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vijisathy.bsky.social
Viji
@vijisathy.bsky.social
1.6K followers 88 following 190 posts
Author: Inclusive Teaching | Professor | Speaker | Writer | she | “vidg-ee” | விஜி inclusifiEd.com
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vijisathy.bsky.social
Was sprinting across campus earlier in the week and this view stopped me in my tracks. Between the music and art buildings—pure gold.

I almost missed this. What made you stop and smile this week?

Here’s to finding more moments of lightness and joy (and maybe even gold!). 💛
Brick walkway lined with yellow leaved ginkgos
November 6, 2025 at 2:01 PM
vijisathy.bsky.social
Really curious if schools will see a Selingo bump after his book comes out.
Google search with schools advertising their appearance in Selingo’s book. Elon, Loyola, TCNJ, St. Olaf, Augustana
September 10, 2025 at 12:13 AM
vijisathy.bsky.social
Really creative use of a flexible space classroom for a teaching workshop with new faculty. The concept of “sparkshops” with 15-min sessions in designated areas that are of interest to faculty. They could attend 3 in the time allotted. Excellent post lunch activity. #CFE #FacultyFoundations
Flexible classroom space utilizing 5 stations for spark shops Example sparkshop on GenAI Slide with sparkshop logistics being shared with participants Sparkshop instructions with stations indicated on a projected map of the classroom
August 11, 2025 at 11:53 PM
vijisathy.bsky.social
At our Center for Faculty Excellence retreat today, Joanna Foland designed a fun and restorative ice breaker with the Rest Deck by #NapMinistry Tricia Hersey. In awe of the creativity of this team and kudos, Joanna!
Joanna Foland sharing the rest deck in front a slide about the deck
August 1, 2025 at 9:12 PM
vijisathy.bsky.social
I’m enjoying newly published book season!!! What’s on my desk now? It’s @geekypedagogy.bsky.social Snafu Edu. The book is rich with practical suggestions and skillful integration of teaching and learning scholarship. Congratulations, Jessamyn!
Copy of snafu edu on my red metal desk in my office
July 24, 2025 at 3:57 PM
vijisathy.bsky.social
Excited to see this one out! I got to read an advance copy and it is a great read. Kudos @dgooblar.bsky.social!
Copy of One classroom at a time on my desk in my office
July 17, 2025 at 2:25 PM
vijisathy.bsky.social
Day 2 at the new job & someone I work with handed me this book that her whole team read and asked me to please read it because “it’s amazing!”

