Each month, ALSSO will host a Virtual Workshop designed to promote the scholarship of our members as well as provide opportunities for connection and collaboration.
01.
January Workshop
Our first professional development session of 2026 was led by Dr. Robert White, Professor of Humanities at Alabama State University. Dr. White encouraged attendees to think in terms of impact rather than passive presence. We were encouraged to make our contributions as meaningful as possible.
02.
February Workshop
Our second professional development session of 2026 featured Mrs. Sondra Obas, an ALSSO member form Alabama State University. Ms. Obas' presentation explored AI literacy, including a look at the origins of artificial intelligence and a review the AI tools available for classroom use, as well as current updates on how AI is evolving. She encouraged everyone to practice their Ai literacy collaboratively both in the classroom with students and out of the classroom with colleagues to promote everyone's success.
03.
March Workshop
For our third workshop in the 2026 series, Dr. James Winfield delivered an extraordinary presentation on “The Heavy LIFT: A Professional Practice for Student Success.”
He provided a realistic framework for implementing the L.I.F.T. model (Lynn & Winfield, 2022), which emphasizes:
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Leveraging resources
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Innovating processes
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Focusing on barriers, and
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Tailoring best practices to institutional priorities
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Participants discussed what “the heavy lift” looks like in their own roles and explored ways to collaborate for student success.
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04.
April Workshop
In celebration of National Poetry Month, we are excited to have our very own Past President, Dr. Kerry Brackett, Instructor of English at Alabama A&M University.
Dr. Kerry Brackett will share practical strategies for integrating poetry into composition and general education courses, including low-stakes writing activities, performance-based assignments, and culturally responsive texts that resonate with today’s students.