed by Judd Hark. CITL-DE staff include Marcie Sohara, Jason Spiegel, Kyle Skowronski, John Santamaria, Noel Kratzer, Bryan Pitkin, James Secrest, Nate Righi, and Matthew Romero. edagogical, logistical, and technical support for this workshop was provided by the Distance Education staff in Lehigh’s Center for Innovation in Teaching and Learning (CITL). The Office of Distance Education provides professional special event productions for academic and non-academic programs across the University and external clients. The dedicated team provides technical support and works collaboratively to meet the technical needs for a successful event. The CITL is directed by Judd Hark. CITL-DE staff include Marcie Sohara, Jason Spiegel, John Santamaria, Noel Kratzer, Bryan Pitkin, James Secrest, Nate Righi, and Matthew Romero. SPECIAL THANK YOU STAFF SUPPORT: Christine Lake, Administrative Director, Office of Inclusive Excellence and Belonging Peggy Buckley, Executive Secretary, Office of Inclusive Excellence and Belonging
R E S O U R C E S LEHIGH ADVANCE CENTER www.advance.lehigh.edu CENTER FOR INNOVATION IN TEACHING AND LEARNING (CITL) lehigh.atlassian.net/wiki/spaces/LKB/pages/134283289/Inclusive+Teaching+Resources NATIONAL CENTER FOR FACULTY DEVELOPMENT & DIVERSITY (NCFDD) advance.cc.lehigh.edu/news/lehigh-joins-ncfdd-claim-your-account-today OFFICE OF INCLUSIVE EXCELLENCE AND BELONGING inclusiveexcellenceandbelonging.lehigh.edu Genter, Leadership & Empowerment Lehigh University Pride Center Center for Cultural Engagement Student Access & Success Center Center for Spirituality & Dialogue) OFFICE OF INTERNATIONAL AFFAIRS (INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS & SCHOLARS) Global.lehigh.edu/oiss STUDENT AFFAIRS Studentaffairs.lehigh.edu OFFICE OF EDUCATIONAL INNOVATION AND ASSESSMENT
GUIDELINES FOR EFFECTIVE CROSS-CULTURAL DIALOGUE TRY ON: Helps create a safe learning environment in which to try on new ideas as well as model accepting behavior. IT’S OKAY TO DISAGREE: Across cultural differences, we sometimes will see things differently. That is to be expected. Honoring our differences supports open dialogue. IT’S NOT OKAY TO ATTACK, BLAME OR SHAME SELF OR OTHERS: Accept others where they are and remain open to the possibility for new learnings and growth. Attacking, blaming and shaming can shut down meaningful dialogue. PRACTICE SELF FOCUS: Speak for yourself (e.g. I think, I feel, I believe, This is my experience). Speaking for yourself allows others to get to know you better. PRACTICE “BOTH/AND” THINKING (RATHER THAN “EITHER/OR” THINKING): Develop the skill of holding two competing thoughts. Both might be true. “I want to go to class AND I want to go to the movies.” Practice using “And” rather than “But” in your dialogue with self and others. NOTICE PROCESS AND CONTENT: Process is “how” we engage. Content is “what” we engage about. Both are important. BE AWARE OF INTENT AND IMPACT: The impact of your words and/or behavior might be different from your intent. Everyone makes mistakes. Develop the skill of acknowledging your impact. MAINTAIN CONFIDENTIALITY: Share your story/experiences and not those of others unless you have permission. Maintaining confidentiality helps to build trust and more open dialogue. © VISIONS, Inc. (Vigorous InterventionS In Ongoing Natural Settings). Used with permission.
PRINCIPLES OF OUR EQUITABLE COMMUNITY Lehigh University is first and foremost an educational institution, committed to developing the future leaders of our changing global society. Every member of our community has a personal responsibility to acknowledge and practice the following basic principles: We affirm the inherent dignity in all of us, and we maintain an inclusive and equitable community. We recognize and celebrate the richness contributed to our lives by our diverse community. We promote mutual understanding among the members of our community. We confront and reject discrimination in all its forms, including that based on age, color, disability, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, national or ethnic origin, political beliefs, race, religion, sex, sexual orientation, socio-economics, veteran status, or any differences that have been excuses for misunderstanding, dissension, or hatred. We affirm academic freedom within our community and uphold our commitment to the highest standards of respect, civility, courtesy, and sensitivity toward every individual. We recognize each person’s right to think and speak as dictated by personal belief and to respectfully disagree with or counter another’s point of view. We promote open expression of our individuality and our differences within the bounds of University policies. We acknowledge each person’s obligation to the community of which we have chosen to be a part. We take pride in building and maintaining a culture that is founded on these principles of unity and respect. Please visit www.lehigh.edu.edu/diversity to see the principles of our equitable community in Arabic, Chinese, Hebrew, and Spanish.
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