2025 Conference

Cultivating Foundations of Intentional Practice

Join us in the vibrant Village Centers as we cultivate the foundations of the high-impact practices that have made De Anza’s Learning Communities so successful, and apply those foundations to our everyday work with students!

In the morning, we will explore fundamental skills such as active listening, cultural humility and leadership development. In the afternoon sessions, with guidance from student voices, we will engage in participatory learning activities to build and develop practices to better serve our students – including those from low income, minority and disproportionately underserved populations.

  • Morning sessions will connect faculty members, classified professionals and administrators to build community around our shared commitments.  The workshops titles and presenters are:
      • Advancing Equity through Cultural Humility with Veronica Kieffer-Lewis
      • Listening and Being Present to Each Other as Foundational Practice with Edmundo Norte
      • Cultivating Community: Insights Into Our Work Styles with Anu Khanna
  • Afternoon sessions will include separate tracks for faculty members and classified professions to focus on specific skills and outcomes.
    • Classified Professional workshops and presenters are:
      • Belonging Begins With Us: Creating a Culture of Care on Campus with Satinder Kaur, Gulzhan Alieva and Margarita Hawthorn
      • Visualizing Student Success: Building Community Through Art with Raquel Perez, Lidia Burlanescu, and Claudia Guzman
      • Build the Bridge — Collective Communication for Student-Centered Solutions with Gracy Galvan
    • Faculty workshops and presenters are:
      • Creative Expression for Wellness and Healing with Christina Wright and Carol Mellberg
      • Not Another Group Project! - Transforming the Student Experience with Manisha Karia and Mohammed Akhoirshida
      • Gaming the Syllabus: A Cooperative Approach with Erik Woodbury
  • All sessions will engage participants in thoughtful, intentional activities designed to produce meaningful learning outcomes.

For continued practice cultivation, opportunities for follow-up mentorship sessions and activities will be available after this conference!

An excellent breakfast and lunch will be provided by Nirvana Soul Coffee and Talavera Tacos. Vegetarian and gluten-free options will be available.

Sign in at each workshop session for classified professional and full-time faculty PGA and part-time faculty pay.

If you have questions or accessibility requests, please contact Sal Breiter at breitersal@deanza.edu 

This event is co-sponsored by the Office of Professional Development, Guided Pathways Villages and the Title III Strengthening Institutions Program grant, as well as the Foothill-De Anza district Office of Organizational Effectiveness and Engagement.

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