LaGuardia Community Gathers for Opening Sessions to Kick Off Fall 2022 Semester

Long Island City, NY (September 7, 2022)–LaGuardia faculty and staff gathered in-person for the first time in three years during the college’s Opening Sessions, September 7, 2022. Opening Sessions is a LaGuardia tradition scheduled a days before the first day of classes each semester and welcomes faculty and staff to hear inspiring remarks from college leadership, listen to a keynote address, and attend workshops.

The event included welcome remarks from President Kenneth Adams, who reminded the college community about COVID-19 protocols and the importance of working together to serve our students. In addition, the college’s Provost Billie Gastic Rosado introduced herself to the college community and spoke about her experience as a first-generation college student and the critical role the college plays in shaping the future of students. “Students need us more than ever before,” she said. “Together we will help students find the courage to continue their studies.”

The theme was “Refresh and Restart: Cultivating a Culture of Kindness,” and featured a keynote address from Dr. Cate Denial, professor of history at Knox College in Illinois and author of the forthcoming book, “A Pedagogy of Kindness” about adopting a pedagogy of kindness—a teaching practice based on “believing people and believing in people,” as Dr. Denial says.

Following Dr. Denial’s keynote in the Mainstage Theater of the LaGuardia Performing Arts Center, faculty and staff attended workshops about topics ranging from, “Designing a Kind Syllabus: Communicating values of equity and inclusion,” to “Supporting Student Belonging Through Empathy & Kindness,” about new approaches to enhance the student experience—both academically and socially.

Attendees will incorporate learnings from Opening Sessions Fall 2022 in classes that start on Friday, September 9, 2022.


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