@katiepryal.bsky.social you have huge fans here at the Center for Faculty Excellence! (I didn’t let on that we met in a CFE summer writing group years ago!)
Cover of Katie’s book called A light in the tower
July 3, 2025 at 3:08 PM
vijisathy.bsky.social
So yeah, today was a very, very good day. Honored to be a part of this special place on campus. Visit me any time in Wilson, my door’s open!
Photo of me on a sofa in my office Photo of my door cracked with sofa and rug in background
July 2, 2025 at 11:53 PM
vijisathy.bsky.social
When I met with the person I report to today I loved what she said: my job will be to care for the Center.
I know that by caring for the Center, I will be caring for my colleagues and everyone they support.
Me at my colorful orange desk!
July 2, 2025 at 11:52 PM
vijisathy.bsky.social
Now, my love of faculty development for teaching, mentorship and leadership will be formally a role here at my favorite university. I received a warm team welcome and flowers in all my favorite colors. 💗
Photo of colorful bouquet on table with a card. Colors are pink and orange shades
July 2, 2025 at 11:51 PM
vijisathy.bsky.social
Today I started day 1 leading what we now call the Center for Faculty Excellence. While I knew early on that I loved teaching, what I hadn’t known is that I really love helping people learn — especially those who influence countless others in their classrooms, research spaces, and leadership roles.
Image of me in front of a sign that lists everyone’s name and office number in the center
July 2, 2025 at 11:50 PM
vijisathy.bsky.social
In 1997 I was freshly admitted to graduate school and assigned to TA a course. I marched myself to Wilson Library to the Center for Teaching and Learning determined to use every resource I could to improve…
Photo of Wilson library building
July 2, 2025 at 11:48 PM
vijisathy.bsky.social
I oscillate wildly between being incredibly worried about the state of world affairs and mundane things like being excited to be at my kid’s college orientation trying to imagine normalcy. Thanks for the reprieve today @utaustin.bsky.social
Me in heart glasses wearing a giant hand signal for hook em and a large longhorn necklace
June 24, 2025 at 3:37 AM
vijisathy.bsky.social
WHEREAS, the State of North Carolina encourages people to observe Juneteenth as an opportunity to reflect, rejoice,
and work together toward a brighter future as we continue to address racial injustices in our society today…
@joshsteinnc.bsky.social
ONE STATE o NORTH GREAT SE State of Narth Caralina JOSH STEIN GOVERNOR JUNETEENTH 2025 BY THE GOVERNOR OF THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA A PROCLAMATION WHEREAS, Juneteenth is recognized as National Independence Day and has been celebrated annually since June 19, 1866, to mark the abolition of sanctioned slavery in the United States; and WHEREAS, Juneteenth is about freedom, liberation, and celebration; it is a holiday for North Carolinians to acknowledge our history and the sacrifices that were made for freedom; and WHEREAS, on September 22, 1862, President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation, declaring that as of January 1, 1863, all enslaved people in the rebellious areas would be thenceforward and forever free, changing the nature of the Civil War; and WHEREAS, in addition to freeing enslaved people held in Confederate States, the Emancipation Proclamation enabled the enlistment of African Americans in the Union Army as U.S. Colored Troops; and WHEREAS, it took almost three more years of conflict and loss to win the Civil War and the ratification of the Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution in December 1865 to officially end slavery in the United States; and WHEREAS, the news of freedom disseminated gradually throughout the nation; on June 19, 1865, two months after the official surrender of the Confederacy at Appomattox, Union Soldiers arrived in Galveston, Texas, and issued General Order No. 3 announcing freedom to some of the last enslaved people in the United States; and WHEREAS, in 2026, America will celebrate the 250* anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence marking the freedom of the United States, though not all Americans were truly free; and WHEREAS, despite more than 150 years passing since the abolition of slavery, there remain economic, institutional, and social barriers for Black people in America; and WHEREAS, on this anniversary each year, organizations and individuals throughout North Carolina an…
June 19, 2025 at 12:38 PM
vijisathy.bsky.social
Feeling sentimental about wrapping up my position UE, so I had Claude make a graphic summarizing my 10 yrs of work here. It’s of course a bit hokey but also pretty decent. I am so proud of the work I’ve been able to accomplish in undergrad ed supporting student success.

New position reveal 7/1/25!
10 Years in Undergraduate Education Transforming undergraduate learning through innovation & leadership 2015-2021 Special Projects Assistant to Senior Associate Dean 2022-Present Associate Dean for Evaluation & Assessment • Curriculum Innovation General Education Curriculum Revision, chaired University Teaching Awards Research Program Launch Established Townsend Program for Education Research with Fellows initiative • COVID Response Leadership Helped to transition to emergency online teaching, launched Class Features, published on pedagogy Strategic Leadership Serving on Provost Al Committee, leading curriculum evaluation, and steering policy Data Tools Development Built MCAD, departmental dashboards, syllabus manager, and check-in systems Innovation Continues Advancing College Thriving curriculum, makerspace advisory, graduate training • Faculty Development Designed orientation programs, teaching institutes, and peer review systems Student Success Focus Championing student success initiatives and emergency preparedness training 10 Years Experience 20+ Major Projects 15+ Committees 4 Data Tools Built
June 13, 2025 at 10:31 PM
vijisathy.bsky.social
At an engineering conference last year, a colleague introduced me to water coloring. There’s a lot of trial and error but there is a lot of fun in the journey.
Ahhh, summertime.
Image of 2 watercolor cards, one a bouquet od flowers the other a single flower, along with the travel kit.
June 13, 2025 at 12:46 AM
vijisathy.bsky.social
Holy smokes. A high school senior from my son’s school wrote this for this week’s newsletter and now the commencement tears are flowing. The future looks brilliant. Brava, Ms. Gibson!
This week, we seniors celebrate a milestone-but we must also acknowledge the weight of what it took to get here. Some of us crossed this finish line running. Some of us crawled. Some carried more than others: grief, fear, injustice, silence. And still —we made it. That alone is a kind of brilliance. We often talk about resilience as if it's loud-like it roars, or charges forward. But most of the time? Resilience is quiet. It's the voice that whispers, "Try again," when everything in you says, "I can't." It's the choice to get up, to speak up, to hold space for others when the world has made it hard to hold space for yourself. It's choosing to keep your eyes open in a world that wants you to look away. It's feeling deeply in a culture that rewards disconnection. It's listening-truly listening-even when what you hear is hard. The truth is, we are not graduating into a perfect world. A world that has taught us that our worth depends on where we were born, what language we speak, what we believe in, who we love, or the color of our skin. But we are exactly the people this imperfect world needs. We are the generation that understands complexity. That sees identity as layered, liberation as collective, and progress as non-linear-but still necessary. We are the ones who've learned to grieve and fight at the same time. To hope and rage in the same breath. That is a kind of wisdom older than any textbook, and more valuable than any diploma. We are here because we are the ones who can imagine better. Who can see the systems that are broken and ask not just why, but how-how we begin again. And we won't always get it right. But we must try. Because what the world needs now-what it has always needed -is people brave enough to stay tender. Brave enough to listen. Brave enough to build. Class of 2025, we've been told to go out into the world and make something of ourselves. But I hope that we can also make something with ourselves: Make solidarity. Make space. Make mistakes, and take accountability. Make change-but don't do it alone. We've learned that resilience is not about ignoring the world's pain. It's about bearing witness to it-and choosing to act anyway. Choosing to care anyway. Choosing to hope anyway. And in a world that pushes you to numb yourself, to turn away, to go silent-staying open is an act of revolution. Because hope is not naive. Hope is radical. And it is the most powerful form of resistance we possess. So, as we step forward-into college, into careers, into communities, into change-don't leave behind the hard-earned lessons. Don't dull the edge of your empathy to survive. Don't shrink to make anyone else comfortable. Instead: Speak truth, and lead with radical hope. Rest when you need to-but don't stop showing up. Not just for yourself, but for the people who never had the chance to sit in these seats. We owe this to each other, and to our futures. Not just because of our diplomas or our résumés. Because of what we've learned-and unlearned—about ourselves and our world. Because of the questions we've begun to ask. Because of the voices we've found and the silence we've refused to keep. Class of 2025, our resilience is brilliant. Let it light the way forward, for us, and for forever. Naomi Gibson DA '25
May 18, 2025 at 1:57 PM
vijisathy.bsky.social
“I’m ultimately an introvert who pretends to be an extrovert for work.” 🙃

