Center for Faculty Development
WORKSHOPS
Page Content
The Center for Faculty Development (CFDFREEMississippi) and the Office of Online Learning (onlineFREEMississippi) are available for one-on-one consultations through email and virtual meetings.
Workshops & Events by Topic
FYF: Navigating Challenging Conversations with Students: A Panel for New Faculty
Join a panel of experienced faculty as they share practical strategies for responding to difficult student conversations—from academic concerns to personal disclosures. This session will highlight key campus policies, boundaries around faculty roles, and the support resources available to both you and your students. Bring your questions and leave with tools to foster compassionate, clear communication in the classroom and beyond. Designed especially for new faculty, this session encourages proactive, informed engagement with student needs.
Panelists:
Dr. Hugh Broome, Associate Teaching Professor, School of Mathematics and Natural Sciences
Dr. Kendrick Buford, Academic Integrity Director, Associate Teaching Professor, Center for STEM Education
Dr. Ragan Downey, Assistant Teaching Professor, School of Criminal Justice, Forensic Science, and
Security
Wednesday, September 24th
3:00-4:15 pm
Hybrid | IC 319 & Teams
Preparing for Annual Evaluation
This session will discuss an overview of the annual evaluation process and how it is completed in Watermark Faculty Success. Attendees will gain insight about the annual evaluation process, how this connects to the promotion and tenure process, and what you should be thinking about now to prepare for USM’s promotion and tenure processes.
Friday, November 21st
9:00-10:15 am
Hybrid | IC 319 &Teams
Graduate Mentorship Training Series
The Southern Miss Graduate School, in partnership with the Center for Faculty Development, is offering a Graduate Faculty Mentor Training Program during the 2025–2026 academic year. This program, led by experienced faculty trained through CIMER, will provide practical guidance on effective mentoring, addressing disparities, and building strong mentor–mentee relationships. Faculty interested in enhancing their mentorship skills are encouraged to register.
Maintaining Effective Communication and Aligning Expectations
Wednesday, September 17th
12:00-1:30pm
Hybrid | IC 319 (CFD) & Zoom
Promoting Professional Development
Wednesday, October 22nd
Time: 12:00-1:30pm
Hybrid | IC 319 (CFD) & Zoom
IRB Submissions and Review: Using InfoEd
This presentation, led by USM's Office of Research Integrity (ORI), will be a hands-on guide to USM's IRB software platform: InfoEd. It will be useful to all human subjects researchers, research advisors, and IRB members.
Presenters:
Dr. Don Sacco, Interim Director, Office of Research Integrity
Dr. Lisa Wright, Senior ORI IRB Analyst
Wednesday, September 10th
Noon-1:00 pm
Hybrid | IC 319 & Teams
Show Up & Write!
Show Up and Write! is hosted virtually on Teams by the Center for Faculty Development (CFD) weekly and provides a quiet open space for dedicated writing time. This writing group aims to support faculty, staff, and graduate student research by designating time for writing and increasing productivity through peer support and personal accountability. Join us on Teams and plan to focus time on writing an article, book chapter, grant proposal, blog, grading or another project.
Show Up and Write! will meet virtually every Thursday this fall from 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 pm beginning August 28th, 2025 and will conclude November 13th. These sessions are come-and-go as needed for your schedule and does not include peer exchange. Faculty, staff and graduate students from all disciplines and ranks are welcome to attend.
If this piques your interest, click the link below to receive a reminder/calendar invite along with the Team's information to join this supportive community.
Eagle SPUR Grant Information Session for Mentors
This information session is for undergraduate research mentors interested in learning more about the Eagle SPUR grant program sponsored by Southern Miss’s Drapeau Center for Undergraduate Research. This session will also cover how faculty mentors can best help their students with their grant applications.
Presenter: Dr. Rebecca Tuuri, Drapeau Center for Undergraduate Research Co-director
Friday, September 12, 2025
1-1:45 pm
Hybrid | IC 319 & Teams
Developing Discipline-Specific First-Year Experience Success Courses
Do you have a course designed to help new students succeed in college and/or the major, or are you interested in developing one? As part of the University's Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP), Ready for Success, the QEP Research and Design Team recommended the creation of a First-Year Experience (FYE) designation for discipline-specific student success courses to serve in place of the university-wide first-year experience course, UNV 100. Learn more about applying for the FYE designation and funding opportunities to create or redesign a course in your program, school, or college. This session is being offered twice, so when registering, choose the session that best fits with your schedule.
