Center for Faculty Development
WORKSHOPS
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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
Experience AI in Action: MAIN, Google, and Carahsoft Host a Gemini and Notebook LM Workshop
This event has reached registration capacity. You are welcome to join the waitlist.
Tuesday, March 31
9:00 am - 3:00 pm
Thad Cochran Center, Grand Ballroom, Hattiesburg, MS
José Bowen: Teaching with AI
Teaching with AI with Dr. José Bowen, author of Teaching with AI: A Practical Guide to a New Era of Human Learning. Dr. Bowen will lead a full day of interactive workshops on April 10, 2026.
Friday, April 10, 2026
8:30 am–2:45 pm
In Person Session | Harkins Hall 120
Beyond Efficiency: Ethical and Sustainable AI Use in Higher Education
AI tools offer powerful opportunities for innovation, but they also come with ethical and environmental trade-offs. This interactive workshop invites faculty and staff to move beyond productivity-focused conversations and critically examine the broader impact of AI use. Participants will explore issues such as bias, authorship, data privacy, and the hidden environmental costs of AI, while developing practical strategies for responsible, efficient, and intentional use in teaching and research.
Presenter:
Andrew Herridge, AI Faculty Fellow and Assistant Professor, School of Education
Thursday, April 23
12:30-2:00
Hybrid Session | IC 319 & Teams
Ctrl+Alt+Succeed: Own Your Role: Building a Desk Manual That Works for You
Do you know every university employee is required to have a desk manual? A desk manual is a "how-to guide" for your job and helps employees better understand their role and responsibilities. Detailed procedures and instructions are the strategic link between the University's mission and each employee's day-today tasks. These guides can be used to capture your institutional knowledge and help you set yourself up for success as you manage your many responsibilities. (Video)
Bring your job description to this session, let's brainstorm what an efficient desk-top manual can look like for you!
Presenters:
Lisa Rieger, Associate Director for Academic Advisement, Pre-Professional & Exploratory Programs
Gayle Sollfrank, Assistant Director for Finance and Operations, CFD
Tuesday, April 21
12:15 -1:15 pm
Hybrid Session | IC 319 & Teams
First Year Foundations Sessions
First year faculty who attended New Faculty Orientation in the 2025-2026 academic year are invited to join the CFD for two sessions that speak specifically to your first year experience as a faculty member at Southern Miss.
How to Be an Effective Faculty Member
A panel of successful faculty members will share their approach, advice and pitfalls, to success in research, teaching, and time management to help you on your path to success at USM.
Panel Discussion:
Mac Alford, Professor of Biology, School of Biological, Environmental, and Earth Sciences
Chris Croft, Associate Professor of Sport Management, School of Marketing
Jacci Rivard, Assistant Professor, School of Education
Melissa Ziegler, Assistant Teaching Professor, School of Health Professions
Tuesday, April 7
2:00 - 3:15 pm
Hybrid Session | IC 319 & Teams
Continued Success at Southern Miss
This gathering provides an opportunity to reflect upon the academic year and share directly with the provosts your experience, ask any lingering questions, and convey your professional aspirations for success at USM and beyond. Make plans to join us for a casual conversation and light refreshments with Provost Lance Nail and Associate Provost for Faculty Success Kelly Lester.
*In-person attendance is highly recommended for this session.
Wednesday, April 22
2:30 - 3:30 pm
Hybrid Session | IC 319 & Teams
Promotion and Tenure: Innovation & Entrepreneurship (PTIE)
Target Audience: Tenure-track faculty that will be going through any promotion or tenure/pre-tenure review process in the 2025 - 2026 academic year.
We invite you to join us for a one-hour informational session hosted by the Office of Innovation Management (OIM) to learn more about our work, available funding opportunities, and how Promotion Tenure Innovation & Entrepreneurship (PTIE) can support and amplify your research, scholarship, and creative activity. This session is designed to be practical and informative, offering a clear overview of how OIM supports faculty and staff across disciplines—from early-stage ideas to translational research, community engagement, and broader impact.
