Carroll University Ethos Symposium

Join fellow attendees for a light breakfast before the opening session.

Kick off to the 2025 Equity and Social Justice Symposium

Do you allow just anyone to enter your home? Do you reveal your suffering to anyone who will listen? Do you ever find yourself holding back from full self-expression because you do not trust your current social context? Do you accept friend requests from everyone who asks to be your friend on Facebook? Do you believe most things you read on Twitter and other social media? Do you act as if your vote is counted properly in local, state, and federal elections?  Trust permeates our daily lives, from one-on-one interactions to social media, to looking for help, to casting a ballot in an election. How do we decide who or what to trust? Is there a right or wrong way to trust? Are some people, social media sites, and forms of government more trustworthy than others? Why? The present talk/workshop will discuss the neuroscience, psychology, and philosophy of trust, and how it impacts our assumptions regarding freedom, democracy, and the notion of human rights. 

A transformative workshop combining self-reflection, creative expression, and forgiveness to help participants uncover their inherent worth and embrace self-love. Through art creation and introspective exercises, attendees will explore how to extend love and compassion to others, fostering connection and equity in their lives.

During this session, Dr. Cheng will first share a vulnerable story to demonstrate how writing and telling stories enables us to create a sense of identity, belonging, and empowerment. Following the short performance, she will discuss how she uses central principles of storytelling, such as vulnerability, trust, and intimacy, to build bridges across differences and to create genuine connections with others. 

In this highly interactive workshop, participants discover that differing viewpoints are not obstacles but essential components in addressing our most controversial issues. Guided in light parliamentary style by an experienced facilitator, participants navigate the nuances and complexities of a challenging political or social topic, probe into its root causes, and join in spirited ideation toward potential solutions.

Join this engaging and thought-provoking fireside chat with Kristin Brey, the dynamic voice behind impactful conversations on bridging divides and fostering positive change online and offline. Kristin will share her insights on navigating the challenges of civil discourse in the online world, practical ways to get involved in local politics, and strategies for engaging with those who see the world differently.

In a time when polarization often dominates headlines, this discussion will inspire you to think differently about how we communicate, collaborate, and create solutions that matter. Whether you're an active advocate, a concerned citizen, or just curious about making a difference, this event promises to leave you with actionable takeaways and a fresh perspective.

This session will explore the role of faith leaders in promoting justice, unity, and care for one another amid political and social divisions. Panelists will discuss how to uphold compassion, dignity, and fairness while remaining committed to justice in an increasingly polarized world.

Success in sport, school, and life starts with strong mental health. In Mental Health Is Your Competitive Edge, sport psychologist Dr. Alyssa Zajdel will break down practical mental skills that help athletes perform under pressure, stay motivated, and navigate setbacks. This engaging and interactive keynote will explore how emotions, self-awareness, and stress management impact performance, while also addressing athletic cultural values that shape the student-athlete experience. Attendees will walk away with actionable tools to enhance their mental game, improve focus, and maintain balance in athletics, academics, and beyond.

Carroll’s first cultural market is a continuation of the cultural fair celebrations. This event strives to increase awareness, understanding of, and pride in our ethnic diversities, through the sharing of food! This event is all about sharing, experiencing and learning. Explore how food is linked to family heritage, specific cultures and celebrations big and small. Embrace the richness that diversity can bring to a community and experience it all through food!

Carroll’s first cultural showcase aims to bring individuals together and celebrate our unique histories. Cultural celebrations foster respect and open-mindedness and helps to unite and educate us. This showcase will provide a space for anyone who chooses to participate. You are invited to showcase your traditions and customs through storytelling, art, music, fashion, performance and more! We hope to create a sense of community and belonging in this celebration.

Success looks different for every student, and this is especially true within the diverse and vibrant Hispanic community. In this session, we will explore the individuality of student success while recognizing the common cultural threads that can foster growth or present unique challenges. Through an interactive and reflective discussion, participants will gain insight into how culture can be both a foundation and a barrier for students and how intentional support strategies can empower students to define their own success. 

This interactive workshop explores effective strategies for supporting Black student retention at institutions where they are underrepresented. Led by a once first-generation, low-income Black woman who has navigated similar challenges, the session will provide practical strategies for fostering belonging, academic success, and institutional support. Participants will engage in meaningful discussions, role-playing scenarios, and action planning to enhance retention efforts on their campus.

This session will focus on the change in our student demographics and the workforce over the next 5-10 years.  Data will show that the demographic cliff not only includes the shift in the volume of students available to attend college, but also the change in the demographics of the students included in this volume.  We will also focus on the changing workforce demographics to recruit and prepare for a diverse workforce.

The harmful impact of workplace disrespect and incivility is well documented and if allowed to take root, the consequences can be grim. So, imagine an enjoyable workplace—an environment where you and your colleagues can truly thrive in your career and profession. This engaging and thought-provoking session provides an evidence-based understanding of workplace incivility, its impact on individuals, teams, organizations, and patient care—and emphasizes the need to cultivate and sustain healthy workplaces. Join a renowned nurse researcher, award-winning professor, and accomplished author for a stimulating session to explore a variety of strategies to foster healthy work environments.