Pre-ordered @amandalitman.bsky.social book When We’re in Charge. Ready to learn more about how millennials & Gen Zers lead. I’m not either, but I can relate to the idea that leadership will need to be even more human.
May 15, 2025 at 12:35 AM
vijisathy.bsky.social
I got my blue chair moment!!

Had the great pleasure of getting to give the class of 2025 some advice. Love this shot that our university photographer captured for the piece.

www.unc.edu/story/tar-he...
Photo of me seated in a blue upholstered chair in an empty lecture hall
May 7, 2025 at 12:45 AM
vijisathy.bsky.social
Love a good midday nappuccino with the pups.
2 pups in my bed, up close!
April 12, 2025 at 8:38 PM
vijisathy.bsky.social
Snack and active learning materials recommendations to mail participants?

I’m part of a team offering a weeklong online workshop in May. We have a budget to send snacks and materials to participants in advance.

Here’s what we’ve started with. Any other suggestions?

Thanks!!!
Snacks Bobo's Oat Bars Siete Sea Salt Tortilla Chips Hippeas Organic Chickpea Puffs MadeGood Granola Bars Enjoy Life Soft Baked Cookies chocolate (nut free) Vegan gummy bears Popcorn Teaching Activity Materials Lego's Bingo Card Play Doh Post card LCD Writing Tablet
April 7, 2025 at 3:47 PM
vijisathy.bsky.social
Ahh, spring time in the south.
Picture of my feet covered in yellow pollen
April 1, 2025 at 5:21 PM
vijisathy.bsky.social
It’s spring break, and although I have some meetings, I’ve decided to tackle a few projects on my create to do list. First up: customized 📱 Home Screen. I enlisted my son in the design work. We made this using google slides. Note that a certain book made it onto the shelf! 😉
Home Screen where apps on bookshelf and my book on the shelf.
March 12, 2025 at 3:46 PM
vijisathy.bsky.social
Throwing all the darts on the board. Recent addition: hoping dinner by candlelight offers some salve.

Hope y’all are hanging in there.
March 5, 2025 at 12:43 AM
vijisathy.bsky.social
Maybe at least I could be cheered by some color?

Added some comedy/lighthearted TV shows, learning to do my own nails, and continuing to knit for self care.

How about you?
Pink nails along with my pink skirt Selfie in a pink skirt, knit top, and denim blazer
February 28, 2025 at 12:55 AM