The Center for Teaching and Learning

Engaging Pedagogy Conference May 2026

Learn Boldly. Live to Inspire.
Date of Conference: May 13, 2026
Gymnastics of Learning: Physical, Mental, and Emotional Strategies for Growth  

In teaching and in pedagogy, no expectation has been thrown around more than growth. Teachers seek professional growth and development. They encourage students to grow throughout the semester by nurturing their evolution and building their lifelong relationship with a “growth mindset.” Students, in turn, bring their expanded skill sets into the community to foster even more growth, a quasi-trickle-down economy of learning that reaches beyond the borders of our institutions.  

Yet, to facilitate growth, it is often necessary to stretch the idea of what we think we are capable of. We must balance work and life to ensure we nurture our own growth. We must remain flexible in ideology, methodology, and our timelines, self-imposed or mandated by our governing bodies. We must develop strength of mind, body, and spirit. We must build stamina and coach our students and ourselves to become well-rounded scholastic athletes. Finally, we must not forget the times of failure or shifting strategies. 

At the Engaging Pedagogy Conference this year, we at TLU invite you to gather, present, and participate in lectures, workshops, and breakout groups that may focus on, but are not limited to, or exclusive to… 

  • Adapting strategies for enhancing cognitive processing through: Note-taking, Motor learning, Recovery, Self-motivation, Meditation, Mindfulness, Simulation, Technology (AI) to enhance education, active learning, flipped classrooms, etc. 
  • Engaging and connecting with others in the online environment 
  • Learning for curiosity’s sake 
  • Balancing teaching and learning 
  • Stretching the boundaries 
  • Equipping students and teachers with tools they can use for online learning 
  • Dealing with stage fright, a fear of failure, and performance anxiety 
  • Promoting the physicality of learning 

We invite breakout and poster presenters from Higher Ed, K-12, and graduate students. Registration is $75 per person. Use the discount code 2P2026 for two people. Use the discount code 3P2026 for three or more.

CONFERENCE PROGRAMMING

8:30 A.M. CONFERENCE REGISTRATION AND LIGHT BREAKFAST, SCHUECH FINE ARTS GALLERY 

  • Registration after 10 A.M. will take place in the Tschoepe Hall Lobby. 

9:00 A.M. CONFERENCE OPENING, WUPPERMAN THEATRE, SCHUECH FINE ARTS CENTER 

  • Dr. Rodrick Shao, Dr. Steve Vrooman, and Dr. Melissa Lubecke, Texas Lutheran University. 

9:15 A.M. KEYNOTE SPEAKER: Dr. John Seesholtz, WUPPERMAN THEATRE,

10:30 A.M. - 11:15 A.M. BREAKOUT SESSIONS, TSCHOEPE HALL 

  • Title: Human Intelligence First: How to Build Critical Thinking Skills: Prof. Beth Barry, TLU. | Room 131

  • Title: DUEMP: Digital Urban Exploration Markup Project in a 3xx Urban History class: Dr. Philip Grace, TLU. | Room 130

  • Title: Engaging with the Bureaucracy Through Photovoice: Dr. William O’Brochta, TLU. | Room 127

11:25 AM – 11:50 AM POSTER SESSIONS, TSCHOEPE HALL (Dunne Conference Room)

  • Title: Bridging Technology and Human Touch: Nursing Students’ Experiences with Manikin and Actor-Based Simulation in Maternal-Child Health: Prof. Celestial Hahn, TLU. 

  • Title: Adapting to Change: How Nursing Students Navigate Post-COVID-19 Realities? Dr. Mona Hassan, TLU. 

  • Title: Assurance of Compliance with Required Sepsis Protocol, Dr. Nancy A. Cielencki, TLU. 

11:50 A.M. LUNCH, GRAFT LOUNGE, ALUMNI STUDENT CENTER (ASC)  

12:45-1:30 P.M. BREAKOUT SESSION, TSCHOEPE HALL 

  • Title: Beyond the Books: Searching for Success in Accelerated Track Nursing: Prof Elizabeth Garcia, TLU. | Room 245

  • Title: Insights on Bayesian Statistics: Dr. Michael, Czuchry, TLU. | Room 127

  • Title: Using AI-Driven Infographics, Visuals, and Mind Mapping with BoodleBox and LLMs: A Pedagogical Perspective, Dr. Sam Hijazi, TLU; Mr. Asker Hussain Feroz Hussain, Aspen University. | Room 201

1:45 P.M. - 2:30 P.M. BREAKOUT SESSION, TSCHOEPE HALL 

  • Title: Online Student Engagement: Structural Gaps, Challenges, and Barriers Limiting AI's Potential: Dr. Harrison Jr, University of Phoenix. | Room 130

  • Title: The Complex Comic: Using Graphic Novels to Teach First Year Composition Students About Genre Awareness, The University of Texas San Antonio. | Room 201

  • Title:    Photovoice: A Method for Capturing Student Voices: Dr. Stormy Malone, TLU. | Room131

2:35 P.M. - 3:00 PM CLOSING AND RECEPTION, WUPPERMAN 

EPC 2025 Conference at TLU

LET US INSPIRE YOU!

The Texas Lutheran University Engaging Pedagogy Conference is a fun and welcoming event that promotes and inspires regional educators—in high school and higher education—to share innovative and effective teaching methods, encourage teacher well-being, advocate for and commit to inclusive education, and foster a community of educators passionate about student success.

Testimonies

"I have attended and presented at this wonderful and welcoming Engaging Pedagogy Conference. Having gained such connection to and communion with Texas Lutheran University faculty and staff—as well as other local, regional, and national colleagues and practitioners in higher education—makes this event an effortless endeavor for me to suggest to others. I always leave the campus afterward proud to have collaborated, networked, and developed positively in the name of postsecondary student success and faculty community."

  • - Michael C McConnell, EdD. Professor at Texas State University

"The TLU Engaging Pedagogy Conference, run by some of the kindest and most qualified colleagues in higher education today, has become a teaching and learning destination event in the region and state. It has brought together amazing keynotes, presentations, and practitioners, providing an enriching place to share in today’s teaching and learning landscape and discuss innovations shaping its future."

  • - Jeff Schomburg, St. Mary's University

“The Engaging Pedagogy Conference is an excellent opportunity for faculty to come together to learn about and discuss new strategies for teaching and learning. Faculty can engage in rich conversations and create strong connections with colleagues from TLU and surrounding institutions.”

Center For Teaching & Learning