| DATE | DESCRIPTION | PRESENTER | RESOURCES |
| Lunchtime Seminars | |||
| Tue, 02/03/26 | Get Ready For Spring: Facilitating Intrinsic Motivation in your Students (and Yourself)! Join us for a lunchtime conversation on how to cultivate authentic engagement, not only in our students but also within our own practice. We’ll explore simple, research-informed strategies for fostering autonomy, competence, and relatedness – the key drivers of intrinsic motivation – across a wide range of classroom contexts. Participants will leave with practical tools, renewed energy for their teaching, and a deeper understanding of how intrinsic motivation supports learning, well-being, and professional joy. |
Gina Riley (Special Education); Christina Katopodis (ACERT/English); Jose Diaz (Director of Academic Technologies and Online Learning, City Tech); Angela Padilla (Skirball Science Learning Center) | Recording |
| Thu, 02/05/26 | Innovative Application: Ways to Integrate AI in Your Classroom, Professional, and Personal Life *Open to All CUNY* Learn and discuss innovative strategies for integrating AI into your teaching, research, professional workflows, and personal projects. Participants will explore sophisticated, playful, ethical ways to use AI to various ends: for efficiency and productivity; for a creative boost; and to engage students in critical and creative thinking. Our panelists highlight their experiences leveraging AI responsibly. Participants will leave with fresh ideas and adaptable techniques they can implement immediately across multiple contexts. |
Kenny Hirschmann (Frankfort Center for Learning and Scholarly Technologies); Alfonso Pérez (Curriculum & Teaching); Elizabeth Klein (Special Education); Virginia Gryta (Special Education); Katherine DeLorenzo (Women & Gender Studies) | Recording |
| Tue, 02/10/26 | Teaching That Transforms: A Showcase of Equitable & Accessible Hunter Courses to Learn From Get inspired by colleagues who have been building courses in Brightspace with equity and accessibility at the forefront of their course design and planning. Learn new tips and functions in Brightspace that could help make your course more student-centered, welcoming, playful, and efficient for busy instructors. This lunchtime seminar is co-organized in collaboration with the Center for Digital Learning and Innovative Pedagogy (CDLIP), and will showcase courses developed in their Camp AI, Module-Making Camp, and more. |
Shiao-Chuan Kung (CDLIP); Kristen Hodnett (Special Education); Bridget Trusty (Economics); Larry Kowerski (Classics); Zalman Newfield (Sociology and Jewish Studies) | Recording |
| Tue, 02/24/26 | Teaching for Career Readiness and Success How do we prepare students not only for their first job, but for a lifetime of meaningful work? In this lunchtime seminar, we will explore approaches to teaching that center transferable skills, adaptability, creativity, and confidence – qualities increasingly essential in today’s rapidly evolving workforce. Together, we’ll consider how learning experiences across disciplines can cultivate agency and long-term career success. Participants will leave with practical strategies and renewed clarity about how teaching can empower students to thrive beyond the classroom. |
Keith Okrosy (Career Center); Kenney Robinson (School of Ed, CPPD); Brooke Xavier (Certificate in Business Studies (Marketing) and Cooperman Business Center); Arabella Pollack (Business) | |
| Thu, 02/26/26 | AI & Accessible Visual Presentations that Inspire Student Engagement and Innovation: Using Canva, Claude, Gamma AI, and More Creating visually engaging presentations is essential for teaching, but ensuring those visuals are accessible to all learners is what is truly essential. This lunchtime seminar explores how tools like Canva, Gamma AI, and other emerging platforms can help instructors design presentations that are not only beautiful and memorable, but also usable by students with diverse access needs. Whether you are brand new to visual design or already a Canva expert, you’ll leave with practical techniques and templates that make your presentations more inclusive, engaging, and impactful for every student. |
Veshno Kumar (CPPD); Rhonda Bondie (Special Education); Edgar Troudt (Curriculum & Teaching); Justin Tricarico (CDLIP, Sociology); Alexis Kuerbis (Social Work); Christopher Mitchell (Women’s & Gender Studies) | Recording |
