Faculty and Staff Gathering
Each year, the EMU fall Faculty Staff gathering aims to cultivate community among faculty and staff by welcoming new employees and providing space to reconnect with colleagues after the summer break. We seek to energize ourselves for a new academic year through worship, storytelling, thought-provoking input, conversation and fellowship.
2023 Fall Gathering “Imagine Together”
This year’s gathering, “Imagine Together,” will set the stage for the 2023-24 academic year.
Dr. Tynisha Willingham, EMU Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs will be our keynote speaker on Tuesday, August 15. President Susan Huxman will provide a President’s Address on Wednesday, August 16.
Here Together Projects
Throughout the week (August 15-18), we will enjoy a series of planned “Here Together'' projects designed to bring a sense of joy and momentum to our work and share it with our local community.
Schedule of Events for the 2023 Fall Gathering
Here Together sign-up optionsConference Program, August 15-16, 2023
2023 Fall Gathering Speaker - Dr. Tynisha Willingham
Title: (Re) Imagining Together: We Make the Road by Walking
Dr. Tynisha D. Willingham began serving as provost at EMU on July 3, 2023. A first generation college graduate
from Penn State University, Dr. Willingham has more than 20 years of experience in academia as a staff member,
professor and administrator. As an academic administrator she has provided leadership for a SACSCOC Quality Enhancement Plan impact report, as well as a 5-year interim report. As an innovative leader, Dr. Willingham uses a data-informed
approach to increase student success and to support strategic directions and key university
goals.
Dr. Willingham is an interdisciplinary scholar with a focus on literacy. Drawing from the fields of literacy leadership and reader response theory, her research focuses on working with the community to create change in classrooms in order to benefit students’ literacy development. Additionally, she explores the intersection of literacy practices in the classroom and teacher development. Dr. Willingham’s research agenda is informed by her experiences as a teacher in urban and rural contexts, serving Black and Brown students. She is the co-author of four books: The literacy leadership guide for elementary principals: Reclaiming teacher autonomy and joy; Service-learning initiatives in teacher education programs: Expanding elementary teacher education through service-learning: A handbook on extending literacy field experience for 21st century urban teacher preparation; and Publishing and productivity: Writing processes for new scholars and researchers. She is also the author of several articles and presentations.
Dr. Willingham has engaged in many opportunities to develop and refine her leadership skills, including participation in the following programs: the Women of Color Leadership Project (NWSA); the HERS Bryn Mawr Summer Institute; the Center For Exceptional Leadership Emerging Leadership Cohort; and the ACE Virginia Women's Network Senior Leadership Seminar Program. As an engaged community member she is a board member for the American Shakespeare Center, Black Girl Gold, Inc., and is an active member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc.
Dr. Willingham is the mother of three children - Nevaeh, Neenah and Zenith.
Previous Conferences
2022 Faculty/Staff Fall Conference: "Belong Together"
Dr. Safwat Marzouk, plenary speaker
2021 Faculty/Staff Fall Conference: "Grow Together"
Dr. Chris Johnson, plenary speaker
Tuesday morning video
Wednesday morning video
2018 Faculty/Staff Fall Conference: "Being or Becoming a Third Way University"
Dr. Felipe Hinojosa, plenary speaker
2017 Faculty/Staff Fall Conference
Dr. Susan Schultz Huxman, plenary speaker
2016 Faculty/Staff Fall Conference: "Embracing Diversity"
Dr. Christena Cleveland, plenary speaker
Session I
Session II
2015 Faculty/Staff Fall Conference
Storytelling: Jennifer North Bauman, Michael King, and Laura Yoder
2014 Faculty/Staff Fall Conference: “Serving and Leading.”
John Stahl-Wert, plenary speaker.
Storytelling: Linda Gnagey, Ann Hershberger, Jason Lewkowicz, Lynn Veurink, and Dee
Weikle.
2013 Faculty/Staff Fall Conference: “Serving with Compassion.”
Leonard Dow, plenary speaker.
Storytelling: Tara Kishbaugh, Galen Lehman, and Andrea Wenger.
2012 Faculty/Staff Fall Conference: “Creativity in the University.”
Ted Swartz, plenary speaker.