Agenda Overview:
- Introduction to the Office of Innovation Management
- Overview of current and upcoming funding opportunities
- PTIE: What it is, why it matters, and how it applies across disciplines
- Examples of how faculty and staff can engage with OIM
- Q&A and discussion
Whether you are actively pursuing funding, seeking to broaden the impact of your work, or simply curious about innovation and translational pathways at USM, we encourage you to join us. Lunch will be provided for the first 25 in-person registrants, and a virtual option will be available for those who cannot attend in person or once in-person capacity is reached.
Monday, March 30
12:00 - 1:00 pm
Hybrid Session | IC 319 & Teams
Register Here
The Process and Application for Promotion for Teaching-Track Faculty
Target Audience: Teaching-track faculty that will be going through any promotion or review process
in the 2026 - 2027 academic year.
An overview of the process and required materials for the application for promotion for teaching-track faculty will be provided followed by a panel discussion of teaching track faculty who have successfully navigated promotion. Panel members will address questions and provide tips for writing the narrative essay, suggestions for evidence to include, best practices for putting together the dossier materials, and soliciting feedback and support for this process.
Wednesday, April 22
9:00 - 10:15 am
Hybrid Session | IC 319 & Teams
Register here
Applying for Promotion and Tenure for Tenure-Track Faculty
Target Audience: Tenure-track faculty that will be going through any promotion or tenure/pre-tenure
review process in the 2026 - 2027 academic year.
An overview of the process and required materials for the application for promotion and tenure for tenure-track faculty will be provided followed by a panel discussion by faculty who have successfully navigated this process. Panel members will address questions and provide tips for writing the narrative essay, suggestions for evidence to include, best practices for putting together the dossier materials, and soliciting feedback and support for this process.
Monday, April 27
9:00 - 10:15 am
Hybrid Session | IC 319 & Teams
Applying for Promotion to Full Professor
Target Audience: Tenure-track faculty that will be going through promotion to full professor review process in the 2026 - 2027 academic year.
An overview of the process and required materials for the application for promotion to Full Professor for tenure-track faculty will be provided followed by a panel discussion by faculty who have successfully navigated this process. Panel members will address questions and provide tips for writing the narrative essay, suggestions for evidence to include, best practices for putting together the dossier materials, and soliciting feedback and support for this process.
Wednesday, April 29
9:00 - 10:15 am
Hybrid Session | IC 319 & Teams
Show Up & Write! Sessions for Spring 2026
Show Up & Write! is hosted weekly on Teams by the Center for Faculty Development and provides a quiet, virtual space for dedicated writing time. The writing group aims to support faculty, staff, and graduate research by designating time for writing and increasing productivity through peer support and personal accountability. While in this virtual writing space, plan to focus your time on productive writing for an article, book chapter, grant proposal, blog, or other project.
Show Up & Write! will meet on Teams every Friday this spring from 1:00 - 3:00 pm beginning January 27, and concluding May 1, 2026.
Mark the dates on your calendar:
March 27
April 3, 10, 17, 24
May 1
These sessions are come-and-go as needed for your schedule and do not include peer exchange. Faculty, staff and graduate students from all disciplines and ranks are welcome to attend. If this peaks your interest, fill out the information below for a reminder/calendar invite along with the Teams information to join virtually.
Workshops & Events by Date
March 2026
Show Up & Write! Sessions for Spring 2026
Show Up & Write! is hosted weekly on Teams by the Center for Faculty Development and provides a quiet, virtual space for dedicated writing time. The writing group aims to support faculty, staff, and graduate research by designating time for writing and increasing productivity through peer support and personal accountability. While in this virtual writing space, plan to focus your time on productive writing for an article, book chapter, grant proposal, blog, or other project.
Show Up & Write! will meet on Teams every Friday this spring from 1:00 - 3:00 pm beginning January 27, and concluding May 1, 2026.
Mark the dates on your calendar:
March 27
April 3, 10, 17, 24
May 1
These sessions are come-and-go as needed for your schedule and do not include peer exchange. Faculty, staff and graduate students from all disciplines and ranks are welcome to attend. If this peaks your interest, fill out the information below for a reminder/calendar invite along with the Teams information to join virtually.
