A wooden podium featuring a crimson sign with a white Washington State University logo, and underneath a white sign reading TEACHxWSU.
2026
TEACHxWSU
Pedagogy of Kindness
WSU Teaching Academy > TEACHxWSU 2026

TEACHxWSU 2026

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On September 25, the WSU Teaching Academy hosted the annual TEACHxWSU conference. Faculty and staff joined us on the WSU Pullman, Everett, Spokane, Tri-Cities, or Vancouver campus, and on Zoom. Lunch was be provided for in-person participants. The theme for the conference was infusing kindness in higher education.

Register now for TEACHxWSU 2026 by clicking here!

We kicked off the day with a keynote address by Dr. Shameem Rakha. Dr. Rakha is a faculty member in the Department of Teaching and Learning in the College of Education, Sport, and Human Sciences and the coordinator of the B.A. in Education program. She has 30 years of teaching experience spanning the K–higher education arc. Dr. Rakha is also a member of the WSU Teaching Academy. Her session, “A Space to Thrive: Daring to Create Learning Communities Grounded in an Ethic of Care,” will generate new ideas and practical strategies you can implement right away.

Early afternoon workshops was led by experts across the WSU System. We wrapped up the program with campus breakout rooms and full group discussions. Check out the Conference Agenda below!

Prepare for TEACHxWSU 2026

TEACHxWSU 2026 participants can download A Pedagogy of Kindness by Catherine J. Denial from WSU Libraries at no cost.

The book is this year’s selection for the WSU Teaching Academy Book Club. The club is designed to help participants develop teaching skills and meet and network with others to exchange perspectives and examine topics. Participants are encouraged to adapt ideas generated by the club experience for their classes to benefit all students.

Cover of a book titled “A Pedagogy of Kindness” and by Catherine J. Denial. The cover’s background shows a view looking up into several umbrellas, each a different vibrant color, open and floating in the air while sunlight streams down through them.

Conference Agenda

Schedule Overview

  • 9:15 – 9:45 a.m.
    Welcome and Opening Remarks
  • 9:45 – 10:45 a.m.
    Keynote Speaker: Dr. Shameem Rakha
    A Space to Thrive: Daring to Create Learning Communities Grounded in an Ethic of Care
  • 10:45 – 11:00 a.m.
    Details are forthcoming.
  • 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
    Lunch—lunch will be provided on the WSU Everett, Pullman, Spokane, Tri-Cities, and Vancouver campuses.
    Please register by Tuesday, September 22, to guarantee a lunch.
  • 12:00 – 2:00 p.m.
    Afternoon “choose your own adventure” workshops; regardless of your campus, attend the session in which you are most interested.
    • 12:00 – 1:00 p.m.: Rotation 1
      • Why Do We Have to Know This?
        John McNamara, Professor Emeritus, Department of Animal Sciences
      • Kindness at a Distance: Humanizing the Global Campus Experience
        Katie Forsythe, Director of Student Success, College of Arts and Sciences
    • 1:00 – 2:00 p.m.: Rotation 2
      • Orienting Belonging as Central to Success
        Kimberly Holapa, Senior Associate Vice Provost for External Relations and Strategic Initiatives
      • Values-Based Practices to Reduce Burnout in Teaching
        Rae Olsson, Scholarly Professor, Department of Entomology
  • 2:00 – 3:00 p.m.
    In-person and campus-specific discussions at WSU Everett, Pullman, Spokane, Tri-Cities, and Vancouver campuses.
  • 3:00 – 3:30 p.m.
    Share out with large group over Zoom.
  • 3:30 p.m.
    Adjourn

Watch Party Locations

  • WSU Everett:
    Conference Room 430
  • WSU Pullman:
    CUE 518
  • WSU Spokane:
    SAC 415
  • WSU Tri-Cities:
    East 220
  • WSU Vancouver:
    VUB 122

Register for TEACHxWSU

Please register by Tuesday, September 22, to guarantee a lunch. A calendar invitation will be sent to registrants with details the week of the conference.

Name(Required)
Please list as your name as you would prefer it on your nametag.
WSU Campus or Location(Required)
Please select the campus on which you are attending TEACHxWSU, which may be different than where you are primarily assigned.
Will you be joining for lunch?
Lunch will be provided at all campus locations. To ensure that your lunch is provided, please RSVP by 5:00 p.m. on Monday, September 21.
Do you have any dietary restrictions?(Required)
Do you require any accommodations to participate in TEACHxWSU?(Required)

Questions?

For questions about TEACHxWSU or the WSU Teaching Academy, please contact Dr. Dee Posey at deeposey@wsu.edu.