Βι¶ΉΣ³»­

Center for Innovation in Teaching and Learning

Division of Digital Learning

Cardinal Kickoff 2026

August 21, 2026 | by Casey L. Ford

Cardinal Kickoff is Βι¶ΉΣ³»­’s annual Faculty Development Day, designed to help LU faculty begin the academic year with tools, connections, and strategies needed for success.

This year’s event was held on August 13, 2026, and it brought together faculty, academic leaders, key technology vendors, and university staff for a full day of professional development, networking, and collaboration.

The program featured a keynote address from Provost Dr. Brett Welch; faculty recognition awards; a leadership track for deans, chairs, and directors; and a variety of breakout presentations focused on wide range of faculty relevant topics. Participants also had the opportunity to explore a campus resource fair showcasing services and support available across the university.

You can view the here!

Faculty Recognition Awards

As we enter another year of scholarly and academic achievement at Βι¶ΉΣ³»­, we want to celebrate the year that is ending by formally recognizing the ways innovation in teaching and learning is made possible through collaboration.

The teams in our Divisions of Digital Learning (DoDL) and Innovation, Responsible Ethics, & CyberTech (DIRECT) internally nominated a dedicated group of faculty innovators whose commitment to course design, accessibility, instructional quality, student advocacy, faculty development, and emerging technologies has had a meaningful impact on our students and our institution. These selections were voted upon by staff and approved by the faculty members' respective department chairs and academic deans, reflecting the breadth and significance of their contributions. These individuals exemplify the creativity, professionalism, and student-centered spirit that define excellence in higher education.

Today, we are proud to recognize their contributions and thank them for the partnership, leadership, and service they bring to the Βι¶ΉΣ³»­ community. 


For Excellence in Course Development
Dr. Frances Perez

For Accessibility Leadership
Dr. Mehmet Akkurt

For Quality Assurance Partnership
Dr. Alicen Flosi, Dr. Jeffrey Forret, & Darin Thompson

For Excellence in Online Teaching Presence
Dr. Diane Johnson & Dr. Yan Yan

For Faculty Success Collaboration
Dr. Daryl Ann Borel, Dr. Michelle Fennick & Dr. Elizabeth Long

For Innovation in Teaching and AI
Dr. Julia Fischer & Dr. James Curry

For Student Advocacy
Sara Margaret Gubala

Breakout Presentations

Throughout the day, faculty had access to four breakout sessions packed with excellent presentations covering a variety of topics. Participants could choose between talks focused on teaching excellence, student success, assessment, course design, emerging technologies, artificial intelligence, and academic innovation.

With so many options, it was easy to miss out on topics of interest, so we've compiled many of the presentations used throughout the day, presented below!

  • Breakout Session 1

     

    Enrollment and Student Success
    (Leadership Breakout)

    By Dr. Katrina Brent
    Vice President for Enrollment Management and Marketing

     

     

    25Live: New Event Management System

    By Grayson Meek
    Director of Event Management

     

     

    From Lecture to Learning: Rethinking the Online Classroom

    By Andee Bodenstein
    Class Technologies

     

     

    Faculty Success By Design: Leveraging Innovation, Engagement, & Data

    By Casey L. Ford
    Assistant Director of CITL, Team Lead for Faculty Success

     

     

    AI in Every Program: A Guide for Faculty

    By Dr. Kimberly Conner
    Director of University Innovation

    And Amy Jones
    UI Adoption & Professional Development Coordinator

     

     

    Built for Quality: How LU Defines a Great Course

    By Tim Smith
    Executive Director of the Center for Innovation in Teaching and learning

     

  • Breakout Session 2

     

    Data-Driven Decision Making
    (Leadership Breakout)

    By Dr. Kyle Boudreaux
    Associate Vice President of Data and Compliance Systems, DARPA

     

     

    Grants 101

    By Candice Moore
    Director of Proposal Development, Research and Sponsored Programs

     

     

    Agentic AI: When Redesign Isn’t Enough

    By Dr. Ashley Dockens
    Associate Provost of Academic Innovation and Digital Learning

     

     

    Making Assessment Manageable

    By Dr. Jarrod Rossi
    Director of University Assessment

     

     

    Honorlock: Fall 2026 Updates for LU Faculty

    By Marsha Jaramillo
    Honorlock

    And Austin Adair
    Honorlock

     

     

    Start With the End: Writing Objectives that Hold Up

    By Zachary Dubuisson
    Sr. Instructional Designer

    And Ed Long
    Asst. Director CITL, Lead for Instructional Design

     

  • Breakout Session 3

     

    Leading Colleagues: Practical Strategies for Faculty Leadership
    (Leadership Breakout)

    By Emily Ardolino, J.D.
    TSUS Associate General Legal Counsel

     

     

    Partners in Student Success: Student Affairs Updates & Initiatives

    By Dr. Freddie Titus
    Vice President of Student Affairs

    And The Student Affairs Leadership Panel:
    S Gray, Assoc VP Student Affairs;
    D Hargers, Dir of Student Conduct & Care Services;
    H Hillyard, Coordinator, Title IX;
    B Hull, Dir Housing & Residence Life;
    W Jackson, Dir of Strategic Initiatives;
    B Kern, Dir Rec Sports;
    T Lilly-Kitrell, Dir Accessibility Resource Center;
    H Tyson, Dir Career & Professional Development

     

     

    Design Once, Teach Anywhere: Course Design That Scales

    By Leah Alsibaa
    Sr. Instructional Designer

     

     

    Making Assessment Manageable

    By Kristan Traxler
    Director of Grad Student Success

    And Brynn Trove
    Sr. Administrative Assistant in Graduate Studies

     

     

    Blackboard Ultra: New Gradebook Experience

    By Anthony Salinas
    Customer Success Strategist at Blackboard

    And Craig Pember
    Asst Director CITL, Lead for Instructional Technologies

     

     

    AI in Every Program: A Guide for Faculty

    By Dr. Kimberly Conner
    Director of University Innovation

    And Amy Jones
    UI Adoption & Professional Development Coordinator

     

  • Breakout Session 4

     

    AI in Every Program: A Guide for Leadership
    (Leadership Breakout)

    By Dr. Kimberly Conner
    Director of University Innovation

    And Dr. Ashley Dockens
    Associate Provost of Academic Innovation & Digital Learning

     

     

    Human Ethics

    By Raylynn Roche
    Research Compliance Officer, Research and Sponsored Programs

     

     

    Watermark Reporting

    By Johnny Jarrell
    Executive Director - Data, Analytics, Reporting, and Analysis

     

     

    Curriculum Approval Processes

    By Andrea Stephenson
    Director of Curriculum and Accreditation

     

     

    Risepoint 101

    By Dr. Jon Gray
    Dean of the College of Graduate Studies

     

Conclusion

Sponsored by the Office of the Provost, the Center for Innovation in Teaching and Learning, and University Innovation, Cardinal Kickoff reflects Βι¶ΉΣ³»­’s commitment to quality, readiness, relevance, and resilience while supporting continuous improvement in teaching, learning, and student achievement. 

We are so grateful to all who attended, and we look forward to watching your excellence in action this academic year!

Meet the Author

Casey L. Ford, M.F.A., is the Assistant Director for Faculty Success, where she oversees strategic initiatives to promote teaching excellence and course quality. Coming to her current role from full-time teaching, her interdisciplinary expertise spans composition, creative writing, writing center studies, vocal performance, and opera studies. In addition to her administrative and teaching roles, she is also an accomplished poet. Woodhall Press will release her first book, Shoreline Devotional, in Spring 2026.

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