Dear Faculty Colleagues,

November has arrived — the last full month of the semester and a time when all your hard work comes into focus. As the campus buzzes with concerts, presentations, and final projects, may you find time to enjoy the culmination of a semester well taught.

First-Year Faculty Cohort

October 27: Our Senior Vice Provost and Associate Vice President of Academic Affairs, Dr. Lisa Sullivan, guided our First-Year Faculty cohort through two chapters of their CAFE-provided text, The Essential College Professor: A Practical Guide to an Academic Career — “Assessing Student Learning” and “Dealing with Student Problems and Problem Students.” Having served at APSU for 20 years, she brought a wealth of experience, insight, and context to the discussion. Thank you, Dr. Sullivan, for leading such a thoughtful and engaging session!

November 3: Our five College Deans paid a meaningful visit to our FYF cohort at this pivotal point in their first-year experience. They discussed a wide range of topics, including their paths to becoming deans, their visions for their colleges, what distinguishes strong RTP dossiers, how to infuse energy and expertise into departmental curricula  and much more. We’re fortunate to have such dedicated and supportive College Deans here at APSU!

AI Symposium - yay! 🥳

I want to extend my heartfelt thanks and congratulations to everyone who contributed to the success of our AI Symposium on October 31. The event showcased not only our remarkable depth of talent — evident in the many outstanding presentations — but also our shared curiosity, commitment to lifelong learning, and willingness to engage thoughtfully with emerging technologies in our classrooms and beyond.  Thank you all for sharing your expertise and for truly showing up. CAFE was delighted to be part of such a dynamic collaboration.

January Professional Development Day on Accessibility — January 14, 2026

CAFE is pleased to announce a professional development day focused on Accessibility, featuring keynote speaker Mike Hess, founder and executive director of the Blind Institute of Technology, that we are calling, "From Barriers to Bridges: Accessibility in Practice”.

The event will take place on Wednesday, January 14, in the week before Spring semester classes begin (following our mandatory report date). Please mark your calendars and see a preliminary outline of the day below.  We’ll also hear from our own campus accessibility specialists — Anna Carrie Webb, Yen Hoyt, and Jayme Dunn — who will share insights and practical strategies from their areas of expertise.

I’m thrilled to coordinate this event for our faculty and to provide this special opportunity to engage deeply with such an important and timely topic.

Upcoming Events
Here’s a quick look at upcoming opportunities for and by faculty:

• Office of Legal Affairs Workshop
• Free Legal Clinic
• TechBytes Nov 6 Session 
• Interprofessional Education Made Practical
• YuJa Transition Sessions
• Dr. Hardin Lecture
• IER Office Hours Sessions
• Career Success Center Sessions for Faculty
• Office of Student Research & Innovation November Lunch and Learn
• Full Spectrum Learning Info Sessions
• Peay Composed Symposium

CAFE Calendar 
I'll continue to update our CAFE Calendar as more events and sessions become finalized.  Be sure to bookmark it and add any events directly to your Outlook calendar. 

As always, I welcome your ideas on how CAFE can better serve you.  Please don't hesitate to reach out at williamsjj@apsu.edu or 931-221-7648.

As autumn deepens and November begins, I hope you find warmth in your work, connection in our community, and peace in the pace of these final weeks of the semester.

Yours always,
Jeff 

Pictured above: Our 2025-2026 FYF cohort with our compassionate, community-minded
College Deans (Dr. Karen Meisch, Dr. John McConnell, Dr. Mickey Hepner, Dr. Dlynn Williams, and Dr. Buzz Hoon) after our session on Monday, November 3.  

A place develoted to celebrating the achievements of our APSU faculty colleagues!