Promotion and Tenure: Innovation & Entrepreneurship (PTIE)
Target Audience: Tenure-track faculty that will be going through any promotion or tenure/pre-tenure review process in the 2025 - 2026 academic year.
We invite you to join us for a one-hour informational session hosted by the Office of Innovation Management (OIM) to learn more about our work, available funding opportunities, and how Promotion Tenure Innovation & Entrepreneurship (PTIE) can support and amplify your research, scholarship, and creative activity. This session is designed to be practical and informative, offering a clear overview of how OIM supports faculty and staff across disciplines—from early-stage ideas to translational research, community engagement, and broader impact.
Agenda Overview:
- Introduction to the Office of Innovation Management
- Overview of current and upcoming funding opportunities
- PTIE: What it is, why it matters, and how it applies across disciplines
- Examples of how faculty and staff can engage with OIM
- Q&A and discussion
Whether you are actively pursuing funding, seeking to broaden the impact of your work, or simply curious about innovation and translational pathways at USM, we encourage you to join us. Lunch will be provided for the first 25 in-person registrants, and a virtual option will be available for those who cannot attend in person or once in-person capacity is reached.
Monday, March 30
12:00 - 1:00 pm
Hybrid Session | IC 319 & Teams
Experience AI in Action: MAIN, Google, and Carahsoft Host a Gemini and Notebook LM Workshop
This event has reached registration capacity. You are welcome to join the waitlist.
Tuesday, March 31
9:00 am - 3:00 pm
Thad Cochran Center, Grand Ballroom, Hattiesburg, MS
April 2026
Show Up & Write! Sessions for Spring 2026
Show Up & Write! is hosted weekly on Teams by the Center for Faculty Development and provides a quiet, virtual space for dedicated writing time. The writing group aims to support faculty, staff, and graduate research by designating time for writing and increasing productivity through peer support and personal accountability. While in this virtual writing space, plan to focus your time on productive writing for an article, book chapter, grant proposal, blog, or other project.
Show Up & Write! will meet on Teams every Friday this spring from 1:00 - 3:00 pm beginning January 27, and concluding May 1, 2026.
Mark the dates on your calendar:
April 3, 10, 17, 24
These sessions are come-and-go as needed for your schedule and do not include peer exchange. Faculty, staff and graduate students from all disciplines and ranks are welcome to attend. If this peaks your interest, fill out the information below for a reminder/calendar invite along with the Teams information to join virtually.
First Year Foundations
First year faculty who attended New Faculty Orientation in the 2025-2026 academic year are invited to join the CFD for two sessions that speak specifically to your first year experience as a faculty member at Southern Miss.
How to Be an Effective Faculty Member
A panel of successful faculty members will share their approach, advice and pitfalls, to success in research, teaching, and time management to help you on your path to success at USM.
Panel Discussion:
Mac Alford, Professor of Biology, School of Biological, Environmental, and Earth Sciences
Chris Croft, Associate Professor of Sport Management, School of Marketing
Jacci Rivard, Assistant Professor, School of Education
Melissa Ziegler, Assistant Teaching Professor, School of Health Professions
Tuesday, April 7
2:00 - 3:15 pm
Hybrid Session | IC 319 & Teams
José Bowen: Teaching with AI
Teaching with AI with Dr. José Bowen, author of Teaching with AI: A Practical Guide to a New Era of Human Learning. Dr. Bowen will lead a full day of interactive workshops on April 10, 2026.
Friday, April 10, 2026
8:30 am–2:45 pm
In Person Session | Harkins Hall 120
Ctrl+Alt+Succeed: Own Your Role: Building a Desk Manual That Works for You
Do you know every university employee is required to have a desk manual? A desk manual
is a "how-to guide" for your job and helps employees better understand their role
and responsibilities. Detailed procedures and instructions are the strategic link
between the University's mission and each employee's day-today tasks. These guides
can be used to capture your institutional knowledge and help you set yourself up for
success as you manage your many responsibilities. (Video)
Bring your job description to this session, let's brainstorm what an efficient desk-top manual can look like for you!
