Klymyshyn Symposium
About
This annual event brings together students, faculty, community leaders, and national speakers to explore themes of capacity building, advocacy, and systemic change. The symposium blends academic insight with community engagement, aiming to foster critical thinking and tangible action toward creating spaces where all individuals can thrive personally and professionally.
This year's theme
Storytelling, Community, and Liberation: Creating a Future Where Everyone Thrives
Here's what to expect
Klymyshyn Symposium sessions by category
Storytelling and Human Capital
Storytelling nurtures organizational growth by turning ideas into relatable experiences, inspiring purpose, fostering connection, and shaping a culture of trust and collaboration.
- Break bias, building bridges: Authentic storytelling across all age groups in K-12 schools (Jiao).
- Story Stewardship: Centering Disabled Narratives for Collective Liberation (Buzard).
- BlaQueer Style: The Politics of Storytelling and Self-Definition in Black Queer Women's Fashion Work (Blake).
- Satirical Political Comedy’s Effect on Audiences (Castillo).
- Compassion Fatigue: A Physician's Story (Willy).
- Discussion of Menopause for Marginalized People (Bergman)
- Enhancing medical education by amplifying marginalized voices: Incarcerated women, mental health care, and principles of narrative medicine (Garces).
Skillbuilding
Skill development and inclusion together create a thriving workplace by providing equal learning opportunities for all, fostering collaboration, innovation, and belonging, which in turn boost engagement, productivity, and long-term organizational success.
- Conversation Do-Overs: A Simple Practice to Reflect, Connect, and Thrive (Irwin).
- Creating Mic Drop Moments: TEDx Inspired Storytelling (Moore.)
- Empowered to Thrive: Strength-Based Strategies for Resilience and Connection in Higher Ed. (Wilson).
- The Power in Our Stories: Building Pathways to Belonging and Impact (Ross-Pierrie).
- Developing Cross-Departmental Relationships; Capacity Building Collectively (Baker, MSU).
Higher Education
Higher education remains essential, not just for career preparation but for fostering curiosity, adaptability, and critical thinking. In a fast-changing world, it offers a space to explore ideas, challenge assumptions, and connect with diverse perspectives. Its value lies in preparing people not only for work, but for a lifetime of learning and contribution.
- Utilizing the BCSSE and NSSE to Better Understand Student Success and Experience (Scherr.)
- From Digital Access to Digital Thriving: A Call to Action for Our Campus Community (Jervinsky.)
- Challenges of Recruitment, Retention and Advancement: How Gender Shapes Experiences of Faculty.
- Narratives of Change: How service and volunteerism shape student learning (Hornak.)
Supportive Learning
Supportive learning creates inclusive spaces where individuals feel valued and safe to share ideas. This environment fosters collaboration, creativity, and resilience—skills essential for navigating change. By embracing different perspectives and promoting equity, supportive learning empowers people to grow and succeed, driving innovation and stronger communities.
- The Use of Looking While Listening to Examine Spoken Language Production in Children with Down Syndrome (Wright).
- Student Resiliency Pedagogy: Supporting Student Growth in Higher Education (Johnson).
- Stories From Our Students: Hearing and Teaching All Voices (Likavec).
- Navigating Controversies toward Liberation through GRIOT strategies (Flowers.)
- In the Room Where It Happens: Intentional Conversations for Student Success (Burlager.)
- Breaking Barriers: Redesigning Academic Affairs for First-Generation Student Success (Wilkins.)
Women in Leadership
Seeing women lead with confidence and integrity is transformative. Role models break down outdated norms, proving that leadership is about vision and capability, not gender. They spark ambition, guide personal growth, and show that challenges can be faced with resilience.
- Managing Your Plate, Owning Your Power (Jackson.)
- She Leads: The Real, Raw, and Relentless Truth about WIL (Pruitt.)
- The Myth of Women Empowerment (Chaudry.)
- Positively Powered Professional Development (Osborn.)
- A Journey to Liberation through Dialogue (Matyorauta.)
-copy-2.jpg?sfvrsn=3479c97c_4)
2026 schedule
Wednesday, February 18, 2026 Tentative Schedule
- 8 a.m. — Registration Opens
- 8:30 a.m. — Welcome and Greetings from CMU President Neil MacKinnon followed by The President's Fireside Chat
- 9:10 a.m. — Session 1
- Challenges of Recruitment, Retention, and Advancement: How Gender Shapes Experiences of Faculty at CMU Jack Day and Danny McQuarters Jr. Mackinaw Room
- Conversation Do-Overs: A Simple Practice to Reflect, Connect, and Thrive Kathy Irwin Lake St. Clair
- 10:10 a.m. — Session 2
- Navigating Differences 101 Jonathan B. Glenn, EdD Lake Huron
- Resiliency Pedagogy: Supporting Student Growth in Higher Education Matt Johnson Lakeshore Room
- 11:10 a.m. — Session 3
- The Use of Looking While Listening to Examine Spoken Language Production in Children with Down Syndrome. Dan'Yale Wright Lake St. Clair
- Narratives of Change: How Service and Volunteerism Shape Student Learning. Anne Hornak, Symantha Dattilo, Nora Beilmeier, Mallory Morrison, and Brady Sunderlin Mackinaw Room
- 12:15 p.m. — Opening Keynote Luncheon
- 1:45 p.m. — Session 4
- Navigating Controversies toward Liberation through GRIOT strategies. Tiffany A. Flowers Lake Huron
- Stories From Our Students: Hearing and Teaching All Voices. Gabrielle Likavec Lakeshore Room
- 2:45 p.m. — Session 5
- Enhancing medical education by amplifying marginalized voices: Incarcerated women, mental health care, and principles of narrative medicine Lorrie Garces, MD, MPH Mackinaw Room
- The Power in Our Stories: Building Pathways to Belonging and Impact Shanese Ross-Pierrie Maroon Gold – Combine Classroom style *90-minute session
- 4 p.m. — Closing Conversations
- 5 p.m. — Evening "wind down" hosted by the CMU Shared Governance Council.
