Development Days
for Faculty and Staff
Development Days for Faculty and Staff is the annual event “Uniting Our NAU Community” through shared learning and experiences. In-person and live online sessions will bring NAU Staff and Faculty together to share their knowledge, know how, and subject matter expertise with our Lumberjack community.
May 11 & 12
In-Person Sessions
May 13 & 14
Virtual Sessions
Explore Sessions
Development Days Keynote
Professional Development in the Age of AI
AI is reshaping how we work, lead, and learn and the professionals who thrive will be those that strive to understand AI tools as well as the skills that make us human. This keynote panel, featuring university leaders across human resources, academic affairs, information technology, and education, explores the dual imperative of our moment: building genuine AI fluency while sharpening the human skills: judgment, communication, adaptability, and critical thinking that technology cannot replace.
Presented by:
Lanita Collette
Chief Information Officer, ITS
Meagan Decker
Interim VP and CHRO, Human Resources
Blue Brazelton
Associate Professor, Educational Leadership
John Georgas
Senior Vice Provost for Academic Operations
Professor, SICCS
Register for the Keynote Session
Sessions
Monday, May 11 – University Union & Cline Accordion Closed
9:00AM – 10:00AM
Development Days Keynote
Professional Development in the Age of AI
10:30AM – 11:30AM
Session
Lead Presenter
Location
Beyond the Hype: Critical Engagement with Generative AI in Higher Education
Ying Zhang
Walnut AB – Registration
Carving out a copper axe – Reflecting on making at Cline Library
Aaron Kimbrell
Cline Library – Maker Lab – Registration
Prompt to Publish: Using Generative AI for Academic Marketing Content
Heather Weisberger
Havasupai C – Registration
1:30PM – 2:30PM
Session
Lead Presenter
Location
A faculty conversation that raises awareness of Indigenous Knowledges and examples of Indigenization projects
Colin Ben
Sycamore – Registration
Is It Urgent… or Just Loud? Reclaiming Focus in a Fast-Moving Environment
Holland Fields
Havasupai AB – Registration
3:00PM – 4:00PM
Session
Lead Presenter
Location
Happy Paws, Happy Hearts: A Gentle Guide to Massaging Your Dog
Stephanie Del Giorgio
Grand Canyon – Registration
Healthy Skepticism: How to Use AI for Health Information Without Getting Burned
Pamela Buzzard
Cline Library – AI Hub – Registration
Tier-One Advising Training: Empowering Campus Partners to Support Students
Holland Fields
Havasupai AB – Registration
Tuesday, May 12 – du Bois Center Accordion Closed
9:00AM – 10:00AM
Session
Lead Presenter
Location
Leading with Clarity and Purpose: Practical Lessons from Spirituality for the Workplace
Mike Bouck
Juniper – Registration
Our Existential Advantage: Why Human Leadership Matters More in the Age of AI
Enrique Rubio
Pinyon – Registration
Scarcity to Abundance: Native Medicinal Plants of the Colorado Plateau
Molly Wood
Aspen A – Registration
10:30AM – 11:30AM
Session
Lead Presenter
Location
Finding Possibility Within Constraints: Creative Approaches to University Work
Mariah Castillo
Pinyon – Registration
From Bluebooks to Algorithms: Let’s Talk AI in the Classroom (Without Losing Our Minds)
Allana Zuckerman
Aspen B – Registration
Intro to Intercultural Communication: Tools and frameworks to connect across cultures and communities
Melinda Marquardt
Juniper – Registration
1:30PM – 2:30PM
Session
Lead Presenter
Location
Good VIBES Only: How Intentional Connection Builds Culture
Claire Weems Shaffer
Aspen B – Registration
Managing Remote & Hybrid Teams: Trends, Challenges, and Practical Strategies for Success
Cheryl Goldberg
Pinyon – Registration
3:00PM – 4:00PM
Session
Lead Presenter
Location
From Taking a Chill Pill to Losing Aura Points: Bridging the Intergenerational Gap
McKenna Neal
Aspen B – Registration
Marketing 101: Building a Shared Foundation for Effective Marketing at NAU
Brittany Silvertooth
Aspen C – Registration
Wednesday, May 13 – Virtual Accordion Closed
9:00AM – 10:00AM
Session
Lead Presenter
Link
From Bluebooks to Algorithms: Let’s Talk AI in the Classroom (Without Losing Our Minds)
Allana Zuckerman
10:30AM – 11:30AM
Session
Lead Presenter
Link
Braiding Knowledges: A Practical Guide to Research Engagement with Native & Indigenous Nations
Ora Marek-Martinez
Prompt to Publish: Using Generative AI for Academic Marketing Content
Heather Weisberger
1:30PM – 2:30PM
Session
Lead Presenter
Link
Is It Urgent… or Just Loud? Reclaiming Focus in a Fast-Moving Environment
Holland Fields
Managing Remote & Hybrid Teams: Trends, Challenges, and Practical Strategies for Success
Cheryl Goldberg
3:00PM – 4:00PM
Session
Lead Presenter
Link
From Taking a Chill Pill to Losing Aura Points: Bridging the Intergenerational Gap
McKenna Neal
Marketing 101: Building a Shared Foundation for Effective Marketing at NAU
Brittany Silvertooth
Tier-One Advising Training: Empowering Campus Partners to Support Students
Holland Fields
Thursday, May 14 – Virtual Accordion Closed
9:00AM – 10:00AM
Session
Lead Presenter
Link
Leading with Clarity and Purpose: Practical Lessons from Spirituality for the Workplace
Mike Bouck
10:30AM – 11:30AM
Session
Lead Presenter
Link
Energy Mentors: Saving Energy in Alignment with the NAU Climate Action Plan
Danielle Linthicum
Who Can Help? A Funding Conversation with NAU Experts: Featuring the NAU Foundation, the Office of the Vice President for Research and the Office of Sponsored Projects.
Nicky Jurgens
Intro to Intercultural Communication: Tools and frameworks to connect across cultures and communities
Melinda Marquardt
1:30PM – 2:30PM
Session
Lead Presenter
Link
3:00PM – 4:00PM
Session
Lead Presenter
Link
