With the school year revving up and students arriving on campus, an opportunity for new and returning faculty to take stock ahead of the semester came on August 20 through the Fall Faculty Welcome.
“Although it was a cold and rainy evening, the Fall Faculty Welcome overflowed with warmth as faculty joined together to prepare for the new academic year,” said Karen McFadden, associate dean of Academic Services and Innovation at Columbia University School of Professional Studies (SPS).
More than a dozen new faculty joined a special session prior to the main welcome event that was designed to offer new part-time lecturers a chance to get to know one another through round-robin introductions and learn more about resources and opportunities available to them, including the faculty fellows program. This session was immediately followed by a general welcome reception attended by more than 100 part- and full-time lecturers from across the School.
The main event began with introductory remarks by Dean Troy Eggers, followed by remarks from other SPS leaders and a lightning talk session, which sparked valuable discussions about innovative teaching approaches.
“Conversations centered on our shared commitment to cultivating community, supporting student success, and fostering innovation through sessions on AI in teaching and learning and flipped classroom models,” McFadden said. As SPS embraces AI as a powerful educational tool, a major takeaway was that high-touch, student-centered mentorship remains irreplaceable and essential to the Columbia educational experience.
Faculty were also particularly enthusiastic about presentations from Bernadette McHugh on Student Affairs and Kelly Ahn of the Career Design Lab, which provided key insights into how faculty can support students in those areas.
Overall, the Fall Faculty Welcome sought to offer a fun and enriching evening for the scholar-practitioners who compose the backbone of SPS, and an opportunity to reinforce the guiding ethos of “community, support, and feedback” as central to the School’s mission.
Photo credit: Sirin Samman
Senior Associate Dean Erik Nelson delivers an engaging welcome to faculty at the Fall Faculty Welcome event, setting an enthusiastic tone for both returning and new part-time and full-time faculty members.
Photo credit: Sirin Samman
New faculty members appreciate the intimate welcome session’s round-robin introductions, where Justine E. Mrisch, M.S. in Strategic Communication program associate, and colleagues shared fun facts about themselves. This small-group setting created the perfect opportunity for personal connections and open dialogue before the general welcome event.
Photo credit: Sirin Samman
During Lilian Ajayi Ore’s interactive keynote session, Viorel Popescu, M.S. in Biodiversity Data Analytics program director and lecturer, connects with a colleague, discussing his teaching inspirations and Columbia journey as part of the engaging group exercise.
Photo credit: Sirin Samman
Rebecca Rivera, M.S. in Strategic Communication lecturer, presents her inspiring reflections on teaching at SPS to an engaged audience including Senior Associate Dean Erik Nelson, Associate Dean Karen McFadden, Senior Director Zach Kornhauser, and Assistant Dean Bernadette McHugh.
Photo credit: Sirin Samman
Bernadette McHugh, assistant dean of Student Affairs, guides faculty through critical student support protocols, including crisis intervention, emergency procedures, CARE team resources, mandatory reporting requirements, and Columbia’s Blue Folder for students in distress.
Photo credit: Sirin Samman
Faculty enjoy meaningful conversations during the post-event reception, including Eva Ieronymaki, M.S. in Construction Administration program director, connecting with colleagues. The informal networking setting provided the perfect opportunity for building professional relationships.
Photo credit: Sirin Samman
Lilian Ajayi Ore, M.S. in Strategic Communication lecturer and featured faculty speaker, connects with colleagues following her inspiring presentation, “How Columbia Shapes & Inspires My Teaching.” The reception provided the perfect setting for continued conversations.
Participants exit the event at Faculty House on Morningside campus. Photo credit: Sirin Samman
After a successful Fall Faculty Welcome, we look forward to seeing some of the faces from this year’s new faculty session as returning guests at next year’s welcome event!
