February 2, 2026
This Week in the Faculty Hub: Déjà Vu All Over Again?
It’s probably too much of a cliché to start a Feb. 2 newsletter by talking about the movie Groundhog Day, but so be it. If you are one of the rare folks unfamiliar with the storyline, Bill Murray plays a weatherman stuck in a time loop, reliving the same day again, with each day offering Continue reading.
January 27, 2026
This Week in the Faculty Hub: Hazy Shade of Winter
I’ve been feeling nostalgic lately and listening to old songs I haven’t heard in years. Some songs are unbearably cheesy now…I did grow up in the 80s after all! There are still a lot of gems, though. I recently re-listened to the Bangles cover of Paul Simon’s “Hazy Shade of Winter” (very fitting at the Continue reading.
January 20, 2026
This Week in the Faculty Hub: Support All Semester Long
Congratulations on making it through the first week of the semester! As things move into full swing, so does activity in the Faculty Hub. We’re here to support you all semester long, whether it is by providing a hot tea and quiet space to work, connecting you with colleagues to talk pedagogy, or helping you Continue reading.
January 12, 2026
This Week in the Faculty Hub: Moving Forward Together
Happy first day of class! This is always an exciting and peculiar time, when breaks are always too short, and there’s a tension between wanting to hold on to unstructured time and the pull to prepare for everything starting up right now. With my longtime love for the Muppets, I always hope that the start Continue reading.
January 5, 2026
This Week in the Faculty Hub: What Changes and What Endures
As I approach my 25th semester at UR, I’ve been thinking about what changes and what endures. In those 12 years, we’ve seen digital trends like Digital Storytelling give way to the current ubiquity of AI. And, of course, Boatwright Library has been under construction for what feels like my entire career. Yet, despite the Continue reading.
December 15, 2025
This Week in the Faculty Hub: Choose Your Own Adventure
My colleagues and I in the Faculty Hub get to see—up close and every day — the creativity and care that UR faculty put into their teaching and scholarship. We are also well aware of the energy your work requires, especially in these final weeks. As we wrap up this semester, we hope the coming Continue reading.
December 8, 2025
This Week in the Faculty Hub: You Made It To Finals Week!
If you are reading this, congratulations, you made it to finals week! That final push can be a challenge, so we have a few things lined up that we hope will help. During this hectic time, we invite you to experience the Swedish tradition of fika, taking a bit of time out of your day Continue reading.
December 1, 2025
This Week in the Faculty Hub: Congratulate Yourself, Your Colleagues, and Your Students
I’ve been rereading a lot of Calvin and Hobbes strips since its 40th anniversary a few weeks ago (apologies if that makes you feel old). The nostalgia of the comic strip is a comforting reprieve and a sorely needed invitation to take the world a little less seriously, but it’s also been a useful reflection Continue reading.
November 17, 2025
This Week in the Faculty Hub: Name One Thing You Are Grateful For
As we near the end of term (!!!???), we’re in a place where everything risks feeling rote. You might think your students are tired of talking about the same subject all semester, because you might be feeling the same way. It’s downhill from here, but it’s still an exhausting ride, perhaps from just being residually Continue reading.