Presenters:
Lisa Rieger, Associate Director for Academic Advisement, Pre-Professional & Exploratory Programs
Gayle Sollfrank, Assistant Director for Finance and Operations, CFD
Tuesday, April 21
12:15 -1:15 pm
Hybrid Session | IC 319 & Teams
The Process and Application for Promotion for Teaching-Track Faculty
Target Audience: Teaching-track faculty that will be going through any promotion or review process in the 2026 - 2027 academic year.
An overview of the process and required materials for the application for promotion for teaching-track faculty will be provided followed by a panel discussion of teaching track faculty who have successfully navigated promotion. Panel members will address questions and provide tips for writing the narrative essay, suggestions for evidence to include, best practices for putting together the dossier materials, and soliciting feedback and support for this process.
Wednesday, April 22
9:00 - 10:15 am
Hybrid Session | IC 319 & Teams
First Year Foundations
First year faculty who attended New Faculty Orientation in the 2025-2026 academic year are invited to join the CFD for two sessions that speak specifically to your first year experience as a faculty member at Southern Miss.
Continued Success at Southern Miss
This gathering provides an opportunity to reflect upon the academic year and share directly with the provosts your experience, ask any lingering questions, and convey your professional aspirations for success at USM and beyond. Make plans to join us for a casual conversation and light refreshments with Provost Lance Nail and Associate Provost for Faculty Success Kelly Lester.
*In-person attendance is highly recommended for this session.
Wednesday, April 22
2:30-3:30 pm
Hybrid Session | IC 319 & Teams
Beyond Efficiency: Ethical and Sustainable AI Use in Higher Education
AI tools offer powerful opportunities for innovation, but they also come with ethical
and environmental trade-offs. This interactive workshop invites faculty and staff
to move beyond productivity-focused conversations and critically examine the broader
impact of AI use. Participants will explore issues such as bias, authorship, data
privacy, and the hidden environmental costs of AI, while developing practical strategies
for responsible, efficient, and intentional use in teaching and research.
Presenter:
Andrew Herridge, AI Faculty Fellow and Assistant Professor, School of Education
Thursday, April 23
12:30-2:00
Hybrid Session | IC 319 & Teams
Mental Health First Aid Training
Learn how to identify, understand and respond to signs of mental illness and substance
use disorders. This training, provided through Student Counseling Services, gives
you the skills you need to reach out and provide initial support to someone who may
be developing a mental health or substance use problem and help connect them to the
appropriate care.
Seating limited to 20 participants.
Friday, April 24
8:30 to 4:00 *Lunch is on your own.
In person only - International Center 319
NOTE: Signing up for this training requires about 2 hours of work ahead of time in a self-paced course that will be sent to you directly from the MHFA Training organizers. This must be completed no later than 24 hours prior to the training event. The certification given by MHFA is good for 3 years. It is not mandatory, volunteer only.
Applying for Promotion and Tenure for Tenure-Track Faculty
Target Audience: Tenure-track faculty that will be going through any promotion or tenure/pre-tenure review process in the 2026 - 2027 academic year.
An overview of the process and required materials for the application for promotion and tenure for tenure-track faculty will be provided followed by a panel discussion by faculty who have successfully navigated this process. Panel members will address questions and provide tips for writing the narrative essay, suggestions for evidence to include, best practices for putting together the dossier materials, and soliciting feedback and support for this process.
Monday, April 27
9:00 - 10:15 am
Hybrid Session - International Center 319 | Teams
Register Here
Applying for Promotion to Full Professor
Target Audience: Tenure-track faculty that will be going through promotion to full professor review process in the 2026 - 2027 academic year.
An overview of the process and required materials for the application for promotion to Full Professor for tenure-track faculty will be provided followed by a panel discussion by faculty who have successfully navigated this process. Panel members will address questions and provide tips for writing the narrative essay, suggestions for evidence to include, best practices for putting together the dossier materials, and soliciting feedback and support for this process.
Wednesday, April 29
9:00 - 10:15 am
Hybrid Session | IC 319 & Teams
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