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.

Some of the most powerful learning happens when students step outside the classroom and into real-world settings. In this episode, host Dr. Shannon Harmon talks with Amy Fountain—faculty member in the Department of Communication, Media, and Theatre, internship coordinator, and member of the College of Arts and Sciences' TEAMS initiative—about how internships and experiential learning shape student success.

Together they explore what students gain from internships that a traditional classroom can't always offer, how faculty can prepare students for these experiences, and why reflection is the key to turning experience into lasting learning. Amy also shares how her work coordinating internships has reshaped her own teaching, and how it connects to the broader conversation about teaching excellence at Mississippi State.

Whether you're a faculty member rethinking how your courses connect to students' futures—or simply curious about learning that extends beyond the classroom—this conversation offers practical insight and a fresh perspective on preparing students for what's next.