Great teaching shapes great leaders.
This was celebrated in a big way during the 20th anniversary of the Celebration of Teaching and Learning Conference. The weeklong conference held in February 2026 brought together faculty and staff to share ideas, explore new teaching strategies and learn from one another. Hosted by the Delphi Center of Teaching and Learning, attendees participated in more than 40 peer-led professional development sessions offered in multiple formats, including in-person workshops, virtual sessions and on-demand videos.
During a reception and award ceremony, President Gerry Bradley reflected on the transformative power of education and the importance of the university’s teaching community.
“If we’re going to continue to make the impact on our students – on how they discover, how they can contribute and how they will engage with this ever‑changing world beyond our campus, the skills learned here really important,” he said. “Teaching matters, learning matters. All of you deserve our greatest thanks and my thanks.”
Provost Katie Cardarelli emphasized that human connection is at the heart of learning and the university’s mission.
“Retention and graduation do not only improve through policy. They improve because educators are committed to creating learning experiences that are rigorous, supportive and deeply human – something unique in this ever-evolving, AI technology‑driven culture. This ceremony recognizes that commitment and the sustained effort that faculty invest in students often quietly and consistently, semester after semester,” she said.
During the reception, Senior Vice Provost Gail DePuy announced the 2025 TILL Teaching Innovation Award winners. This award honors educators who have demonstrated a commitment to students with one or more innovative teaching practices.
The honorees include:
- Devin Burke, School of Music, for his work reimagining music history through the use of multimedia timelines that encourage both chronological and geographical understanding.
- Sarah Fauque, College of Arts & Sciences, for her work to make quantitative, ecological models more engaging for students through the use of active, multimodal workshop series.
- Karen Turner, School of Nursing, for developing Student Centered Interactive Learning Stations (SCILS) for graduate students building advanced clinical decision-making skills.
In addition, the ceremony recognized the 2025 Faculty Favorites and educators who engaged in the Delphi Center’s professional development cohorts. These opportunities include Teaching Onboarding, FIT Program and Ascend Champions.
Educators can keep the momentum going by joining upcoming Delphi Center events or scheduling a consultation to further support student success.
See the Flickr photo gallery from the 2026 Celebration of Teaching and Learning Conference.
By Vanessa Karem, Delphi Center of Teaching and Learning