Thursday, February 19, 2026 Tentative Schedule
- 8 a.m. — Registration opens
- 8:30 a.m. — Welcome and Greetings featuring Breakfast with Provost Lancaster
- 9:10 a.m. — Session 1
- A Journey to Liberation through Dialogue Jillian Matyorauta Maroon Gold – Combine Classroom style *90-minute session
- Compassion Fatigue; A Physician's Story Mildred Willy Lake St. Clair
- Breaking Barriers: Redesigning Academic Affairs for First-Generation Student Success. Teera Wilkins Lakeshore (First floor)
- 10:10 — Session 2
- In the Room Where It Happens: Intentional Conversations for Student Success. Kori Molter-Burlager Mackinaw
- Breaking Bias, Building Bridges: Authentic Storytelling across All Age Groups in K-12 schools. Yang Jiao Lake Huron
- 11 a.m. — Session 3
- Story Stewardship: Centering Disabled Narratives for Collective Liberation. Amanda Buzard Chippewa
- Utilizing the BCSSE and NSSE to Better Understand Student Success and Experience St. Clair Amanda Scherr & Heather Flanders
- Myth of Women Empowerment Anjam Chaudhry Lakeshore (First floor)
- 12 p.m. — Vice President's Signature Luncheon
- 2 p.m. — Session 4
- From Digital Access to Digital Thriving: A Call to Action for Our Campus Community. John Jervinsky Chippewa
- Discussing Menopause in marginalized communities Michigan Women’s Commission Maroon and Gold combine classroom style
- 3 p.m. — Session 5
- Developing Cross-Departmental Relationship; Capacity Building Collectively. Dreux Baker St. Clair
- BlaQueer Style: The Politics of Storytelling and Self-Definition in Black Queer Women's Fashion Work Donnesha Blake Lake Huron
- 4 p.m. — Evening "wind down" hosted by CMU MI-ACE Women's Network, CMU Faculty and Staff of Color Alliance and the CMU QTA.
Friday, February 20, 2026 Women in Leadership Schedule
- 8 a.m. — Registration opens
- 8:30 a.m. — Welcome and Fireside Chat with V.P. Shawna Patterson-Stephens, Division of University Engagement and Student Affairs
- 9:10 a.m. — Session 1
- Managing Your Plate, Owning Your Power. Vernique N Jackson and Janae Bady Maroon Gold
- She Leads: The Real, Raw, and Relentless Truth About Women in Leadership” Tiffany Pruitt St. Clair Third Floor
- 10:15 a.m. — Session 2
- Fire Up: Own Your Power, Voice & Vision Nathalie Osborn Lakeshore
- Empowered to Thrive: Strength-based strategies for resilience and connection in higher education. Gina Wilson *90-minute session Maroon and Gold
- 11 a.m. — Session 3
- Creating Mic Drop Moments: TEDx Inspired Storytelling. Brooke Moore Lake Huron
- 12 p.m. — Luncheon
- 1 p.m. — Women Who Lead Boldly Panel Discussion: Featuring Vernique N. Jackson, panel moderator, and panelists: Sarah R. Opperman, Ari Harris, Tangela Cheatham, Denise Williams Mallett, Sharon Heath, Carrie Iafrate, Jayla Turner, and Lilly Sponseller - Rotunda
- 3 p.m. — Closing Conversations
Hosted by the Sarah R. Opperman Leadership Institute
Featured presenters
Dr. Michael Gavin
Opening Keynote Luncheon Speaker — Wednesday, February 18, 2026 12 to 1:30 p.m.
At the start of the Fall 2025, when most people who work in higher education are executing their plans for the academic year, Delta College President Michael Gavin was feeling a nudge in a different direction. So, he announced his resignation from one of the leading community colleges in the nation to focus on building a coalition to defend and promote the value of higher education.
Dr. Jabbar R. Bennett
Vice President's Signature Luncheon Speaker — Thursday, February 19, 2026, 12 to 1:30 p.m.
As Vice President and Chief Inclusion Officer, Jabbar R. Bennett helps to guide strategic priorities for Michigan State University, making an impact on the global classroom through his work as a senior officer and professor. Along with growing partnerships among senior executives, deans, faculty, staff, students and alumni, Dr. Bennett is a professor of medicine in the MSU College of Human Medicine.
Thank you for your support
.jpeg?sfvrsn=b60401e4_1 "MembersFirst480x480")
Members First Credit Union
Engagement Sponsor
Covenant Healthcare College of Medicine at CMU
Care and Concern Sponsor
-copy-2eed56733237b4c6ab788ca1c92e066dd.jpeg?sfvrsn=7ae2b84_1 "CMED-Covenant-480x480")