2024 Annual Conference
PRACTICING
PROFESSIONAL
DEVELOPMENT
WITH HEART
October 9-11, 2024
Wednesday, October 9, 2024
9:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Conference Check In
1st Floor Foyer
10:00 AM - 11:00 AM
Vision Resource Center Pre-Conference Session for College System Administrators
Sycamore Room
The Vision Resource Center team is hosting a free pre-conference session, which includes an activity that facilitates open, generative conversations. Whether you are just starting out in the Vision Resource Center or a seasoned user, this will be a great opportunity to connect with other College System Admins and share best practices. All College System Admins (point persons for the Vision Resource Center on your campus) are welcome! No registration is required.
11:00 AM - 12:45 PM
Vision Resource Center Pre-Conference Lunch for College System Administrators
Mahogany/Cedar Rooms (2nd Floor)
Join fellow College System Admins for a lunch with the Vision Resource Center team. It's a chance for ideas exchange, feedback and brainstorming. All “College System Admins” (point persons for the Vision Resource Center on your campus) are welcome! No registration is required.
1:00 PM - 3:30 PM
Conference Kickoff: "Motivated to Achieve" with Dr. Pilar Huffman
Sequoia Room
Dr. Pilar Huffman is a visionary leader with over 20 years of experience in learning and organizational development across corporate and higher education. Currently serving as the Director of Professional Development at Compton College, she facilitates and coordinates workshops for faculty, management, classified professionals, and students, designing programs to meet institutional and individual training needs. Dr. Huffman drives engagement, diversity, connection, and motivation throughout the campus community, fostering a culture of continuous learning and improvement. As a first-generation college graduate, she is passionate about inspiring others and making sustainable improvements in their lives. She proudly serves as a board member of California Community Colleges Professional Development Council-4CPD. She is also a board member of the Administrators of California Community Colleges Association and a team lead of the ACCCA Mentorship Program, where she also participates in the conference planning team. Additionally, she works directly with student leadership development programming at Compton College and serves on the planning committee for the system-wide Black Student Success Week. Dr. Huffman also volunteers for the California Community College's Institutional Effectiveness Partnership Initiative, enhancing professional development opportunities to better serve students throughout our system. Dr. Huffman holds a Doctorate in Education in Organizational Change and Administration from California Baptist University, along with master’s degrees in Industrial/Organizational Psychology and Organizational Leadership, and a bachelor’s in Human Resources Management. An avid researcher in organizational psychology, she looks forward to publishing her work soon. Renowned for her innovative professional development programs, she designs and delivers training in various formats, enhancing employee learning experiences. In her free time, Dr. Huffman enjoys attending concerts, traveling to islands, and spending time with loved ones.
3:30 PM - 4:00 PM
Break
1st Floor Foyer
4:00 PM - 5:00 PM | Breakout Sessions
The Summer Institute: A Model for Integrating Wellness, Creativity, and Play into Professional Learning
Maple Room
Presenters: Jennifer Boots, Professor and Department Chair (ELAC), San Diego City College; Kelly Metz-Matthews, Assistant Program Chair (ESL), San Diego College of Continuing Education
In today’s educational landscape, sustained, collaborative professional development is essential to prevent burnout and enhance educator effectiveness. This session explores an inquiry-driven professional learning model for community college educators that integrates self-care, wellness, and creativity. Using a 4-day multi-district experience as a case study, presenters will discuss the benefits, challenges, and impact of such an approach. Attendees will leave with actionable strategies and tools for designing meaningful professional learning opportunities that prioritize educator wellness and innovation.
Building A Caring Campus: How California Community Colleges are Leading the Way
Sycamore Room
Presenters: Ken Sherwood, Vice President for Caring Campus; Shannon Krajewski, College Professional Development Coordinator, Los Angeles Pierce College
Join us for an interactive workshop where PD practitioners will share inspiring best practices for implementing the Caring Campus model in your organization. Together, we'll explore both the challenges & exciting opportunities for enhancing support within our campuses. If you're eager to learn how to bring this transformative program to your college, this session is a must-attend! Gain insights from facilitators actively engaged in our community colleges & discover innovative strategies for advancing equity on your campus.