| Tue, 03/03/26 | Hunter’s Footprint on NYC: Community-Engaged Teaching, Learning, and Service (HAL) How can we deepen Hunter’s role as a partner in the communities we serve while enriching student learning, leadership, and civic engagement? This lunchtime seminar highlights models of community-engaged teaching throughout Hunter that fosters reciprocal relationships, expands students’ real-world learning experiences, and strengthens student civic responsibility. |
Elisabeth Sevcenko (HAL), Annie Stoeth (CUNY Climate Project); Julianne Hallett (C-SELL) | Recording |
| Thu, 03/05/26 | Teaching Without Tech or AI: Build the Skills for Student Success *Open to All CUNY This lunchtime seminar offers a focused exploration of student-centered teaching practices that minimize or eliminate AI and technology use, emphasizing the pedagogical value of simplicity, presence, and low-tech learning environments. Panelists will share their best practices for using blue books and other physical materials and activities that create a supportive, grounding environment for unplugging, learning from peers, and practicing new or developing skills. Participants will leave with adaptable approaches for strengthening student engagement through intentional, low-tech or technology-free instruction. |
Tara Kirton (Curriculum and Teaching); Jeff Allred (English), Susan Epstein (Comp Sci) | Recording |
| Tue, 03/10/26 | Wikipedia as Pedagogy: Contribute to Open Knowledge and Public Scholarship *Open to CUNY* Empower students, faculty, and staff as producers of public knowledge through meaningful Wikipedia contributions.This seminar explores strategies for integrating Wikipedia editing into your courses or writing to enhance research, writing, and digital literacy. |
Iris Finkel (Hunter Libraries); Frida Kleiman (Chemistry); and Richard Knipel (Wikimedian in Residence, CUNY); and Christina Katopodis (English, ACERT) | Recording |
| Thu, 03/12/26 | The Collaborative Classroom: Support Student Projects, Collaborative Writing, and Un-Essays Explore new ways to design classroom spaces where students learn with and from one another. This seminar highlights collaborative projects, co-authored writing, and the growing practice of un-essays. Discover structures that foster creativity, autonomy, and shared intellectual ownership and leave with adaptable strategies you can implement immediately across disciplines. |
Jack Kenigsberg (RWC); Austin Bailey (English); Brooke Xavier (Certificate in Business Studies (Marketing) and Cooperman Business Center) | Recording |
| Tue, 03/17/26 | Recommendations for Effective Teaching Observations This lunchtime seminar is a follow-up to our very popular “Recommendations for Letters of Recommendation” last fall! This seminar provides frameworks for conducting supportive teaching observations for meaningful pedagogical development. Panelists will share experience- and evidence-based practices for preparing, observing, and delivering constructive feedback that fosters trust and growth. Participants will come away with practical methods they can use immediately to enhance the quality, transparency, and positive impact of the observation process. |
Liz Klein (Special Education); Nancy Sall (Curriculum and Teaching); Elaine Gale (Special Education); Paul McPherron (English) | Recording |
| Thu, 03/19/26 | Measuring What Matters: Equity-Focused Assessment In this session, our panelists share a variety of ways that they structure equity into the foundations of their courses, and will focus in this session on ways they strive to measure what matters in assessment. This lunchtime seminar showcases how equity-mindedness affords meaningful, reflective assessment methods that support every student as they become the best critical thinkers, collaborators, and leaders they can be. |
Christian Gonzales-Rivera (Roosevelt House); Maria Figueiredo-Pereira (Biological Sciences); Kirsten Grant (Chemistry); Justin Tricarico (CDLIP) | |
| Tue, 03/24/26 | Teaching Innovations Lightning Talks | Various | In person |
| Special Events | |||
| Thu, 02/19/26 | Tea and Talk Libba Bray will be discussing her new book Under the Same Stars with YA Librarian Jennifer Hubert Swan along with topics relating to her writing in general. We will have a Q&A where audience members are welcome to ask her questions about her books or her career as a writer. |
Libba Bray | Here is Libba discussing the book on “Good Morning America.” |
| 2/16/26-2/27/26 (10 sessions) | HunterWrites During HunterWrites, ACERT is excited to offer weekday morning writing sessions on Zoom from 8:00–9:00 AM, in addition to our regular weekly writing groups. These sessions are designed as focused, supportive writing time – come as you are, write what you can, and start your day in community with fellow Hunter writers.