Chandler offers professional development in Alaska

Dr. Michael Chandler, Associate Professor of Music and Coordinator of Music Education, recently returned from a one-week trip to Anchorage, Alaska, where he was invited to present 15 hours of professional development sessions in music education for a group of in-service general music teachers from public and private schools around the Anchorage area. During the trip, Dr. Chandler took advantage of some sight-seeing opportunities that included Mt. Denali, Hatcher Pass, Seward, Beluga Point, and Earthquake Park in Anchorage. The organization sponsoring his trip and professional development presentations was the Alaska chapter of the American Orff-Schulwerk Association (AOSA). Dr. Chandler was grateful for the experience and was also able to complete his list of having now visited all 50 states in the United States.

Gibson presents at ACES Conference

Dr. Eva Gibson, Associate Professor of Psychological Science and Counseling, recently presented at the Association for Counselor Education and Supervision (ACES). This is the premier organization dedicated to quality education and supervision of counselors in all work settings. The primary purpose of the Association, is to advance counselor education and supervision in order to improve the provision of counseling services in all settings.

Here is a bit about her presentation, "School Counseling Students on the Job: Enhancing Clinical Readiness":

As a result of the recent shortages of school counselors across the U.S., school districts are employing school counseling trainees currently enrolled in master’s degree programs. To adequately prepare these trainees to provide ethical and competent services, counselor education programs may need to offer unique educational opportunities and address current policies and program structure. This session presents findings from a qualitative research study exploring the clinical preparation of job-embedded students. The session invites professionals to engage in a discussion about ethical practice, program policies, supervision practices, and barriers and opportunities when training job-embedded school counseling students.

Cockrell launches first MBA Study Abroad to London

Dr. Susan Cockrell, Professor of Accounting, has established the University's first-ever MBA study abroad experience in May of 2026 in London, England. Cockrell says that “Teaching this course in London for our MBA students will allow me bring global issues to life.  Experiencing the city’s financial, cultural, retail, and technical heartbeat firsthand adds depth to our program and accomplishes one of our MBA core objectives. It’s an unforgettable way to connect theory with practice.”

Read more about their itinerary below!

Barnett participates in Advocates for Autism as keynote speaker

On November 6, Dr. Laura Barnett, Assistant Professor in the College of Education, will present a keynote address at the Advocates for Autism event on campus in collaboration with Full Spectrum Learning. 

This event hears from autistic students as they share their stories, challenges, and successes navigating school and life. It is about celebrating neurodiversity, promoting understanding, and building a more inclusive APSU community.

Haase hosts viewing of The Invisible Mammal

This film featuring the work of Dr. Catherine Haase and Prof. Barry Jones, highlights North American bats and the dedicated team determined to save them.

Here is a bit about the firm from Dr. Haase:

"As a bat biologist who studies white-nose syndrome, The Invisible Mammal resonates deeply with me. It highlights both the fragility and resilience of bats, the animals that I’ve spent my career trying to understand and protect, and their importance in the ecosystem. As a woman scientist, I’m inspired to see this story told through voices that challenge stereotypes and bring visibility to the people and species often overlooked. And as an educator, it’s incredibly rewarding to watch students connect with the film and see what they can do for a career. I also believe that films like this help build empathy and inspire action among non-scientists as they see the people and emotions associated with these real conservation problems."

On Nov. 12 at 4:30 p.m. in Mabry Auditorium, Dr. Carlette Hardin, former dean of the Eriksson College of Education, will present "Education for All: A History of American Education.”

The lecture will cover 400 years of American educational history in one hour, providing students and faculty with a comprehensive overview of the major issues faced by educators and politicians throughout our nation's history.

The event will also feature a special performance by the Clarksville Children's Chorus.

Both sessions will take place in Library 232 from 9:00am-2:00pm.

IER staff will be there to help folks with everything IER related – surveys, outcomes assessment, data requests and analysis, Peay Composed efforts, major field testing, and more! Folks can drop by as their schedule allows.

Nov. 18, 2025
11:15 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.
Sundquist Science Complex E106B

Lunch will be provided, so please RSVP by
Nov. 11, 2025
so we can plan accordingly!