At the Heart of It: Essential Practices for Professional Development Practitioners
Sequoia Room
Presenters: 4CPD Board
Starting your journey as a professional development (PD) practitioner can be both exciting and overwhelming. This workshop is designed specifically for new practitioners, providing you with the essential tools and foundational skills to succeed in the field of PD. Through interactive activities, and real-world case studies, you’ll learn how to design, implement, and evaluate impactful PD programs. You’ll also explore key strategies for fostering collaboration, engaging participants, and aligning your initiatives with organizational goals. By the end of the session, you'll leave with practical resources, actionable insights, and the confidence to lead meaningful professional development efforts.
5:00 PM - 6:00 PM
Conference Social
Courtyard
6:30 PM
Meet to Eat Dinner
Lobby
Whether you came to the conference solo or just want to meet some new people, meet others in the lobby and go out for dinner together!
Thursday, October 10, 2024
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Conference Check In
1st Floor Foyer
8:00 AM - 9:00 AM
Breakfast
Mahogany/Cedar Rooms (2nd Floor)
9:15 AM - 10:30 AM
Chancellor's Office Presentation with Dean Raul Arambula
Sequoia Room
Learn about the latest PD initiatives and updates from the Chancellor's office, including the recent recommended changes to Title 5 and the ongoing work to revise the Flex Guidelines.
10:30 AM - 11:00 AM
Break
1st Floor Foyer
11:00 AM - 12:00 PM | Breakout Sessions
Harnessing the Power of AI for Workplace Efficiency
Sequoia Room
Presenter: Jennifer Bielman
Discover how Artificial Intelligence can revolutionize your professional development productivity in this dynamic session. Explore the practical applications of Generative AI & ChatGPT for everyday work tasks, witnessing its capabilities firsthand through live demonstrations & sample prompts. By the end, you'll walk away with valuable insights & a convenient ChatGPT cheat sheet to supercharge your professional development workflow.
Equity Amplifier Addresses Critical Learning Need
Maple Room
Presenters: Shannon Krajewski, College Professional Development Coordinator, Los Angeles Pierce College; Shanell Tyus, Talent Amplify-her
A powerful keynote presentation can be very impactful. An online course, too. Same with conferences. But how do you get employees on your campus to learn the foundational concepts and develop the personal onus needed to cultivate a more just and equitable campus culture from every corner? That question was answered at LAPC by Equity Amplifier, a 5-pt cohort series, which blends: - pivotal social justice theories unconscious bias, the cycle of oppression, social identities and intersectionality, and - practices including eliminating microaggressions and inclusive leadership with - Strengths-based philosophy for personal activation. We’ll share what we learned in the first cohort of this revolutionary approach to leadership development as you experience some of the Equity Amplifier Anti-Oppression Framework for yourself!
Inside Professional Development: Models, Roles, Structures for PD Possibilities
Sycamore Room
Presenters: 4CPD Board
Are you curious about how other colleges structure their Professional Development (PD) efforts? Join us for an in-depth discussion on the different organizational models, roles, and collaborations in PD across California Community Colleges. We’ll explore key topics such as staffing, release time, committee structures, and the intersection of Classified and Faculty involvement. Whether you're looking to revamp your professional development department or gain insight into successful practices, this session offers valuable takeaways to enhance your own campus PD initiatives.
12:00 PM - 1:15 PM
Lunch
Mahogany/Cedar Rooms (2nd Floor)
1:30 PM - 3:00 PM
Keynote: Understanding Human Needs: A Path to PD With Heart with Shanell Tyus
Sequoia Room
Shanell presents a revolutionary approach to professional development that puts heart at the center. Drawing from Maslow's Hierarchy of Needs and Strengths-based philosophy, this session will guide PD coordinators in discovering their unique area of care – the sweet spot where their passions, experiences, and employees' needs intersect.