Presenter: Julie Howdeshell, Director of Quality Enhancement
Monday, September 15th
10:00-11:00 am
Hybrid | IC 319 & Teams
Tuesday, September 30th
2:30 – 3:30 pm
Hybrid | IC 319 & Teams
Tips for Writing Effective Letters of Recommendation for Students
This panel session will present general tips for faculty interested in writing more effective recommendation letters for their undergraduate students applying for nationally competitive awards and graduate programs.
Presenters:
Mary Beard, Director of the Office of Nationally Competitive Programs and Awards
Dr. Andrew Haley, The University of Southern Mississippi’s Ombud and Associate Professor of History
Dr. Mac Alford, Director of University Forum and Professor of Botany
Sponsor: The Honors College and the Office of Nationally Competitive Programs and Awards
Tuesday, September 16th
12:15-1:30 p.m
Hybrid | IC 319 & Teams
LA Program Open House Invitation
The LA Program is excited to show you our new tutoring and study space! Join us in
EHH 122 on Friday, September 19, from 9:00 - 10:00 for an open house, and chat with
us about all things LA Program. Light refreshments will be provided.
Workshops & Events by Date
September
Show Up & Write!
Show Up and Write! is hosted virtually on Teams by the Center for Faculty Development
(CFD) weekly and provides a quiet open space for dedicated writing time. This writing
group aims to support faculty, staff, and graduate student research by designating
time for writing and increasing productivity through peer support and personal accountability.
Join us on Teams and plan to focus time on writing an article, book chapter, grant
proposal, blog, grading or another project.
Show Up and Write! will meet virtually every Thursday this fall from 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 pm beginning August 28th, 2025 and will conclude November 13th. These sessions are come-and-go as needed for your schedule and does not include peer exchange. Faculty, staff and graduate students from all disciplines and ranks are welcome to attend.
If this piques your interest, click the link below to receive a reminder/calendar invite along with the Team's information to join this supportive community.
IRB Submissions and Review: Using InfoEd
This presentation, led by USM's Office of Research Integrity (ORI), will be a hands-on guide to USM's IRB software platform: InfoEd. It will be useful to all human subjects researchers, research advisors, and IRB members.
Presenters:
Dr. Don Sacco, Interim Director, Office of Research Integrity
Dr. Lisa Wright, Senior ORI IRB Analyst
Wednesday, September 10th
Noon-1:00 pm
Hybrid | IC 319 & Teams
Eagle SPUR Grant Information Session for Mentors
This information session is for undergraduate research mentors interested in learning more about the Eagle SPUR grant program sponsored by Southern Miss’s Drapeau Center for Undergraduate Research. This session will also cover how faculty mentors can best help their students with their grant applications.
Presenter: Dr. Rebecca Tuuri, Drapeau Center for Undergraduate Research Co-director
Friday, September 12th
1-1:45 pm
Hybrid | IC 319 & Teams
Developing Discipline-Specific First-Year Experience Success Courses
Do you have a course designed to help new students succeed in college and/or the major, or are you interested in developing one? As part of the University's Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP), Ready for Success, the QEP Research and Design Team recommended the creation of a First-Year Experience (FYE) designation for discipline-specific student success courses to serve in place of the university-wide first-year experience course, UNV 100. Learn more about applying for the FYE designation and funding opportunities to create or redesign a course in your program, school, or college. This session is being offered twice, so when registering, choose the session that best fits with your schedule.
Presenter: Julie Howdeshell, Director of Quality Enhancement
Monday, September 15th
10:00-11:00 am
Hybrid | IC 319 & Teams
Tips for Writing Effective Letters of Recommendation for Students
This panel session will present general tips for faculty interested in writing more
effective recommendation letters for their undergraduate students applying for nationally
competitive awards and graduate programs.