"Using the CUS Model to Promote Safety & Civility in the Educational & Clinical Environments"

This presentation, Using the CUS Model to Promote Safety & Civility in Educational and Clinical Environments, explores strategies to enhance professional communication and safety. Through defining civility and incivility, introducing the evidence-based TeamSTEPPS® CUS model, and practicing real-world scenarios, participants will learn respectful, effective approaches to address conflict and foster a culture of mutual respect.

Please click the button or use this link below to register for the symposium. 

https://forms.office.com/r/9Q7ueZxZsd

For questions or comments, please contact Troy Priest at priestt@apsu.edu. We look forward to seeing you there!  

Did you know that about 30% of APSU students are first-generation? Many of them don’t realize how many faculty and staff share that same experience. Help us change that by completing the First-Gen Faculty and Staff Survey.

Your responses will help highlight the strong first-gen presence at APSU on the G1Govs website and guide future opportunities like mentorship programs, panels, and speaking engagements. Help us make APSU a more supportive place for first-gen students!

Health and Counseling is available to provide presentations on various topics for your class. Presentations cover a range of topics, including stress management, physical and mental well-being, and bystander training.  

To request a presentation, please complete the form at https://www.apsu.edu/wellness/. 

For questions or concerns, please contact Dr. Quianda Harris at harrisq@apsu.edu or Jill de Graauw at degraauwj@apsu.edu. 

CAFE is excited to offer a day of professional development for faculty focusing on Accessibility.

Mike Hess, our keynote speaker, founded the Blind Institute of Technology (BIT), with the goal of reducing the unemployment rate for the blind and visually impaired and others with disabilities.

Here is a rough outline of the day (exact times TBD):

Dr. Eren Cifci was recently named one of the recipients for The Socrates Award for Excellence in Teaching! Here is a little more about him and his accomplishments.

Eren Cifci, Ph.D., is an Assistant Professor of Finance at Austin Peay State University, where he has been teaching a diverse range of finance and real estate courses. He has played a key role in designing and revising curricula to meet evolving academic and industry standards and has developed exemplary, student-centered teaching pedagogy in his classes. 

Beyond the classroom, Dr. Cifci has been actively involved in student-oriented professional development events and played an instrumental role in establishing the Real Estate Club at Austin Peay, fostering student engagement and professional growth. For these contributions, he was recognized with the Socrates Award for Excellence in Teaching (2024–2025). His research in finance and real estate has been published in leading journals such as Real Estate Economics and the Journal of Real Estate Research, earning awards and attracting widespread attention from major outlets including Realtor.com, Fox Business, Yahoo Finance, USA Today, Fortune Magazine, Daily Mail, the New York Post, among others. In recognition of his outstanding research record, Dr. Cifci also received the A.J. Taylor Distinguished Professorship Award for Excellence in Research (2025). 
 
When asked about his favorite thing at APSU, he said, “I truly value the community atmosphere here, where strong connections exist between students and professors. Our students genuinely look up to their professors and are eager to learn, which makes teaching at Austin Peay especially rewarding.”

Join us in congratulating Dr. Cifci for being one of the recipients of The Socrates Award for Excellence in Teaching!

Dr. Amanda Patrick is our newest addition to the CAFE Advisory Board. She is an Assistant Professor of Sociology & Community Development. She has been at APSU for 7 years!

When asked why she wants to serve on the board, she replied, “I am interested in serving on the advisory board of CAFE as I believe supporting faculty in their teaching, research, and professional development directly enhances student success.”

She shared her favorite aspect of APSU is that “the academic community here is collegial and supportive.” Her favorite hobby is curating vintage memorabilia and her favorite movie is Les Misérables.

Join us in welcoming Dr. Patrick to the CAFE Advisory Board!

Have you bookmarked the CAFE Calendar yet?  We’re constantly adding new events!  Stay up to date with all CAFE-affiliated programming happening across campus.  Don’t forget - you can easily add any event directly to your Outlook calendar with a click! 

Do you have an event that you would like promoted in CAFE's bi-monthly newsletter?

Feel free to email us at cafe-fac@apsu.edu with the information. We will review it and inform you if the request is appropriate for the CAFE audience.