Written by: Jordan Barela

Believe it or not, professors have feelings too.

Professors were able to express those feelings Tuesday in the monthly workshop, “The Stories We Tell.”

The workshop was one of many meetings expected to be held in VSU’s new Innovative Designs for Enhancing the Academy Center.

“The Stories We Tell” is a workshop for professors to share their stories about teaching, good and bad. Professors also discussed their own individual teaching styles. The workshop is a relaxed environment for professors to figure out how to improve or hone their craft of teaching.

“We have these stories, and they influence us, and these 90 minutes help us see our style of teaching and see ourselves as teachers,” Kathe Lowney, fellow in residence at the IDEA Center, said.

Tuesday was the first workshop of the semester that is catered to professors. The topic of the workshop will change each month. Each workshop will be held on the third Wednesday of each month.

The IDEA Center is a recent addition to VSU and is a haven for professionals on campus. There are numerous services offered at the IDEA Center: coaching and mentoring, innovation circles, teaching circles and writing circles. Along with the services offered, faculty and staff can also utilize the IDEA Center as a meeting place for colleagues to discuss different aspects of their careers.

“The IDEA Center gives faculty and staff a space to break silos and talk across academic boundaries and discipline,” Lowney said. “This helps us to be better for students and the teaching mission of the university.”

For more information, visit the IDEA Center located next to the Student Health Center or contact the center via email at IDEACenter@valdosta.edu.