Faculty Institute 2025: Moving Toward Academic Distinction

Bowie State University faculty gathered August 18–19, for the Fall 2025 Faculty Institute, hosted by the Center for Excellence in Teaching & Learning (CETL). With the theme Moving Toward Academic Distinction, the two-day event brought faculty from across disciplines together to share research, explore innovative teaching strategies, and strengthen connections across campus. 

This year’s institute was shaped by a faculty needs assessment conducted earlier in the year. “When you respond to what people say they need, especially faculty who know their priorities, you create the most meaningful experiences,” said Dr. Eva Garin, CETL Director. “We wanted this institute to reflect exactly what faculty asked for.” Faculty requested more opportunities to explore research methods and hear directly from colleagues about their projects. The institute delivered, offering research cafés, gallery walks, and Adobe-sponsored presentations that highlighted findings from the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SOTL) program. 

The event began with the annual State of the University address from President Aminta H. Breaux, followed by budget updates and a faculty discussion led by Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs Guy-Alain Amoussou. More than a dozen breakout sessions gave faculty the chance to explore topics such as research innovation, technology integration using tools like Adobe Firefly and Express, student success strategies, and Green Zone Training to better support military-affiliated students. 

The new research cafés stood out as one of the most impactful additions, giving faculty the chance to share their work in conversational, interactive settings. Gallery walks also encouraged informal collaboration, allowing faculty from completely different departments to discover overlapping interests and potential partnerships. “It was exciting to see those connections forming,” Dr. Garin said. 

Some of the most memorable moments happened outside the formal sessions. During Pizza with the President, Dr. Breaux had lunch and candid discussion with the group. “It created such a welcoming, conversational atmosphere.” 

This year also marked a shift from holding two Faculty Institutes annually to one large event each August. Dr. Garin explained that the change will allow CETL to expand professional development opportunities throughout the year, including potential on-campus summits on emerging topics such as artificial intelligence in education. “The goal is to build on the energy and ideas sparked here and keep the momentum going with new opportunities for faculty growth,” she said. 

The conversations and collaborations launched at the Faculty Institute will continue to shape Bowie State’s academic community long after the event. By bringing faculty together around shared goals for research, innovation, and student success, the university is setting the stage for even greater achievements in the year ahead.