Keynote Address

TEACHING FOR EQUITY WHEN WE'RE TOGETHER AGAIN: EMBRACING THE CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES

Dr. Isis Artze-Vega, Vice President for Academic Affairs, Valencia College 
 

The dual disrupters of COVID-19 and America's reckoning with racial justice shook our institutions to their very cores. And even as they themselves faced uncertainty and fear, college faculty responded with urgency, innovation, and perhaps unprecedented levels of care for students. As we come together again and welcome the 2021-2022 academic year, what COVID lessons and equity insights might stay with us for the next phase of our teaching and learning journeys? How might we leverage the unparalleled potential of our courses and relationships with students to reenergize ourselves and help students realize their educational goals? This talk will describe several challenges and opportunities associated with teaching for equity, including practical strategies faculty will be able to implement almost immediately.

Access the recorded keynote address and conference materials.

Isis Artze-Vega, Ed.D. serves as Vice President for Academic Affairs at Valencia College in Central Florida, long regarded one of the nation’s most innovative community colleges, serving more than 70,000 students each year, and a recently designated Hispanic-Serving Institution. She provides strategic leadership for the areas of curriculum, assessment, faculty development, distance learning, career and workforce education, and partnerships for educational equity. Prior to joining Valencia, Isis served as Assistant Vice President for Teaching and Learning at Florida International University. There, she provided leadership for such university-wide initiatives as a multi-year gateway course project, a hybrid course initiative, and the comprehensive redesign of teaching evaluation. Prior to joining FIU, Isis taught English Composition and Enrollment Management at the University of Miami. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in English and French from Duke University, a Master of Arts in Literature from the University of Miami, and a Doctorate of Education in Higher Education Leadership from the University of Miami. Isis is an active member of the national educational development community, currently serving on the board of the Professional and Organizational Development (POD) Network. Most importantly, she is the proud wife of visual artist Sinuhe Vega; the proud mami of Kamilah, 13, and Delilah, 11; and forever indebted to extraordinary parents, Mayra and Elias. Her work is fueled by a commitment to equity and justice, implemented through love and service.

Looking Back, Planning Forward Breakout Discussions

Are there new practices that you would like to carry forward into the years ahead? What do you want to make sure to leave behind? What will the coming academic year look like? How can we best prepare? These informal discussions facilitated by members of ECS/UAS will provide an opportunity to pause and reflect together. Facilitators will provide additional guided prompts and offer the chance to share with and learn from your colleagues. This year, these discussions are replacing our traditional format of concurrent sessions highlighting innovative teaching practices. Know that we are committed to offering opportunities for you to learn from your colleagues throughout the coming academic year.