Presenters:
Mary Beard, Director of the Office of Nationally Competitive Programs and Awards
Dr. Andrew Haley, The University of Southern Mississippi’s Ombud and Associate Professor of History
Dr. Mac Alford, Director of University Forum and Professor of Botany
Sponsor: The Honors College and the Office of Nationally Competitive Programs and Awards
Tuesday, September 16th
12:15-1:30 p.m
Hybrid | IC 319 & Teams
Graduate Mentorship Training Series: Maintaining Effective Communication and Aligning Expectations
The Southern Miss Graduate School, in partnership with the Center for Faculty Development, is offering a Graduate Faculty Mentor Training Program during the 2025–2026 academic year. This program, led by experienced faculty trained through CIMER, will provide practical guidance on effective mentoring, addressing disparities, and building strong mentor–mentee relationships. Faculty interested in enhancing their mentorship skills are encouraged to register.
Maintaining Effective Communication and Aligning Expectations
Wednesday, September 17th
12:00-1:30pm
Hybrid | IC 319 (CFD) & Zoom
LA Program Open House Invitation
The LA Program is excited to show you our new tutoring and study space! Join us in EHH 122 on Friday, September 19, from 9:00 - 10:00 for an open house, and chat with us about all things LA Program. Light refreshments will be provided.
FYF: Navigating Challenging Conversations with Students: A Panel for New Faculty
Join a panel of experienced faculty as they share practical strategies for responding to difficult student conversations—from academic concerns to personal disclosures. This session will highlight key campus policies, boundaries around faculty roles, and the support resources available to both you and your students. Bring your questions and leave with tools to foster compassionate, clear communication in the classroom and beyond. Designed especially for new faculty, this session encourages proactive, informed engagement with student needs.
Panelists:
Dr. Hugh Broome, Associate Teaching Professor, School of Mathematics and Natural Sciences
Dr. Kendrick Buford, Academic Integrity Director, Associate Teaching Professor, Center for STEM Education
Dr. Ragan Downey, Assistant Teaching Professor, School of Criminal Justice, Forensic Science, and
Security
Wednesday, September 24th
3:00-4:15 pm
Hybrid | IC 319 & Teams
Developing Discipline-Specific First-Year Experience Success Courses
Do you have a course designed to help new students succeed in college and/or the major, or are you interested in developing one? As part of the University's Quality Enhancement Plan (QEP), Ready for Success, the QEP Research and Design Team recommended the creation of a First-Year Experience (FYE) designation for discipline-specific student success courses to serve in place of the university-wide first-year experience course, UNV 100. Learn more about applying for the FYE designation and funding opportunities to create or redesign a course in your program, school, or college. This session is being offered twice, so when registering, choose the session that best fits with your schedule.
Presenter: Julie Howdeshell, Director of Quality Enhancement
Tuesday, September 30th
2:30-3:30 pm
Hybrid | IC 319 & Teams
October
Show Up & Write!
Show Up and Write! is hosted virtually on Teams by the Center for Faculty Development
(CFD) weekly and provides a quiet open space for dedicated writing time. This writing
group aims to support faculty, staff, and graduate student research by designating
time for writing and increasing productivity through peer support and personal accountability.
Join us on Teams and plan to focus time on writing an article, book chapter, grant
proposal, blog, grading or another project.
Show Up and Write! will meet virtually every Thursday this fall from 1:00 p.m. - 3:00 pm beginning August 28th, 2025 and will conclude November 13th. These sessions are come-and-go as needed for your schedule and does not include peer exchange. Faculty, staff and graduate students from all disciplines and ranks are welcome to attend.
If this piques your interest, click the link below to receive a reminder/calendar invite along with the Team's information to join this supportive community.
Graduate Mentorship Training Series: Promoting Professional Development
The Southern Miss Graduate School, in partnership with the Center for Faculty Development, is offering a Graduate Faculty Mentor Training Program during the 2025–2026 academic year. This program, led by experienced faculty trained through CIMER, will provide practical guidance on effective mentoring, addressing disparities, and building strong mentor–mentee relationships. Faculty interested in enhancing their mentorship skills are encouraged to register.
Promoting Professional Development
Wednesday, October 22
12:00-1:30pm
Hybrid | IC 319 (CFD) & Zoom
 |
 |
 |