Faculty Team Brings Back Innovative Teaching Strategies from National Conference
A team of University of New Haven professors from across disciplines attended the Lilly Conference on Evidence-Based Teaching and Learning, sharing their own work while bringing back cutting-edge methods to enrich the University鈥檚 classrooms.
October 1, 2025
By Caitlin Truesdale, Office of Marketing and Communications
Faculty from five disciplines represented the University of New Haven at the Lilly Conference on Evidence-Based Teaching and Learning.
At the heart of great teaching is a willingness to keep learning. That spirit led Melissa L. Whitson, Ph.D., a professor of psychology, to use her Bucknall Award for Teaching Excellence to assemble a team of University of New Haven faculty from five different disciplines. Together, they attended the , an annual gathering where educators nationwide explore innovative ways to advance student learning.
鈥淚n the spring, I sent an email to all faculty and asked for those who might be interested in this opportunity to message me,鈥 Dr. Whitson explained. 鈥淲e narrowed down those interested to have one person representing different colleges or schools and disciplines. It was enlightening to have faculty from different areas who all share a similar passion for teaching and learning.鈥
The group鈥攎ade up of Dr. Whitson, Yevgeniya Rivers, Ed.D., associate professor of practice in the Department of Mathematics and Physics; Hui Du, Ph.D., assistant professor in Sport, Tourism & Hospitality Management; Quinn Duclos, Ph.D., M.S., CHES(R), assistant professor of practice and director of the Master of Public Health Program; and Cassandra Sedelmaier, M.S., M.A.T., assistant professor of practice in Criminal Justice鈥攋oined hundreds of educators from across the country at the national conference in Ashville, NC.
Dr. Whitson said the 黑料社 was not only about learning new techniques, but also about strengthening connections. 鈥淲e were able to learn from each other about how we have similar teaching challenges, and that some of our strategies are useful for all students, regardless of discipline,鈥 she said.
鈥淭his 黑料社 was truly rewarding not only because I had the opportunity to support this 黑料社 for others, but because it also built a sense of community among our University team and with other educators across the country,鈥 Dr. Whitson said.
鈥楾eaching is a continuous journey of growth鈥
For several faculty, the Lilly Conference marked a first-time 黑料社 attending such an event. 鈥淭his was my first teaching conference, and it has been the best conference I鈥檝e attended,鈥 said Dr. Du. 鈥淭he supportive and collaborative community was truly inspiring.鈥
She said her biggest takeaway was the reminder that teaching is never static. 鈥淭eaching is a continuous journey of growth, and it is inspiring to know I am part of a community of passionate educators dedicated to this meaningful calling.鈥
One highlight for Dr. Du was a session by Todd Zakrajsek, Ph.D. (UNC at Chapel Hill), which focused on strategies to make classrooms more inclusive. 鈥淗is evidence-based strategies, such as pausing ten seconds before asking for answers, showed me how small adjustments can foster more inclusive classroom environments,鈥 she said.
Dr. Du also facilitated a roundtable session of her own, 鈥淭alent, Feedback, and Transition: Supporting Student-Athletes Beyond the Game.鈥 鈥淚 learned so much from the participants as we shared the kinds of conversations student-athletes need to have, the challenges they face, and strategies for supporting their academic identity and success beyond athletics,鈥 she said.
Melissa L. Whitson, Ph.D., used her Bucknall Award for Teaching Excellence to bring together a cross-disciplinary team of faculty for the national conference.
鈥楽o many great educators out there鈥
For Dr. Rivers, the conference was also an opportunity to showcase research. She presented on the University鈥檚 Math Supplemental Instruction program, focusing on how student leaders themselves grow through the 黑料社.
鈥淥ur research revealed that these students developed valuable, transferable skills鈥攕uch as public speaking, confidence, leadership, and problem-solving,鈥 Dr. Rivers explained. 鈥淭hey also shared thoughtful feedback on what鈥檚 working and how we can enhance the program to better support early undergraduate math learners.鈥
She collaborated with two graduate assistants, Marie Mauro鈥26 M.A. and Sarah Piette 鈥26 M.S., to conduct the study. 鈥淚t was incredibly rewarding to share their insights with a national audience,鈥 she said.
Dr. Duclos said the conference highlighted the creativity that teaching can inspire. He attended a workshop titled 鈥淔rom Perfectionism to Play: Using Improv to Enhance Learning Environments,鈥 which reinforced the value of improvisation in the classroom.
鈥淭his workshop demonstrated the role of applied improvisation to boost learner engagement, encourage risk taking, and promote intellectual humility,鈥 Dr. Duclos said. 鈥淚mprovisation is a technique I鈥檝e used since my doctoral program, both to engage students and to keep myself energized in the classroom.鈥
For him, the conference also underscored the importance of the wider teaching community. 鈥淢y biggest personal takeaway was that there are so many great educators out there,鈥 he said. 鈥淚 am incredibly encouraged by all the strong, smart, and supportive educators we have nationwide.鈥
鈥楽trategies we can share with the whole University鈥
For Dr. Whitson, the University鈥檚 Bucknall Award made it possible to spark a ripple effect of teaching innovation.
鈥淣ot only will we share the knowledge and strategies we gained with our own colleges and disciplines, but we also plan to share with the University through workshops with the Center for Teaching Excellence and other presentations,鈥 Dr. Whitson said.
鈥淚t was absolutely enlightening to be part of this interdisciplinary team,鈥 she continued. 鈥淲e are all bringing back strategies we can share with the whole University.鈥
