Hosted by Faculty Affairs and the Office of the Provost, the New Faculty Summit and the Provost’s Picnic invited more than 150 newly hired faculty members to expand their knowledge of the University and build community among peers.
At the events, faculty members from the Coral Gables, Medical, and Marine campuses connected on research and curriculums, learned how to navigate the newest campus eateries, and were informed about life in Miami as newcomers. The excitement was evident as the newest ’Canes started their next chapter.
“The connections made during the first few days as a new faculty member are essential to advancing opportunities for interdisciplinary collaboration among our diverse community for scholarship and teaching,” said Jeffrey Duerk, executive vice president for academic affairs and provost. “Additionally, our newest faculty members had the opportunity to hear from many University leaders about the importance of their research, scholarly and artistic endeavors, as well as their commitment to excellence and exploration of new methods in student learning. Both events—the Faculty Summit and Provost’s Picnic—provide opportunities to find support from the institution and each other.”
Guillermo “Willy” Prado, vice provost for faculty affairs and dean of the Graduate School, echoed the importance of sharing new ideas and networking among peers to help shape successful outcomes. “The uniqueness in journey and experience of each new faculty member will continue to be a driving force in our success, while creating an impact on our students and the world.’’
As part of the formal onboarding process, the Faculty Summit, led by Kathi Kern, vice provost of educational innovation, explored unique resources that support faculty members as they immerse themselves into the University community.
“Too often professors teach in a vacuum without the benefit of a strong culture of innovation and collaboration supporting their work as instructors. The idea behind the Faculty Summit is to expose new faculty members to the University’s commitment to hands-on, engaged learning and to introduce them to the host of people and resources that are here to support them in teaching our students,” said Kern.
Faculty members can learn more about resources and events through The Office of Faculty Affairs.