3:00 PM - 3:30 PM
Break
1st Floor Foyer
3:30 PM - 5:00 PM
Inspiration Exchange
Maple Room
One of the best parts of the 4CPD conference has ALWAYS been the exchange of ideas. We are each doing such cool stuff! Innovating and adapting are constants. What seems like no big deal to us may be JUST what your colleague never knew they always needed! The Inspiration Exchange (dare we say, "InspoEx") is this year's chance to share - and snag - great ideas from each other! So, let us know what idea you want to share! You can show it like and old-school science fair tri-fold, or grab your laptop and show us what you've got, whip up a handout on Canva or charm your peers with a quick chat!
6:00 PM
Meet to Eat Dinner
Lobby
Whether you came to the conference solo or just want to meet some new people, meet others in the lobby and go out for dinner together!
Friday, October 11, 2024
8:00 AM - 9:00 AM
Breakfast
Mahogany/Cedar Rooms (2nd Floor)
9:15 AM - 10:15 AM | Breakout Sessions
Zoom Zoom... Keeping up with an ever-changing environment
Maple Room
Presenter: Tech Connect
There is a plethora of technology platforms and tools at your disposal within the CCC system for teaching and meeting with students or colleagues. Updates and new features are suddenly available, but not always obvious…unless we have a need and start searching for a solution! Join us in this session as we share updates, new features, and changes throughout the past year. Learn about changes to Canvas integrations for scheduling meetings, offering office hours appointments, and new Whiteboard options while in your online classroom. Is proctoring student study sessions and exams becoming a challenge? With a few simple steps you can view all your students sharing their video and screens as they work. And, of course, for your eyes only! Learn more about the new ‘All Screens mode’ and find creative ways to work with students or expand to outside the classroom and team with your colleagues. Optional: Bring your laptop and follow along in your own Zoom and Canvas accounts to access and update those gems you didn’t realize were available to you!
Self Care for PD Practitioners and Beyond
Sycamore Room
Presenter: Dr. Pilar Huffman
Dr. Pilar Huffman is a visionary leader with over 20 years of experience in learning and organizational development across corporate and higher education. Currently serving as the Director of Professional Development at Compton College, she facilitates and coordinates workshops for faculty, management, classified professionals, and students, designing programs to meet institutional and individual training needs. Dr. Huffman drives engagement, diversity, connection, and motivation throughout the campus community, fostering a culture of continuous learning and improvement. As a first-generation college graduate, she is passionate about inspiring others and making sustainable improvements in their lives. She proudly serves as a board member of California Community Colleges Professional Development Council-4CPD. She is also a board member of the Administrators of California Community Colleges Association and a team lead of the ACCCA Mentorship Program, where she also participates in the conference planning team. Additionally, she works directly with student leadership development programming at Compton College and serves on the planning committee for the system-wide Black Student Success Week. Dr. Huffman also volunteers for the California Community College's Institutional Effectiveness Partnership Initiative, enhancing professional development opportunities to better serve students throughout our system. Dr. Huffman holds a Doctorate in Education in Organizational Change and Administration from California Baptist University, along with master’s degrees in Industrial/Organizational Psychology and Organizational Leadership, and a bachelor’s in Human Resources Management. An avid researcher in organizational psychology, she looks forward to publishing her work soon. Renowned for her innovative professional development programs, she designs and delivers training in various formats, enhancing employee learning experiences. In her free time, Dr. Huffman enjoys attending concerts, traveling to islands, and spending time with loved ones.
10:15 AM - 10:30 AM
Break
1st Floor Foyer
10:30 AM - 11:30 AM
Closing Keynote: Living Liberation with Brandy Thomas
Sycamore Room
What does it mean to live a liberated life? In this transformative workshop, Brandy Thomas invites you to explore the intersections of personal growth, social justice, and healing practices. Drawing from her diverse background in biology, psychology, and equity work, Brandy will guide participants through a journey of self-discovery and empowerment. Through interactive discussions, reflective exercises, and shared experiences, you’ll learn how to foster healing, build connections, and advocate for liberation in your own life and communities. Whether you are an educator, advocate, or someone looking to make a positive impact, this session will provide the tools and inspiration to live a life rooted in empathy, balance, and equity. Together, we will cultivate a deeper understanding of how we can all contribute to creating a more liberated and just world. Perfect for those looking to blend personal well-being with social change!