Start PD Week 2026 by taking a step back from your daily responsibilities and creating space for intentional learning, reflection, and connection. This interactive kickoff session will introduce the conference theme, Fall into Success: Learning, Leading, and Thriving Together, while helping participants identify what they hope to gain from the week ahead. Through guided reflection, small-group conversations, and practical planning activities, attendees will explore their learning goals, consider where they want to focus their energy, and connect with colleagues from across the University System of Maryland. Participants will be introduced to the PD Week Companion Worksheet, a tool designed to support reflection and application throughout the conference. Whether you are attending one session or many, this experience will help you approach the week with purpose, engage more intentionally, and leave with a plan for turning learning into meaningful action.

Join us for a candid conversation with Erin Moran, Executive Director of the Dr. Nancy Grasmick Leadership Institute, as we explore leadership, growth, workplace culture, and what it means to thrive in times of change. Rather than a formal presentation, this session is designed as an honest and engaging discussion about the realities of work, personal development, and navigating uncertainty with courage and intention. Through stories, reflection, and practical insights, participants will explore topics such as risk-taking, resilience, trust, inclusion, and professional growth at every career stage. Whether you supervise others or simply want to have greater impact in your role, you’ll leave encouraged to think differently about leadership, equipped with ideas you can apply right away, and inspired to take the next step in your own development journey.

Join us for a dynamic conversation with two distinguished University System of Maryland leaders as they explore what it means to learn, lead, and thrive in today’s rapidly evolving higher education environment. Through a candid discussion, the panel will examine how institutions can navigate change, foster innovation, build resilient teams, and create cultures that support both organizational success and employee well-being. Participants will gain insights into leading through uncertainty, strengthening collaboration across institutions, and developing the skills needed to adapt in a complex and changing world. Whether you are a supervisor, emerging leader, faculty member, or staff professional, this session will offer practical perspectives, thoughtful reflection, and inspiration for contributing to a stronger, more connected, and more resilient USM community.

Ever wish you could turn one great idea into multiple polished resources without starting from scratch each time? In this interactive session, participants will explore practical AI-assisted workflows within the Microsoft 365 ecosystem that support efficient, high-quality content creation in higher education. Using tools many institutions already provide, attendees will learn how Microsoft Copilot can help transform existing content into presentations, infographics, podcasts, short videos, and other communication materials while maintaining accessibility, authenticity, and professional expertise. Through demonstrations, discussion, and hands-on exploration of prompts and outputs, participants will discover scalable strategies for streamlining content creation, extending the reach of their work, and building smarter digital workflows they can apply immediately in their own roles.

Email is one of the most common ways we communicate, yet small formatting choices can create barriers for readers with visual, motor, or cognitive disabilities. In this practical session, participants will learn simple, high-impact techniques for making emails and digital communications more accessible, inclusive, and easier for everyone to navigate. Through live demonstrations and before-and-after examples, attendees will explore the essentials of digital accessibility, including writing meaningful alt text, creating descriptive hyperlinks, using headings effectively, and verifying color contrast. Designed for busy professionals, this session focuses on approachable adjustments that can be incorporated into everyday workflows with minimal effort. Participants will leave with the confidence and tools to evaluate their own communications, improve accessibility, and help create a more equitable and welcoming experience for students, colleagues, and campus communities.

As workloads continue to grow across higher education, many professionals are looking for ways to work more efficiently without sacrificing quality. This engaging session explores practical AI and digital tools that can help streamline everyday tasks, improve productivity, and reduce time spent on repetitive work. Participants will discover real-world applications of tools such as ChatGPT, Microsoft Copilot, and other productivity platforms for drafting communications, summarizing documents, organizing information, and supporting routine workflows. Through live demonstrations, reflection activities, and interactive discussion, attendees will learn how to identify tasks that are well-suited for AI assistance and develop a practical approach to incorporating these tools into their work. Whether you work in academic affairs, student services, HR, finance, IT, or another functional area, you will leave with immediately applicable strategies, a curated resource guide, and greater confidence in using AI to work smarter and more effectively.

This session will only be partially recorded in order to promote participation during the live coaching session.

In the fast-paced world of higher education, it can be easy to lose sight of the work, values, and experiences that bring a sense of purpose and energy to your day. This interactive group coaching session offers an opportunity to pause, reflect, and reconnect with what matters most. Through guided reflection and facilitated discussion, participants will identify their core personal values and explore how those values are reflected in their professional lives. By examining areas of alignment—and opportunities for change—attendees will uncover practical insights that can strengthen engagement, restore energy, and support more meaningful work. Participants will leave with greater clarity about what motivates them and one or two actionable steps they can immediately apply to create a more intentional, sustainable, and fulfilling professional experience.

Effective leadership is about more than position or authority—it is about the ability to inspire trust, foster connection, and lead with clarity in times of complexity and change. In this engaging and reflective session, participants will explore the role of emotional intelligence as a foundation for sustainable leadership and professional effectiveness. Through self-assessment, guided reflection, and practical application, attendees will examine key dimensions of emotionally intelligent leadership, including self-awareness, emotional agility, empathy, resilience, and purpose-driven decision making. Participants will gain insight into their own leadership presence while learning strategies for navigating challenging conversations, building psychological safety, and strengthening team engagement. Attendees will leave with a personalized action plan and practical techniques they can apply immediately to lead with greater confidence, composure, and impact.

Leadership is often viewed through the lens of the person in charge, but every leadership moment is shaped by both leaders and followers. In this interactive session, participants will explore the essential role followership plays in workplace success and how leaders and followers work together to create meaningful outcomes. Attendees will examine what they bring to everyday leadership moments as followers, including their mindset, actions, and interactions with others, and consider how these choices influence collaboration, communication, and organizational effectiveness. Through discussion, reflection, and interactive activities, participants will gain a deeper understanding of followership as an active and valuable practice rather than a passive role. Participants will leave with practical strategies for strengthening their ability to contribute, collaborate, and make the most of every leadership moment, regardless of their position or title.

When workloads are heavy, priorities are constantly shifting, and the to-do list never seems to get shorter, the solution is often framed as better time management, increased resilience, or more self-care. While these strategies have value, they can only go so far when the design of the work itself creates strain. This interactive session explores how systems, workflows, expectations, and team culture influence energy, focus, and wellbeing over time. Drawing on principles from public health and behavioral science, participants will examine the root causes of burnout, identify sources of strain within their own work environments, and explore practical ways to create more sustainable ways of working. Through reflection, discussion, and hands-on activities, attendees will leave with actionable strategies to reduce unnecessary burdens, improve effectiveness, and support long-term wellbeing for themselves, their teams, and the systems they influence.

Peer coaching is a practical, low-cost approach to strengthening leadership skills, building meaningful workplace connections, and supporting employee wellbeing. In this interactive workshop, participants will explore how structured peer coaching can foster shared leadership, strengthen trust, and create opportunities for continuous learning and support across teams. Through a live coaching demonstration, guided reflection, polling, and discussion, attendees will examine key elements of successful peer coaching programs, including partnership structures, engagement strategies, and sustainable implementation practices. Participants will learn how peer coaching can enhance communication, accountability, and professional growth while helping reduce isolation and burnout. Whether launching a new initiative or enhancing an existing program, attendees will leave with actionable tools, sample resources, and practical strategies for creating a culture of collaboration, reflection, and shared leadership.

Well-being is not built through perfection—it grows through intentional habits, meaningful connections, and daily practices that support balance and resilience. In this interactive workshop, participants will explore the five elements of The Well-Being Equation: engagement, meaning, achievement, positive emotions, and relationships. Through guided reflection, practical activities, and conversation, attendees will assess their current well-being, identify areas of strength and growth, and create a personalized Well-Being Toolkit tailored to their values, goals, and lifestyle. Participants will discover realistic strategies for reducing stress, strengthening motivation, building healthier routines, and fostering greater fulfillment both personally and professionally. Attendees will leave with increased self-awareness, actionable tools, and sustainable practices they can immediately incorporate into everyday life to support long-term well-being and success.

Change has become a constant in higher education, from evolving technologies and shifting priorities to staffing challenges and increasing demands. While change can drive progress, too much at once can lead to fatigue, frustration, disengagement, and reduced capacity for innovation. In this interactive session, participants will explore practical, people-centered strategies for leading through change while maintaining trust, accountability, and sustainable performance. Using a simple Change Load Map, attendees will learn how to distinguish essential change from avoidable overload, clarify priorities, and recognize hidden sources of strain that affect individuals and teams. Through guided reflection, discussion, and real-world scenarios, participants will gain practical tools for improving communication, supporting psychological safety, and reducing unnecessary burden. Participants will leave with an actionable framework and immediately applicable strategies for navigating change with greater clarity, resilience, and intention.

Strong leadership starts with recognizing and developing the strengths that already exist within individuals and teams. In this interactive session, participants will explore how strengths-based leadership can enhance employee engagement, strengthen workplace culture, and support professional wellbeing. Through discussion, reflection, and practical application, attendees will examine strategies for leveraging strengths in communication, delegation, supervision, and employee development while fostering trust, collaboration, and a sense of belonging. Whether leading a team, managing projects, or influencing others in informal leadership roles, participants will gain actionable tools and fresh perspectives for creating environments where people feel valued, empowered, and motivated to contribute. Leave with practical strategies to build stronger teams, unlock potential, and lead with greater confidence, empathy, and effectiveness.

Challenging workplace experiences are often viewed as obstacles to overcome, but they can also provide valuable insight into how organizations function and how we navigate them. In this interactive session, participants will explore a structured approach to making sense of workplace tension, ambiguity, and difficult professional experiences. Through guided reflection and facilitated discussion, attendees will learn how to move beyond immediate reactions and examine the deeper patterns, dynamics, and organizational factors that shape their experiences. Participants will explore how workplace challenges can serve as sources of greater self-awareness, professional discernment, and understanding of organizational behavior. By reframing difficult experiences as opportunities for learning and growth, attendees will leave with a practical framework for navigating complexity, strengthening judgment, and approaching future challenges with greater clarity, intention, and confidence.

In higher education, the drive for excellence can sometimes evolve into an expectation of perfection—creating unnecessary stress, limiting innovation, and contributing to burnout. This interactive workshop invites participants to examine how perfectionism shows up in the workplace and explore practical ways to shift toward a more sustainable, growth-oriented approach to success. Drawing on cognitive-behavioral research, attendees will learn how perfectionistic thinking can affect wellbeing, collaboration, creativity, and psychological safety, while identifying strategies for setting healthy boundaries and managing cognitive load. Through reflection, discussion, and hands-on activities, participants will develop tools for replacing fear-based habits with healthier patterns that support resilience, learning, and professional growth. Participants will leave with practical strategies to foster well-being, strengthen workplace relationships, and build momentum through progress rather than perfection.

Many higher education professionals carry responsibilities that extend far beyond their formal job descriptions. From emotional labor and constant context-switching to invisible coordination work and competing demands, the pressure to “hold everything together” often goes unseen despite its impact on how people experience work. In this reflective and engaging session, participants will explore how workplace culture, professional expectations, and personal standards can contribute to patterns of overextension and mental overload. Rather than focusing on burnout in the abstract, this session creates space for a more honest conversation about invisible labor, sustainability, and the pressure many people quietly feel to carry more than others may realize. Through practical examples, guided reflection, and interactive discussion, attendees will identify practical strategies for recognizing hidden workload patterns, reducing unnecessary mental load, and redefining effectiveness in more sustainable ways.

Balancing the many demands of academic life can be challenging. Teaching, research, service, administrative responsibilities, and personal commitments often compete for limited time and attention. In this interactive workshop, participants will explore practical time management strategies designed specifically for the higher education environment. Drawing on proven personal productivity principles, attendees will learn how to prioritize competing demands, create systems for managing commitments, establish healthy boundaries, and reduce distractions that interfere with focus and effectiveness. Through reflection, discussion, and hands-on exercises, participants will examine common time management challenges and identify sustainable approaches for aligning daily work with professional goals and personal values. Participants will leave with practical tools and strategies they can immediately apply to enhance productivity, reduce stress, and support long-term success in both their professional and personal lives.

Creating a truly inclusive campus culture requires more than awareness—it requires a commitment to understanding and supporting the diverse ways people think, communicate, and experience the world. In this thought-provoking session, participants will explore what it means to adopt a neurodiversity-affirming mindset and how that approach can foster greater accessibility, belonging, and community care across campus environments. Attendees will examine how ableism can appear in everyday interactions, learn practical strategies for supporting sensory and communication needs, and reflect on assumptions that may unintentionally create barriers. Through guided reflection, discussion, and actionable examples, participants will gain tools to create more welcoming and supportive spaces where neurodivergent students, faculty, and staff feel seen, valued, and empowered to thrive.

What if the habits and routines that fill your days could become powerful sources of meaning, connection, and joy? In this engaging and interactive session, author and thought leader Casper ter Kuile will explore how rituals can help us create deeper relationships, strengthen our sense of purpose, and navigate life with greater intention. Drawing on insights from his work on community, ritual, and spirituality, participants will reflect on meaningful moments in their personal and professional lives and begin creating their own ritual calendar for the year ahead. Casper ter Kuile will share practical strategies for transforming everyday habits into meaningful rituals and invite attendees to consider how small, intentional practices can enrich their work, well-being, and relationships. Participants will leave inspired, energized, and equipped with concrete ideas for building more meaning and connection into everyday life.