Keon Coates, Human Resources

Think you know KSU? Think again. 

This session will spotlight a curated collection of hidden gems available to faculty and staff — ranging from professional development opportunities and campus-wide resources to unique experiences and benefits that enhance both your work and your connection to the university. 

Some are practical. Some are unexpected. All are worth knowing. 

Come ready to rediscover what’s possible at KSU — and leave with new ways to engage, grow, and take full advantage of being part of this community. 

Samantha Gage-DeLuca, Coles College of Business Undergraduate Programs

Unmask Your Saboteurs is an interactive professional development session designed to help staff identify and understand the internal “saboteurs” that may be quietly impacting performance, decision-making, and well-being. Prior to the session or at the beginning of the session, participants will complete a Saboteur Assessment and receive personalized results. During the session, staff will join small groups based on shared saboteur profiles to reflect, discuss experiences, and explore practical strategies for minimizing their impact.

Joseph Misemer, Organizational Effectiveness

Learn how to effectively manage small projects using Microsoft Planner.

Hadley Cottingham, UITS

Confused about where your files should live in Microsoft 365? This workshop helps KSU staff understand how SharePoint works behind the scenes and how it connects to Teams and OneDrive. We’ll clarify the relationship between these tools, explain how they work together, and help you understand how to make them work for you. Participants will leave with the confidence to manage files across Microsoft 365 and build out the most efficient file sharing system for their team.

Rachelle Stivers, Human Resources

In today’s rapidly changing higher education environment, careers are no longer linear ladders but evolving “quilts” built from skills, experiences, relationships, and transitions. 

This interactive session introduces the concept of career agility—the ability to adapt, learn, and shape one’s professional path amid shifting organizational demands. 

Using reflective activities, group discussion, and scenario-based decision-making, participants will explore how to build transferable skills, navigate change, and increase their influence without relying on traditional promotions or titles. 

The session is grounded in practical higher education examples and emphasizes actionable strategies for sustaining motivation, visibility, and resilience. 

Kimber Williams, UITS

Join us for an engaging workshop delving into the exciting world of Microsoft Copilot, a powerful AI (artificial intelligence) tool. This workshop is perfect for beginners and will explore topics like generating creative content, answering questions, and even proofreading your writing. Whether you’re looking to write a compelling story, create a unique image, or simply make your day-to-day tasks easier, this workshop will help you master AI at KSU!

OLI

This workshop provides an introduction to the idea of psychological safety and Timothy Clark’s work on the Four Stages of Psychological Safety. Participants will leave with actionable practices to build psychological safety wherever they have influence.

Michael Cahal, UITS

University staff are often stretched thin; balancing meetings, email, projects, service, and life outside of work. Many of us feel “busy” all the time, yet unsure where our time and energy are actually going.

This session introduces Time & Energy Audits (TEA Reports); a practical, reflective framework that helps participants examine how they spend their time and how those activities affect their energy, engagement, and impact. Participants will learn how to plan a workweek in time blocks (15-, 30-, or 60-minute intervals), assess which activities generate or drain energy, and identify opportunities to delegate, automate, eliminate, or refocus their efforts.

The session emphasizes progress over perfection and equips participants with tools they can immediately apply to improve focus, reduce burnout, and increase satisfaction both at work and beyond.

Time & Energy Audits help staff work more intentionally to maximize impact while supporting wellbeing and engagement.

Krislyn Johnson, Human Resources

Onboarding sets the tone for engagement, performance, and long-term success.

This engaging breakout will highlight the tools and resources available at KSU to support strong onboarding experiences, along with practical best practices departments can implement right away. Participants will also hear a campus spotlight example of a team with a thoughtful onboarding approach and the impact it has made.

Come ready to gather ideas, share insights, and strengthen the way we welcome and launch new employees at KSU. 

OLI

This workshop offers participants an overview of Daniel Goleman’s 5 aspects of emotional intelligence and provides opportunities to implement effective strategies in both professional and personal relationships.