Caption: Left: Faculty joined us for the workshop Assignments in the Age of AI in the FacDev Commons on February 6. Right: FacDev Instructional Designer Christian Reyes and Kelly Opdycke, Lecturer and CSUN Explorers Program Director and Lecturer (COMS), presented their workshop on Neuroaffirming Teaching Tips at the Faculty Retreat on Feb. 13.

Associate Professor, Department of Psychology

My program of research utilizes a variety of methodological techniques (qualitative, survey, experiment, biological and clinical markers of health) to investigate the role of cultural mismatch in historically marginalized students’ health and academic outcomes during the transition to college. 

My research is currently being funded by an R16 SuRE First Award from the National Institutes of Health. Findings from my work are actively shaping interventions at the community college and university levels – through courses and programs – designed to reduce cultural mismatch and promote equity for historically marginalized students pursuing careers in STEMM. As a mentor to dozens of students, I draw on my experiences as a first-generation college student and daughter of immigrant parents to guide my mentees in navigating the hidden curriculum of higher education. Training, mentoring, and inspiring the next generation of scientists is my life purpose, and I am passionately committed to this work.

FacDev has partnered with OneHE, an online, asynchronous professional development platform, that provides practical teaching strategies and tips through 20-minute courses, activities, and resources. Faculty can receive a free OneHE license to access all the content at their own pace and and earn badges for completing courses. Email facdev@csun.edu to learn how to receive a free license. Please note: OneHE is currently available to faculty teaching during the Spring 2026 semester only.

Faculty can watch this video, Getting Creative (and Critical) with AI Literacy, to preview the kind of content available.

Led by campus expert Dr. Iswari Pandey, this 12-week workshop will provide faculty a structured, hands-on program to complete an article for publication. Priority will be given to faculty who have a preliminary draft of an article.

With Callie Juarez, Sr. Director, Academic Resources & Planning

This session will walk through what qualifies as an Instructionally Related Activity, what IRA funds can and cannot be used for at CSUN, and practical ways faculty can use these resources to support teaching and student learning. The IRA submission deadline is March 2. Bring your questions!

Curious about working with librarians? Join Librarian Lynn Lampert to learn how faculty can partner with CSUN librarians.

Interested in writing accountability this spring? Join the Office of Faculty Programs and Initiatives on Mondays and Tuesdays this semester from noon to 1 p.m. For questions email Dr. Anne Choi.

Learn strategies to support neurodivergent students at CSUN. This workshop will be co-led by Kelly Opdycke, Ph.D. 

With Dan Weingarten, Chair, Educational Policies Committee

Thinking about proposing a new course? This session offers an overview of the full curriculum approval process at CSUN, from department and college review through the university-level Educational Policies Committee (EPC). Learn what’s required at each stage, how proposals move forward, common pitfalls to avoid, and practical tips for navigating the process efficiently. Bring your questions and ideas.

Interested in learning how to mentor students? Join campus expert Dr. Doris Abrishami, Professor of Health Sciences, to learn key strategies and protocols for productive mentoring.

Co-sponsored by Academic Technology

This session introduces faculty to no-cost generative AI tools that support teaching, research, and creative work. Through practical examples and low-stakes use cases, the talk explores how these tools can enhance course design, instructional materials, feedback, and scholarly productivity—without requiring specialized technical expertise. Faculty will leave with a curated toolkit and clear guidance for experimenting responsibly and effectively within their own teaching practice. 

Learn how to design an effective mid-semester check-in for your students that can positively impact your course evaluations.

FacDev has created a Canvas site with a number of AI-related resources. Topics include course design and AI policies, talking to students about AI, designing assignments, and creating custom chatbots. Faculty can also share assignments and pose questions in discussion forums. 

Are you interested in designing more learner-centered courses? In the Designing Learner-Centered and Equitable Courses course, you will learn practices proven to align assessments, assignments, and learning experiences that offer students clarity around what they are learning and how they will be assessed. Participants who complete the course will earn a microcredential from the Association of College and University Educators (ACUE). Apply by 2/26.

Spring registration is open for free, online professional development courses from the CSU Chancellor’s Office Online Course Services. Titles include Introduction to Teaching Online using Quality Learning and Teaching (QLT), Advanced QLT Course in Teaching Online, and AI Tools for Teaching and Learning. These three-week courses will take approximately 15 to 25 hours, and faculty will earn a digital badge for completion of each course.