During this powerful and engaging conversation, we will define psychological safety, recognize the barriers we all face in implementing and leaning into psychological safety and how to invest in a culture that ignites creativity and curiosity to help lessen potential fears.

“Write Away the Pain” is an interactive workshop designed to help college students confront and process personal trauma through the transformative power of spoken word poetry. College can be a time of immense pressure, and unresolved trauma often becomes a barrier to academic success and personal growth, sometimes leading students to withdraw or drop out. This workshop creates a safe and supportive space for students to explore their emotions, share their experiences, and begin the healing process. 

Do you want to tell stories to create genuine connections and build intimate communities? In this session, Dr. Cheng will first hold a mini workshop discussing central tenets of storytelling. Participants will learn general tips on how to craft and tell stories. She will then give participants some time to create a story based on the lessons they have learned. After the workshop, she will host an open mic for participants to share their stories.

This interactive session is designed to offer faculty an overview of the College Debate & Discourse (CD&D) Curricular Toolkit and best practices for fostering civil discourse in the classroom. Developed by faculty for faculty, the toolkit provides pedagogical resources for using debate and dialogue to encourage students’ critical thinking and help them craft logical, evidence-based arguments. It has been utilized in more than 100 classroom settings across a wide variety of course subjects. 

This 60-minute workshop examines the intersection of two adult development and cultural competence models, offering participants a concise yet insightful exploration of their role in fostering integrity and character development. Through an engaging mix of presentation and discussion, attendees will analyze how developmental capacity influences ethical engagement. The session emphasizes the transformative power of growth, equipping participants with strategies to strengthen character and capacity across diverse social contexts.

Join two international education professionals as they explore the current landscape of Carroll University's international community and share insights into the University's ongoing journey toward campus internationalization. This interactive session will highlight key demographics, existing resources, and challenges faced by our international students, faculty and staff. Participants will also engage in a collaborative group discussion to brainstorm actionable ideas for enhancing campus internationalization efforts, fostering a more inclusive and globally connected university environment. Whether you are a faculty member, administrator, or student, your perspective will help shape Carroll University's future as a truly international campus!

In 1968 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. published Where Do We Go From Here: Chaos or Community? Dr. King wrote: "We are now faced with the fact that tomorrow is today. We are confronted with the fierce urgency of now.” With making some connections and taking some lessons from post 2024 general election outcomes, this interactive discussion will provide an opportunity to look at our individual and collective power dynamics while examining our political contradictions and the future of democracy.

The harmful impact of workplace disrespect and incivility is well documented and if allowed to take root, the consequences can be grim. So, imagine an enjoyable workplace—an environment where you and your colleagues can truly thrive in your career and profession. This engaging and thought-provoking session provides an evidence-based understanding of workplace incivility, its impact on individuals, teams, organizations, and patient care—and emphasizes the need to cultivate and sustain healthy workplaces. Join a renowned nurse researcher, award-winning professor, and accomplished author for a stimulating session to explore a variety of strategies to foster healthy work environments

In today's world, how can we cultivate spaces where people feel genuinely welcome and meaningful work can take place? This session will explore the concept of Radical Hospitality through a Queer lens, offering practical strategies for fostering supportive and inviting environments in classrooms and beyond.

The accommodation process goes beyond the walls of Student Accessibility Services. Join us to learn how faculty, staff, and students contribute to appropriate accommodation implementation. We will discuss the importance of proactive conversations between faculty and students, provide insight for creating an open environment to discuss accommodation needs, and highlight how student self-advocacy ties into the process.

This engaging, interactive activity focuses on the intersection of civility and democracy by educating participants about the policies and social norms—both historical and contemporary—that have shaped social resistance and fostered transformative change in America. Through group-centered discussion, participants will gain a deeper understanding of how social movements challenge dominance while advancing democratic values. 

Our instinct to resist challenge and assert authority can unintentionally leave others feeling dismissed. Together we will begin to recognize emotional reactions, shift from defensive responses to thoughtful engagement, and master the art of asking meaningful questions to foster connection and understanding. By adopting a coaching mindset, you’ll discover techniques to enhance communication, therefore inspiring authentic relationships and deeper thinking.

This session explores how Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) helps us understand the connection between our thoughts, emotions, and actions. By examining the patterns that influence our choices, we can gain insight into our decision-making processes and develop strategies for more effective communication and connection with others.

In this hour session, Emmie Elliott will be sharing some of their stories as a blind student whose blindness was overlooked by the education system growing up, as well as their experiences now as an adult college student. They’ll also be sharing how students and professors alike can overcome their fear of interacting with other disabled students, considerations to keep in mind within inter-abled relationships, and how to ask the right questions when wanting to support your disabled friends and students.