Faculty Spotlight: Caitie Finlayson
What does it take to write your own textbook—and make it freely available for others to use and build on? This month’s Faculty Spotlight features Dr. Caitie Finlayson from the Department of Geography, who used a Center for Teaching Small Teaching Grant to redesign her online Human Geography course around a new open educational resource (OER) textbook she authored. In this Q&A, Dr. Finlayson shares her goals for the project, advice for faculty interested in creating their own OERs, and some reflections on what keeps teaching fresh and fun.
Faculty Pedagogy Colloquium
Wednesday, November 19th, 12:00 – 1:00 PM, Seacobeck 128
“Using Breakout Learning to Re-engage Students with Online Discussions” with Alex Dunn, College of Business-Management & Marketing
Breakout Learning is an AI-powered platform that moderates scenario-based, small-group discussions using dynamic multimedia case studies, creating authentic learning experiences requiring genuine student participation and collaboration. This presentation will feature insights from Dr. Dunn’s experience working with Breakout Learning during Summer 2025 and implementing it in Principles of Management for Fall 2025. She will share how the platform addresses the challenge of students using AI to complete traditional written discussion boards. The platform’s live, interactive discussion format ensures authentic student engagement while naturally developing the Life After Mary Washington competencies of communication through real-time collaborative dialogue, critical thinking through complex scenario analysis, and leadership through guided group decision-making processes.
Please RSVP by Friday, November 7th to reserve a lunch if you are attending.
No Time to Read Book Club
Thursday, November 13th, 3:30 – 4:30 PM over Zoom
The November meeting explores chapters 3-5 from The Opposite of Cheating. The next meeting will be Thursday, January 8th when we will be joined by David Rettinger and Tricia Bertram Gallant!
Book Author Group
Fridays, 3:30 – 5:00 PM over Zoom (contact Brenta Blevins or Zach Whalen for the link)
During the last weeks of the semester, it can be challenging to find time for research and writing projects. Give yourself the gift of time and join the Book Author Group for dedicated writing and support!
Event Calendar
Be sure to check out the Event Calendar for faculty development sessions and workshops happening with CfT and campus partners! Notable November events include:
- AI Workshop: NotebookLM (November 11)
- Digital Accessibility: Syllabus (November 11)
- AI and Copyright Debate (November 18)
Research and Creativity Collaborative Updates
Upcoming undergraduate research conferences and symposia
- 2026 Posters in Richmond, sponsored by the Network for Undergraduate Research in Virginia (NURVa), to be held on January 29 from 3-5pm. (Posters in Richmond announcement). Please submit completed proposals to Betsy Lewis (elewis@umw.edu) by Monday, November 24th. UMW can submit up to 5 proposals, and NURVa will select up to 2.
- The Richard Macksey National Undergraduate Humanities Research Symposium, March 19-21, 2026, The Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore. The deadline for student proposals is December 1, 2025.
- The Council for Undergraduate Research NCUR student conference will be in Richmond April 13-15, 2026. The deadline for student proposals is December 5th.
Workshops
Poster presentation design workshop. November 19, 4:00pm. RCC, Simpson Library. Students can stop by the RCC space for some help designing an effective poster for presenting. Please direct students to sign up using this short registration form.
Keep up-to-date with all RCC events on their Announcements, Events, and Workshop page. Questions? Contact Dr. Betsy Lewis, Director of Undergraduate Research (elewis@umw.edu).
AI Conference at UMW and Call for Papers
“Reimagining the Liberal Arts in the Age of AI”
July 21-23, 2026 at the University of Mary Washington
Artificial Intelligence is rapidly transforming the landscape of higher education, challenging traditional pedagogies while offering potential opportunities for innovation. This conference invites scholars, educators, instructional designers, librarians, technologists, and administrators from colleges and universities to explore the intersections of AI, teaching, and the liberal arts.
The conference planning committee is currently seeking proposals that critically and creatively engage with questions such as:
- What are the practical uses of AI in a liberal arts classroom?
- How is AI reshaping teaching and learning in specific liberal arts disciplines?
- How can AI foster new understandings of interdisciplinarity?
- What ethical and/or cultural frameworks should guide the integration of AI in the college classroom?
- How can liberal arts educators prepare students to think critically about AI and its impact on society?
- How can liberal arts educators prepare students to use AI tools after graduation as part of their careers and/or graduate school?
- How does AI impact accessibility in the classroom?
We invite the UMW community to review the call for papers and join colleagues from across the country for critical conversations about the intersection of AI and the liberal arts. Proposal submissions are due by Friday, December 5th at 9:00 PM.
Registration information will be released in January 2026.
The AI Summer Conference is an extension of discussions and projects from the 2024-2025 NEH Spotlight on the Humanities Grant. The UMW planning committee members include:
- Brenta Blevins
- Amy Filiatreau
- Maya Mathur
- Krystyn Moon, Co-Chair
- Suzanne Nguyen
- Anand Rao
- Victoria Russell, Co-Chair
- Jerry Slezak