{"id":12465,"date":"2025-10-14T13:34:52","date_gmt":"2025-10-14T17:34:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/excellence\/?post_type=faculty-voices&p=12465"},"modified":"2025-10-28T11:27:15","modified_gmt":"2025-10-28T15:27:15","slug":"qa-with-sullivan","status":"publish","type":"faculty-voices","link":"https:\/\/www.bu.edu\/excellence\/faculty-voices\/qa-with-sullivan\/","title":{"rendered":"Fostering Student Engagement & Community"},"content":{"rendered":"\t

\n\t\tI<\/span>\n\t\tn today\u2019s higher education landscape, cultivating a sense of belonging and connection in the classroom has become essential to supporting students\u2019 academic success and overall wellness. Faculty play a critical role in this work. Through thoughtful course design, inclusive pedagogical approaches, and attention to the social and emotional dimensions of learning, faculty have an opportunity to create environments where students feel seen, supported, and empowered in their learning journey.\t<\/p>\n\t\n

Lisa Sullivan<\/a>, Associate Dean of Education at BU\u2019s School of Public Health, offers her perspective on what it takes to promote faculty and student engagement, how to set expectations with students, and stimulate collaboration and community.<\/p>\n\t

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About “In Conversation with…”<\/em><\/h4>\n

In conversation with the Institute for Excellence in Teaching and Learning \u2013 a series of thought-provoking exchanges designed to introduce new approaches to teaching that engage students and boost learning outcomes. The higher education landscape continues to evolve, and it becomes more important than ever to equip students with the real-world skills they need to thrive in a rapidly changing professional landscape.<\/p>\n

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BU Institute<\/h3>\n\t\t<\/p>\n

You have been teaching for a number of years and in a field that is ever evolving. Can you talk a little about what has changed in teaching over the years, and what are some of the biggest challenges for faculty in teaching today?<\/p>\n

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Lisa Sullivan<\/h3>\n\t\t<\/p>\n

COVID-19 changed everything about teaching!\u00a0 We were all forced to change almost everything in the way we taught. We needed new and different ways to engage students, and we had to acknowledge that the pandemic disproportionately impacted some of our students, our teaching assistants, our colleagues, and maybe ourselves.\u00a0 But we got through it \u2013 and I often think that while we shifted because of a crisis \u2013 it is possible to change, to adapt, to teach and learn differently.\u00a0 What made it manageable was that we did it together.\u00a0 Community was essential then, and now.<\/p>\n

Specifically in public health, the issues are constantly evolving.\u00a0 Issues are complex and sensitive, and the evidence base is also constantly shifting \u2013 which means faculty have to stay current to be effective.<\/p>\n

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BU Institute<\/h3>\n\t\t<\/p>\n

You have also been involved in the creation of new curriculum and programs in public health, and in bringing faculty together to collaborate on program development.\u00a0\u00a0 How do you think about student engagement in the development of these programs? Are there examples you can share?<\/p>\n

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Lisa Sullivan<\/h3>\n\t\t<\/p>\n

Whenever we organize teams of faculty to design a program (like our online Master of Public Health) or a new specialization option (like our Master of Science in Health Data Science), we start with what we want our students to know and be able to do at the end of the program.\u00a0 This is informed by faculty knowledge in a specific area, and we engage our professional staff in the SPH Career and Practicum Office who have a pulse on what employers are looking for, along with alumni and community members who are actually doing the work and potentially hiring our graduates.\u00a0 We then use backward design to build the curriculum to ensure that students can develop the required knowledge and skills.\u00a0 And specific to student engagement, we aim for authentic, timely, and relevant assessments.\u00a0 We want students to engage in projects and applications that reflect what they will do in practice.\u00a0 This is a key aspect of engagement.<\/p>\n

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BU Institute<\/h3>\n\t\t<\/p>\n

There has been much written in recent times about meeting the current generation of students where they are and moving beyond the \u201csage on the stage\u201d model.\u00a0 How does this change the way we approach teaching?\u00a0\u00a0 What elements help to facilitate learning?\u00a0 How do you continue to promote the curiosity, interest and passion that will give students the agility they need to make learning their own?<\/p>\n

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Lisa Sullivan<\/h3>\n\t\t<\/p>\n

We make learning real.\u00a0 Our students want to change the world, and they want the knowledge and skills to do that successfully.\u00a0 Our faculty bring their expertise and messy contemporary problems into their classrooms.\u00a0 Students must engage, must be active in their learning.\u00a0 We also instill in our students a responsibility to engage in each class, to share their own expertise and experiences with their peers, and their teaching teams.\u00a0 Our student body is very heterogeneous, along many dimensions, so classrooms mimic environments where students will work.\u00a0 We invite all students to engage and share their perspectives, which is critical for everyone\u2019s learning.<\/p>\n

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BU Institute<\/h3>\n\t\t<\/p>\n

Teaching in higher education is becoming more collaborative. How do your faculty at the School of Public Health collaborate?\u00a0 Are there common challenges and\/or best practices that you share across the community?\u00a0\u00a0 How do you continue to update and revise your courses and programs?<\/p>\n

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Lisa Sullivan<\/h3>\n\t\t<\/p>\n

At the school level, we host a monthly SPH Teaching & Learning series where we discuss specific topics (e.g., designing a grading rubric, how to incorporate AI in a course) or we hold open space for faculty to raise specific challenges to get suggestions from colleagues.\u00a0 Some of our departments organize similar sessions within their departments.\u00a0 We also continue to populate resources on our website to support faculty and educational staff. We include tips for effective advising along with up-to-date program guides to support faculty in advising<\/a>. We include resources on best practices<\/a> for effective teaching, approaches to evaluate and continuously improve teaching, and quick links to instructor resources such as our syllabus template.<\/p>\n

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BU Institute<\/h3>\n\t\t<\/p>\n

Where do you see students getting stuck today?\u00a0 How do you help students and what do you try to incorporate into the learning? Can you give some examples?<\/p>\n

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Lisa Sullivan<\/h3>\n\t\t<\/p>\n

Students are distracted, and we may be too!\u00a0 There is a lot happening in the world at this moment, and it can be exhausting.\u00a0 But we have a responsibility (I actually think it is a privilege!) to teach our students.\u00a0 And our students want and need the skills they desire to go out and change the world.\u00a0 Thus, we need to acknowledge the stress, support one another, and do our very best to provide the training and support that our students need.\u00a0 It is more important than ever that we prepare our students for effective public health practice.<\/p>\n

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BU Institute<\/h3>\n\t\t<\/p>\n

Can you share a memorable teaching experience you have had, and describe what was memorable about it?<\/p>\n

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Lisa Sullivan<\/h3>\n\t\t<\/p>\n

I have been teaching at Boston University for nearly 30 years and over that time, I have had so many amazing experiences.\u00a0 Our students are fantastic.\u00a0 Nothing makes me happier than meeting an alumnus who says \u2013 I took your class, and I am using what I learned in my work now.\u00a0 They might even say \u2013 I still have your book!\u00a0 I have also had the experience where an alumnus says \u2013 I was so scared of your class but it worked out just fine or even, I actually liked it despite coming in with very negative feelings!\u00a0 As teachers, we can actually change the trajectory of someone\u2019s career.\u00a0 That is an amazing opportunity and responsibility.<\/p>\n

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