First-Year Faculty Program Content
Fall 2025 Agenda
Topics: Kickoff / Mentor mapping / Strategic Plans
Discussion with 2024-2025 FYF Alumni
Presenters: Jeffrey Williams, Director of CAFE
Jamie Botsch, Assistant Professor, Biology
Victoria Fowler, Assistant Professor, Theatre & Dance
Niranga Wickramarathne, Assistant Professor, Agriculture
Stephanie Voris, Instructor, Sociology
Topic: Military & Veterans Affairs
Description: Tour and overview of Newton Military Family Resource Center facility, offerings, and resources
Presenters: Walt Lord, Major General, U.S. Army (Retired), Vice President for Military & Veterans Affairs,
and team
Topic: Grants & Research Office
Presenters: Chad Brooks, Associate Provost for Research
and Dean of the College of Graduate Studies
Kelly Pitts, Assistant Director of Office of Research and Sponsored Programs
Topics: QEP (Quality Enhancement Plan) & Faculty Senate
Presenters: Troy Priest, Director of the QEP
Brandon DiPaolo Harrison, 2025-2026 Faculty Senate President
Topic: Supporting LGBTQ students
Presenter: Zac Moore, Assistant Director of Student Life & Engagement
Topics: Dual Enrollment & Office of Institutional Culture
Description: “How Did We Get Here? A Dialogue on our Institutional Culture”
Presenters: Jordan Longan, Director of Dual Enrollment
LaNeeça Williams, Chief of Institutional Culture and Title IX Coordinator
Topic: Essential College Professor text discussion day
Description: - Assessing Student Learning, Ch.10
- Dealing with Student Problems and Problem Students, Chapter 21
Presenter: Jeffrey Williams, Director of CAFE
Topic: College Deans
Presenters: Buzz Hoon, Dean, College of Arts and Letters
Dlynn Williams, Dean, College of Behavioral and Health Sciences
Mickey Hepner, Dean, College of Business
John McConnell, Interim Dean, Eriksson College of Education
Karen Meisch, Dean, College of Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics
Topic: “Interprofessional Education made Practical: Tools for Faculty”
Presenters: Dr. Adrienne Wilk, Assistant Professor, School of Nursing &
Jessie Wiser, Instructor of Social Work
Topic: “RSI Roadmap: Charting Your Course to Compliance”
Description:
- Identify examples of RSI that promotes student engagement in an online course
- Accurately document examples of regular and substantive interactions found in your online and/or hybrid courses.
- Implement effective strategies for demonstrating regular and substantive instructor-initiated interactions.
Presenters: Mike Olson and Alexandra Rotzer, Instructional Designers, Distance Education
Topic: Full Spectrum Learning (FSL)
Description:
- Gain an overview of Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), including its characteristics and co-occurring conditions, to better understand the diversity within this population.
- Explore the unique strengths and challenges faced by students with ASD in higher education, focusing on key domains such as executive functioning, academic skills, self-care, social competence, self-advocacy, and career preparation.
- Learn actionable strategies to create inclusive and supportive environments using Universal Design for Learning (UDL), explicit communication, and other evidence-based practices.
- Develop awareness of the importance of regular contact, explicit feedback, and fostering a culture of equity and acceptance for neurodivergent students.
- Understand the APSU Full Spectrum Learning (FSL) program's mission, resources, and role in supporting students with ASD.
Presenter: Emmanuel Mejeun, Program Director of Full Spectrum Learning (FSL)
Topic: Watermark & Course Evaluations
Semester recap and celebration
Presenters: Kyle Christmas, Executive Director of Accreditation & External Compliance
Allie Michael, Assistant Director of Institutional Effectiveness Assessment
Jeffrey Williams, Director of CAFE