2024 Massachusetts PKAL Winter Meeting

Conference Themes:

• Sharing strategies in STEM teaching that engage student and faculty passions with their respective fields.

• Building in opportunities for mentorship in and out of the classroom.

• Using a variety of learning modalities to cater to diverse student needs.

• Appreciating the wealth of different perspectives and teaching approaches that can enhance the classroom experience.

• Valuing students as unique individuals and working toward equitable outcomes for various social identities, including race, ethnicity, gender, sexuality, ability, language, and more.

• Addressing the mental health crisis among students and providing support for their overall well-being.
  
  

Submission Categories: We welcome proposals in the following categories:

• Short presentations

• Workshops

Submission Guidelines:

Submissions should include a title, abstract, and author information and relate to one of the above conference themes.

Event overview:

How can we re-engage in passionate STEM teaching and learning to support both students and faculty in an increasingly uncertain world? The goal of this conference is to exchange ideas and celebrate the creative approaches higher education professionals are employing to spark joy in the next generation of scientists, mathematicians, and STEM professionals. We welcome presentations on how to best inspire and support students and how to foster mentorship in your discipline. How are you bringing your creativity and excitement to the classroom while welcoming new scholars to STEM fields?

We look forward to your valuable contributions, which will help make this conference a success. For inquiries and further details, please contact: Maura Murray [email protected] or Laura Laranjo [email protected].

Host Institution

Salem State University, the first Massachusetts state university to seek Hispanic Serving Institution status, takes pride in collaborating with MA PKAL to facilitate this conference. Located approximately 15 miles north of Boston and just one mile from downtown Salem, Salem State is a comprehensive, publicly supported institution of higher education, and one of the largest state universities in Massachusetts. As a comprehensive university, Salem State prepares students of diverse backgrounds and interests to achieve their educational and career goals and to contribute to a global society as ethical and engaged community members. As a public university, Salem State also makes critical contributions to civic life, environmental sustainability, and the cultural, social, and economic vitality of the North Shore region of Massachusetts.

The Salem State organizing team consists of Laura Laranjo of the Biology department and Maura Murray of the Mathematics department along with support from Ashley Smith, PKAL National.