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| 2/20/26 | ACERT Reception (Books published in 2025) In collaboration with our Faculty Librarians, we’re hosting a dessert and coffee reception in the Faculty Center celebrating books by Hunter authors published in 2025! All are welcome. |
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| 2/27/26 | ACERT Reception (All works published in 2025) A dessert and coffee reception in the Faculty Center celebrating all works by Hunter article writers, researchers, performers, and creators published in 2025! |
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| 2/26/26-4/16/26 (5 sessions) | Interactive Writing Feedback Workshop Join us for an interactive creative writing workshop, where participants can share their writing and receive immediate feedback from others. Writers of all levels are welcome! Participants can bring up to 500 words of writing (a stand-alone piece or excerpt from something longer). All forms of writing are accepted (i.e. screenplay, nonfiction, poetry, fiction, song lyrics, etc.). Sofy Solomon is a media professional committed to developing storytellers, everywhere. |
Sofy Solomon | N/A |
| 3/27/26 | AI Literacy Day | N/A | N/A |
| 4/23/26 | LUCE Special Event & Luncheon | N/A | N/A |
| 4/27/26 | Adjunct Special Event At the invitation of the Provost’s Office, adjunct faculty are warmly invited to join this special virtual event focused on key initiatives shaping teaching and learning at Hunter College. This session offers an opportunity to connect with colleagues, deepen your understanding of institutional priorities, including important Middle States initiatives and updates, and engage with resources that support your work in the classroom. This is a valuable opportunity to stay informed, ask questions, and be part of important conversations shaping the future of teaching and learning at Hunter. We hope you will join us! |
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| 4/30/26 | Pluralism and Diversity in the Classroom We are fortunate to have many ongoing initiatives at Hunter focused on Pluralism and Diversity (P & D), supported by Interfaith America and the American Association of State Colleges and Universities. Our community has been hard at work developing P & D initiatives throughout the college. In this session, presenters will showcase how they have integrated P & D into their syllabi and teaching, and will share strategies that anyone can adapt within their own classrooms. |
Christopher Mitchell (Women’s and Gender Studies); Lawrence Kowerski (Classics); Michael Lee (Political Science); Raj Korpan (Computer Science) | N/A |
| 4/22, 4/23, 4/24 | Accessibility Sprint Join CDLIP & ACERT for a dedicated Accessibility Sprint with live support focused on making your course materials more accessible in advance of the upcoming ADA accessibility deadline of Friday, April 24, 2026.It’s easy to join! During this 3-day sprint, we’ll host an open Zoom space where you can spend focused time revising slides, syllabi, and course content to better support all learners. In the first 15 minutes, we will set accessibility intentions together, then we will all shut off cameras and mics for quiet worktime.CDLIP staff will be available in breakout rooms during the session to offer live support, answer questions, and help you think through accessibility strategies, but you can also simply join the zoom, set your intention, and make one aspect of your course more accessible, whether it be slides, syllabi, or both! More resources below to get you started. Small changes can make a meaningful difference in student access, learning, and success! Come join us! |
ACERT & CDLIP | N/A |
| 5/12/26 | Not Just for Kids: What Can I Find in the Hunter College Libraries’ JUV Collection? In support of the School of Education, the Hunter College Libraries have long housed a children’s book collection — this is helpful not just for our education students but can also be helpful for literature students, college students who enjoy YA or graphic novels, and for the parents among us. Please attend this event to celebrate what’s new in our collection: new titles, new programs, and even a new author, Amanda Najib!Hear from students and faculty who have worked with the librarians in the juvenile collection, browse some of our new books, tour the collection — and enjoy a read-aloud of Lana Makes Purple Pizza: A Palestinian Food Tale by Amanda Najib (SOE). Pizza will be provided. |
This event is sponsored by the Academic Center for Excellence in Research and Teaching (ACERT), Hunter Libraries, and the Provost’s Office. | N/A |
| 5/27/26 | DAIA Conference Thanks to the support of the CUNY OAA AI Innovation Fund, the Don’t AI Alone (DAIA) Node at Hunter College, in collaboration with the Academic Center for Excellence in Research and Teaching (ACERT) and the School of Education, is organizing an AI-focused conference at the Roosevelt House on May 27, 2026, from 9:30am to 3:30pm. The key themes of the conference include but are not limited to:
The conference is open to students, staff, and faculty. We’re also proud to go beyond higher education by being inclusive of those at the Hunter Campus Schools so that the conversation is a continuum across P-20 education. We look forward to celebrating some of the best practices and ideas discussed in DAIA SIGs this Spring semester and much more. Please fill out this form to register for the conference. Below is a preliminary program.
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Various | N/A |
| Teaching Scholarship Circle | |||
| 6/1-6/3 | Translation as Taboo: Understanding ESL/ELL Students’ Use of AI in College-Level Writing This Teaching Scholarship Circle (TSC) will look at the use of AI as a translation method for ESL students, predominantly—but also, as proof of further reasoning toward a more sympathetic approach to dealing with student AI use altogether. A deeper and more thorough understanding of why students turn to AI for their writing troubles can help us, as educators, to move away from policing students so we can instead focus on supporting and normalizing the trials of learning. We will analyze, through reading, research and conversations, more examples and evidence that students use AI not to be deceptive, but due to a very real fear of failure and the pressure to succeed. While this is an issue for all college students, the added pressure of not being a native English speaker is something specifically challenging to many of our students at Hunter. Our students speak over 100 unique native languages across Hunter’s campuses. We will share experiences (both good and bad!) and discuss potential ways to support our students. |
Sasha Maceira (English) | Flyer here |
