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Academic Kickoff

Monday, September 15, 2025

9:00 AM–3:00 PM

Scott Hall, Evanston Campus

ACADEMIC KICKOFF SESSION RESOURCES

Schedule of Events

The schedule for the 2025 Kickoff will be available this September. Please view last year's schedule, below, to see an example of Kickoff programming.


Time	Activity	Location
8:30–9:00 AM	Coffee & Registration	Louis Lobby
9:00–9:45 AM	Welcome Remarks Joshua Watson, Assistant Director, Searle Center Emma Kennedy, President of NUGW-EU Kate Flom Derrick, Assistant Director, Searle Center Kelly Mayo, Dean of The Graduate School	Louis Room
9:45–11:00 AM	"Assessing Student Learning with the Searle Center & Teaching & Learning Technologies" with Lauri Dietz, Director, Searle Center & Rachel Goc, Senior Learning Technologist, Teaching & Learning Technologies, NUIT	Louis Room
11:15-12:25	Peer-Led Session in Learning & Teaching in the Disciplines: Sparking Curiosity / Managing Interpersonal Dynamics
	Teaching in STEM "Proactive Steps Towards Avoiding Conflict in the STEM Classroom" with Nathan Sinai, PhD Candidate, Chemistry "TAs: Delegates who Cultivate Student Engagement" with Natalie Klug, PhD Candidate, Biomedical Engineering	Northwestern Room
	Teaching in the Humanities "Implementing Active Learning in the Humanities Classroom" with Elizabeth Winter, PhD Candidate, English "Managing Interpersonal Dynamics in the Humanities" with Pia Rodriguez, PhD Candidate, Musicology	Arch Room
	Teaching in the Social Sciences "Catalyzing Curiosity: Unleashing Intellectual Wonder in the Social Sciences" with Aaron Wolf, PhD Candidate, Economics "Tips for Managing Interpersonal Relationships for Social Sciences TAs" with Neonila Glukhodid, PhD Candidate, Political Science	Lake Room
12:45–1:30 PM	Catered Lunch	Louis Room
1:30–3:00 PM	Peer-Led Sessions on Teaching in the Disciplines: Providing Feedback / Fostering Inclusion
	Teaching in STEM "Grading and Providing Feedback as a STEM TA" with Logan Fenimore, PhD Candidate, Chemical & Biological Engineering "Inclusive Teaching to Promote Student Belonging in STEM" with Christina Hemmingsen, PhD Candidate, Chemistry	Northwestern Room
	Teaching in the Humanities "Facilitating Belonging and Inclusion as a Teaching Assistant in the Humanities" with Maria Palacio, PhD Candidate, Spanish & Portuguese "Providing Constructive Student Feedback in the Humanities" with John Pollard, PhD Candidate, History	Arch Room
	Teaching in the Social Sciences "Applying Universal Design for Learning to Enhance Communication" with Gerpha Gerlin, PhD Candidate, Anthropology "Saying More than 'Say More!': Providing Effective, Efficient, and Equitable Feedback" with Caroline Pippert, PhD Candidate, Political Science	Lake Room