Faculty and staff explored what academic citizenship looks like in practice during the second annual Professional Development Day on Sept. 2, at the Anderson Center during a panel discussion on citizenship at Hamline.
The panel brought together six faculty and staff members with different roles and experiences focusing on what it means to be a good citizen, how the university rebuilds a culture of sustainable engagement and the kind of community Hamline wants to create. Binnur Ozkececi-Taner, interim dean of faculty, moderated the panel.
Panelists described citizenship as a shared responsibility that extends beyond individual departments and job descriptions.
Citizenship involves intentional relationship building and collaboration across departments, said Faith Estelle-Velez, coordinator of campus pride and gender programs. She said the best way to do that is by working with colleagues when planning programs so departments don’t compete for students' attention.
Kennedy Odongo, assistant professor in the School of Business, connected citizenship to responsibility for students. He described reaching out to students when their grades begin to fall and creating multiple opportunities for students to connect with faculty.
Casper Voyles, assistant professor of public health, described a good citizen as “informed and intentional participation.” He emphasized the importance of understanding what is happening beyond one’s immediate role.
Being a good citizen also requires understanding both Hamline's academic mission and the operations that support it, said Kris Norman, professor of public administration.
“We are both an academic institution and a business,” Norman said. “Without them working together, there is no institution at all.”
The discussion also addressed the kind of community panelists want to create. They emphasized inclusion and a willingness to learn from different perspectives.
Estelle-Velez said building those relationships require a foundation of care and respect.
“You can’t ask us to connect over differences without asking us to learn and care for one another first,” Estelle-Velez said.
The session concluded with table discussions, where faculty and staff talked with each other to develop a description of a future model citizen of Hamline and how they would contribute to that vision.
Professional Development Day also included updates on the Center for Teaching and Learning priorities, a brief ITS update, workshops on Workday and Institutional Review Board, and an interactive advising session where faculty and staff discussed how students can explore, build, experience and launch a sense of purpose throughout their time at Hamline.