In this episode of The CFI Faculty Lounge Podcast, host Eric Magrum sits down with Dr. Tiara Brown from the College of Education at JMU. Dr. Brown shares her path from agriculture and sports administration to special education, spotlighting the power of inclusion and what meaningful transitions from high school to college really look like.

Tune in to hear:

-Why “small wins” matter—like one student learning to support a classmate with autism

-Dr. Brown’s 50/50 rule for maintaining work-life balance

-The role of mentorship in faculty growth (and why she recommends the CFI mentoring program)

-Ideas for future conversations around navigating change and sustainable career practices

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CFI Faculty Lounge Podcast would love hearing from you! Do you have a question for our guests, a teaching tip to share, or a story about faculty life? Send us a message by clicking on this text. Your message might make it into a future episode.

Welcome back to the CFI Faculty Lounge Podcast, where we explore the experiences, challenges, and strategies of dedicated educators. In this episode, host Eric Magrum sits down with Dr. Bob Kolvoord, JMU’s Interim Provost, to discuss how the university—and higher education more broadly—is evolving in response to emerging technologies and shifting student needs.

Dr. Kolvoord shares insights on:

• The ethical use of AI in teaching and learning
• How education continues to evolve at JMU
• Creating an environment where faculty can thrive

Tune in for this thoughtful conversation on leadership, innovation, and the future of teaching at JMU.

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CFI Faculty Lounge Podcast would love hearing from you! Do you have a question for our guests, a teaching tip to share, or a story about faculty life? Send us a message by clicking on this text. Your message might make it into a future episode.

Welcome back to the CFI Faculty Lounge Podcast, where we explore the experiences, challenges, and strategies of dedicated educators. In this episode, host Eric Magrum continues the conversation with Dr. Meghalee Das, diving deeper into how user experience (UX) design principles can shape more intentional and student-centered classrooms.

Dr. Das shares insights on:

• Applying UX design to create engaging learning experiences
• Navigating the possibilities and challenges of AI in the classroom
• Emphasizing process over product in writing and learning

Tune in for part two of this thoughtful conversation with Dr. Das as she reflects on the role of design, technology, and reflection in fostering authentic student learning.

Subscribe to the Podcast listserv!

CFI Faculty Lounge Podcast would love hearing from you! Do you have a question for our guests, a teaching tip to share, or a story about faculty life? Send us a message by clicking on this text. Your message might make it into a future episode.