Great teaching begins long before the first assignment is submitted or the first exam is administered. In this episode of InCITEful Teaching—part of our First Days of School series—host Dr. Shannon Harmon sits down with Dr. Stephanie King, Interim Executive Director for CITE and Interim Associate Dean in the College of Professional and Continuing Studies, for a wide-ranging conversation about the faculty development happening inside the Center for Innovation in Teaching Excellence.

Shannon and Stephanie talk about what her role looks like day to day, the initiatives CITE is leading across campus, and her own path into teaching and faculty development. That work sets up the heart of the conversation: Stephanie's course, Intentional Course Design and Assessment, part of CITE's Maroon Academy for Teaching Excellence. Together they dig into how faculty can build a clear roadmap for learning shifting from "What do I need to cover?" to "What do I want students to learn and be able to do?" They talk through the challenge of balancing depth and breadth, what makes assessment meaningful rather than just measurable, and how conversations around assessment are evolving right now.

Whether you're curious about the work happening in CITE or getting ready for a new semester, this conversation has something for you.

We're kicking off our Back-to-School Series on InCITEful Teaching with a conversation that reminds us of one simple truth: before students engage with your syllabus, assignments, or course content, they're asking one important question:

Do I belong here?

In the first episode of this special series, Dr. Shannon Harmon welcomes Dr. Melody Fisher to discuss how the first days of class shape students' sense of belonging, motivation, and success. Together, they share research-based, practical strategies for creating welcoming learning environments that foster connection, communicate care, and set students up for success from day one.

Whether you're teaching 20 students or 300, you'll leave with simple, actionable ideas you can implement before classes begin.

Higher education is changing rapidly—and faculty are at the center of it all.

From the rise of artificial intelligence and evolving approaches to assessment, to student engagement, faculty well-being, and preparing graduates for an increasingly complex workforce, today's educators are navigating opportunities and challenges unlike any before.

In this special episode of InCITEful Teaching, host Dr. Shannon Harmon is joined by a panel of Mississippi State University faculty for a conversation about the issues shaping higher education today. Together, they offer thoughtful perspectives, practical advice, and honest reflections on what these trends mean for teaching, learning, and the future of our classrooms.

Whether you're looking for fresh ideas, reassurance that you're not alone, or simply enjoy hearing how fellow educators are thinking through today's challenges, this episode is packed with timely insights and engaging conversation.