Ron Chenail

Provost, Academic Affairs

Diane Lippe

Learning and Education Center, Academic Affairs

Marti Snyder

Professor

and Director of Faculty Professional Development, LEC

Kevin Dvorak

Writing and Communications Center, Office of Academic Affairs

Opening Remarks–Ron Chenail, Ph.D., Provost and Executive Vice

President for Academic Affairs

Welcome–Diane Lippe, Ed.S., Executive Director, Learning and

Educational Center

Announcements –Marti Snyder, Ph.D., Professor

and Director of Faculty Professional Development, LEC

Plenary: Destination Wellness: Using Faculty Development as a Guide toward Balance and Well-Being, Kevin Dvorak, Ph.D., Professor and Executive Director, Writing and Communication Center, Academic Affairs

Much has been written about faculty burnout in academia over

the past several years. While some of this burnout has been associated with the

(post-)pandemic workplace (McClure & Fryar, 2022, Musgrave, 2022), more

substantial connections have been made to increases in professional demands and

complex working environments in higher education over the last 10-20 years

(Pope-Ruark, 2022; McClure, 2022, another). Burnout has not only affected

senior and mid-career faculty, but it has also been recognized in early-career

faculty, leaving some to question their long-term career paths (Doležal, 2023).

 

To combat faculty (and staff) burnout, academia needs to focus more on employee well-being and balance. How do we, then, as concerned professionals and caring colleagues / friends, attempt to reduce the likelihood of burnout for others and ourselves? How do we promote balance and well-being (and maybe even vitality)? This plenary session will provide some answers to these questions by providing participants with an overview of how faculty development opportunities can be used to promote balance and well-being. The session will consist of four parts: