Join CATE for a Trauma-Informed Teaching Workshop, Jan. 24 or 31

Join us for an impactful and engaging professional development opportunity designed to empower faculty to understand what trauma is and how it impacts learning. Supported by the AL and WO campuses and the Center for Advancement of Teaching and Excellence (CATE).

Workshop Description
This workshop will provide a comprehensive overview of how trauma operates, how it may manifest in academic settings, and practical strategies to navigate these challenges in a boundaried and constructive manner. Grounded in the principle that teachers also deserve boundaries, the session will:

• Explore a broad understanding of trauma, from systemic and recurring experiences (like racism) to individual or collective ones (such as the pandemic);
• Discuss approaches for addressing trauma in academic settings through resource sharing, boundary setting and vulnerability;
• Offer strategies for adapting course materials and syllabi to acknowledge the realities of trauma affecting students and faculty.

This workshop acknowledges the dual realities of faculty and students navigating stress and trauma while providing actionable tools to foster a supportive learning environment.

Session Details
The workshop will be held twice to accommodate more NOVA faculty, with one session at the Alexandria Campus and another at the Woodbridge Campus. Faculty members from all disciplines are welcome.

Dates and Times

• Alexandria Campus, Donald L. Bisdorf Building, AA-158, Friday, January 24, 2:30 p.m. until 4 p.m.
• Woodbridge Campus, Arts and Sciences Building, WAS-108, Friday, January 31, 2:30 p.m. until 4 p.m.

Presenter Bio
Hannah Brancato (she/her) is an artist and educator based in Baltimore, whose art practice is grounded in collective storytelling and the creation of public rituals to bring people’s stories together. Brancato specializes in creating trauma-informed spaces for reflection, learning and creative expression. Her work empowers participants to explore complex topics through engaging and thoughtful facilitation. Brancato is a recipient of the Ruby’s Artist Grant and was recently an artist in residence at Montgomery College and Visarts in Rockville, Md.

A professor of art since 2011, Brancato is currently pursuing her Ph.D. in American Studies at the University of Maryland. She lectures and holds workshops related to her art practice and her research about trauma-informed spaces and pedagogy, most recently presenting at Massachusetts College of Art and Design, the Colgate University Women’s Center and the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.

Register
To register for event reminders and updates, please sign up here.

If you have any questions, please contact Liz Donadio at EDonadio@nvcc.edu.

Submitted by:
Liz Donadio, WO-Photography, EDonadio@nvcc.edu