In this month’s Corners, the GSTA is excited to share a preview of our upcoming ACT Conference presentations. Several of our members will be highlighting the work they’ll be presenting. Additionally, in collaboration with the ECPs, we’ll be hosting a special evening social event during ACT that will be open to students, post-docs, and early career psychologists—more details coming soon! We look forward to connecting with colleagues and learning together at the conference!

Chair: Alexa “Lex” Sacchi (they/them), University of Toronto - St.George:

I am thrilled to be attending my fourth ACT this year! I’ll be presenting a 25-minute symposium titled “Training for the SPRINT (Summer Psychology Research Initiative): An Experiential Learning Opportunity for Trainees to Build EDI-Centered Teaching and Mentorship Skills.” In this session, I will share how our team designed a novel experiential learning program in which undergraduate and graduate trainees developed their teaching and mentorship skills through a series of workshops and group activities leading up to the SPRINT program. Trainees then had the opportunity to directly apply what they learned during the program itself. To evaluate the impact of this approach, we collected pre- and post-assessment data to examine the effectiveness of these interventions.

 

Mel Ceren (she/her), CUNY Graduate Center:

As part of the GSTA's committee participation in the ACT conference, we conducted a project focused on graduate students' inclusive teaching and educational practices. I am excited to attend the conference and engage with participants about their experiences and the opportunities they have integrated into their curriculum across various disciplines.

Our Participant Idea Exchange (PIE) discussion, “Supporting Graduate Student Instructors: Insights from the Graduate Student Teaching Association (GSTA)” will explore findings from our recent survey of respondents who identified as members of underserved communities (e.g., BIPOC, first-generation, LGBTQIA+, low-income, and/or neurodivergent) and who experience barriers in their teaching and career development. We hope that building community through this work can increase confidence, reduce impostor syndrome, and ultimately create a stronger, more inclusive learning environment for all.

 

Lindsey Rutter (she/her), Oregon State University:

I am super excited for ACT this year. I have four total presentations, but the one I am most excited about is “Setting the Stage: Crafting First-Day Experiences that Inspire Student Engagement.” I am providing this symposium talk with Ph.D. candidate, Stephanie Byers. This session explores research-informed strategies for creating first-day experiences that foster student belonging, engagement, and motivation. Participants will learn practical ways to move beyond traditional syllabus reviews and will leave with a renewed perspective on designing first days that set a positive, inclusive tone for the entire course.