Boston Schedule & Workshop Descriptions

Facilitated by Jacqueline Rodriguez | Curry 318

In my 2023 study, I sought to answer the following questions: What motivational factors do Latina/o professors describe as contributing to their persistence to pursue teaching in higher education? What barriers and supports did Latina/o faculty describe for retention and promotion in higher education? The findings of this study assisted in understanding the motivation, barriers, and supports Latina/o professors experienced in their current jobs in New England institutions of higher education.

Facilitated by Dzidzor Azaglo | Curry 340

Dzidzor’s practice is an invitation to rest—to pause, reflect, and breathe. Through sound and guided meditation, she creates space for stillness, reminding us that rest is a vital rhythm in creation. Inspired by Black women writers, her work moves beyond performance into deep listening and embodiment. Like Audre Lorde’s call for self-preservation as political warfare, Dzidzor reclaims rest as a necessary practice. Participants will leave with a renewed sense of presence, carrying forward clarity, intention, and a deeper connection to their creative and spiritual selves.

Facilitated by Michael Ann DeVito, Andrea Stith, and Alexandra To | Curry 322

The academy requires scholars to maintain a public profile that chronicles our excellence in scholarship, service, and teaching and encourages us to openly promote our work and personal brand online. Moreover, visibility enables solidarity building and advocacy work with outsized value to marginalized scholars. Simultaneously, women of color and other marginalized peoples are uniquely vulnerable to attacks, scrutiny, threats, and harassment, often accelerated by an online presence. We will present numerous “digital hygiene” tactics to help academics make intentional, safe choices about online self-promotion, while maintaining our ability to be visibly, authentically ourselves and maintain connections to our (online) communities.

Facilitated by Suha Ballout and Patricia Krueger-Henney | Curry 320

Women of color in academia experience the cumulative toll of systemic barriers, what scholars term weathering, as we navigate increasing challenges to diversity, equity, and belonging efforts. In this interactive workshop, we will reflect on our experiences leading cross-disciplinary initiatives, including our work with the Center for Innovative Teaching (CIT), to explore strategies for resisting systemic pushback, sustaining advocacy, and protecting well-being. Through facilitated discussions, case studies, and body mapping, participants will visualize the physical and emotional impact of institutional stressors while identifying strategies for healing, setting boundaries, and building networks of care. Together, we will reimagine persistence through collective resilience and self-preservation.

Facilitated By Hayley Haywood

Tired of being gaslit in a racially toxic workplace? In this session, we will disrupt the persistent tradition of white supremacy workplace cultures in academia, by naming harmful internalized beliefs and reframing them to make moves toward the soulfilling work and abundance you deserve. Systemic barriers can feel unsurmountable, but you have more power than you probably realize, and this session is designed to help you (re)claim it. Through presentation, reflection, and group discussion, we will examine the ways we have been socialized to view work, visualize new possibilities, and reframe the limiting beliefs that are rooted in internalized oppression (or what some refer to as the impostor syndrome). We will end with concrete strategies to help you seize the soulfillment you deserve, at work and beyond.

Facilitated By Abigail Lindo

Elevating the importance of maintaining a multifaceted online presence for professional engagement, this workshop addresses different aspects of professional marketing to benefit academics as they continue with pursuits of academic freedom, networking and career development, and articulation of dynamic roles and identity. Beyond discussing the necessary aspects of a website or landing page, social media engagement, or printed/virtual marketing materials, I aim to share digital resources and an approach to considering holistic and maintainable engagement for academics of varying backgrounds, digital literacies, ages, and areas of expertise that are legible internationally.

Facilitated By Adrianna Boulin | Curry 318

This innovative workshop adapts the classic Power Flower exercise from Educating for a Change (1991) to map both internal and external power. Participants first identify inner strengths such as self-awareness, resilience, and creativity, then assess their external social influence. Guided exercises help bridge personal power with social advantage and build strategies for responsible privilege awareness and transformative impact. Develop practical skills in networking, mentorship, and storytelling, fostering continuous growth and meaningful change in yourself and your community. Join us to unlock your potential and create lasting impact.

Facilitated by Christina Smith | Curry 320

What is equity, and how do we put it into action? What types of knowledge(s) do we value in STEM, and how does colonization impact our values? What other ways of knowing can we incorporate into our classrooms? In this session, we explore these questions using an equity in action framework and reflect on how we can broaden ways of knowing in our classrooms. At the end of the session, participants will create a plan for implementing aspects of body and spirit into a learning environment.

Facilitated by Theresa Wilson Coney | Curry 322

In this workshop, participants will explore a deeper understanding of the impact of the identity of blackness while encountering the dominant narrative of anti-black racism in this political environment, in their personal and professional lives. After exploring a deeper understanding of these issues, participants will engage in self-exploration to gain insights and further capacity for self-care while facing these challenges.

By the end of this workshop participants should be able to:

1. Identify personal and interpersonal racial inequities and develop some tools to address them.

2. Reflect on and engage around the critical need for self-care while meeting the moment

Facilitated by Katherine In-Young Lee and Diedra Wrighting | Curry 333

Women of color in academia often shoulder immense caregiving responsibilities while also navigating increasing challenges in higher education. This interactive workshop provides space to share experiences, identify common struggles, and develop a personalized caregiving roadmap. Participants will (1) reflect on their caregiving journeys, (2) map key supports and obstacles, (3) explore strategies for resilience and self-care, and (4) leave with concrete action steps and resources. By centering community and clarity, this session empowers academic caregivers to persist with courage, balancing professional demands with personal well-being.

Facilitated By Neha P. Gothe

Asian women scholars face racial discrimination, stereotyping, and underrepresentation in academia, navigating complex socio-cultural, political, and professional challenges. This workshop creates a space to explore shared identities, histories, and experiences while fostering mentorship and community. Participants will engage in discussions on professional development, wellness, and strategies for thriving in academic environments that often differ sharply from the culture of their countries of origin. Attendees will have the opportunity to build connections and identify strategies to amplify their voices in higher education. Join us in celebrating resilience, empowerment, and scholarly excellence.

Facilitated By Tanya Wilson

This session will explore essential components of effective mentorship within higher education, aligning with the theme of resilience and truth in the face of adversity. The presenter will introduce the M.E.N.T.O.R. framework—Motivate, Empower, Nurture, Transform, Observe, and Reflect—equipping participants with strategies to support historically marginalized students and colleagues. Through interactive discussions, participants will explore how mentorship can counteract systemic barriers, support marginalized communities, and sustain persistence in academia. Attendees will leave with actionable tools to strengthen mentorship and empower marginalized voices in academia through effective mentorship.

Facilitated By Christie Chung

This is a workshop to introduce the INSPIRE leadership model(Chung, 2025). In my new book “Inspire to Lead: Bridging Mind, Culture, and People,” I present the INSPIRE model, a transformative leadership framework built on seven key principles: Interest, Nurture, Safe Space, Personal, Invest, Respect, and Elevate. Drawing from cognitive psychology, cultural perspectives, and personal leadership experiences, I offer practical strategies for fostering trust, innovation, and belonging. The book blends research, real-world stories, and interactive exercises to help leaders at all levels cultivate meaningful connections, empower their teams, and create lasting impact. Inspire to Lead is an essential guide for purpose-driven leadership.