Gustavus Professional Development Days
January 8 & 9 | May 13 & 14“Tell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and I learn.”
– Benjamin Franklin

GPD Days 2025

The Office of Human Resources invites all Gustavus employees to join in the many sessions offered during Gustavus Professional Development days, which will take place on January 8 & 9 and May 13 & 14. With the help of current Gustavus employees and a few outside experts, these sessions will allow you to engage with leaders on campus, explore a wide variety of topics, learn something new, and have fun along the way!

See below for more details about each session. All sessions will be in the 3 Crowns Room, unless noted otherwise. A few sessions will have limited spots available, so registration will be required and closed after reaching max capacity. 

GPD 2025 Committee: Gwen Donev, Haley Ling, Jeannie Peterson, and Jenny Schmidt

Mark your calendar now!! 

Wednesday, January 8, 2025

Title: Healthy Accountability: A Sign of Good Leadership and How to Build it in Your Team
Session Leaders: Kathi Tunheim & Angela Erickson
Location: 3 Crowns Room
Wednesday, January 8
9:00-9:50 AM

This interactive session will provide an overview of new research on accountability in the workplace: what it looks like when it's healthy, why it's critical to success, how it impacts our culture at Gustavus, and how to improve it in your team and across the organization.

Title: AI: The good, the bad and the future
Session Leaders: Yurie Hong and Haley Ling
Location: 3 Crowns Room
Wednesday, January 8
10:00-10:50 AM

Artificial intelligence has become a common tool in daily life. We use it to search for information online, unlock our phones through facial recognition, navigate streets with real-time traffic data and find entertainment tailored to our tastes. Alexa and Siri are not only household names, they are helping to run our households. This session is posed to help you navigate the advantages and disadvantages of this emerging technology, provide a sneak peek into how Gustavus will be engaging with Generative AI as a campus, and show potential use cases for the future.

Title: Employee Headshots
Session Leaders: Marketing & Communication
*Location: Heritage Room
Wednesday, January 8
11AM-1PM

No appointment necessary. 

Making a strong first impression is more important than ever. Don't underestimate the power of employee headshots – they play a crucial role in forming those initial perceptions. 

  • Be Authentic: While professionalism is essential, your headshot should also capture your unique personality. A genuine smile or a confident expression can make your headshot more relatable and memorable.
  • Dress Appropriately: Your attire should align with your specialty and reflect your company’s image and values. 

We encourage you to upload and use your new headshot on your employee page on the Gustavus website. 

Title: Giving Back to the Community - Thrivent Action Teams!
Session Leaders: Eavan McCormick, Jenny Schmidt, and Kathi Tunheim
Location: 3 Crowns Room
Wednesday, January 8
11:00-11:50 AM

When we serve others, we look outside of ourselves, beyond our own problems, and seek to bring value to others. Join us as we live out the Gustavus core value of service by gathering needed food and care items from local grocery stores for the St. Peter Area Food Shelf and for the local homeless shelter in St. Peter, Union Street Place. Funding is provided by Thrivent Financial.

Meet in the 3 Crowns Room at 11am sharp where we will divide into groups and distribute shopping lists. From there, we will drive to local stores to gather the needed items. Then, the groups will deliver the items to Union Street Place and Food Shelf + help by stocking the shelves. 

Title: National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE) Results
Session Leader: Kyle Chambers
Location: 3 Crowns Room
Wednesday, January 8
12-12:50 PM

*Lunch provided: Soup & Salad - White Chicken Chili

This presentation will share the results of our institution's recent NSSE administration. We will explore key areas of student engagement, including active and collaborative learning, student-faculty interaction, supportive campus environments, and enriching educational experiences. By reviewing the NSSE findings, we aim to help you identify strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities to enhance student success in your departments or offices.

Title: Outdoor Winter Walk in the Arboretum
Session Leader: Mark Hanson
Location: Meet at Interpretive Center
Wednesday, January 8
1-1:50 PM

Meet at the Interpretive Center to grab a hot chocloate and join us for a 30-minute winter walk through the Arboretum to discover what sights and sounds are prevalent in January. As we may adventure through unshoveled trails, please wear appropriate footwear. 

Title: Rediscover your Purpose: A guided journey to bringing clarity back to what you do
Session Leader: Erin Kuiper
Location: 3 Crowns Room
Wednesday, January 8 
2-2:50 PM

In a world full of distractions, it is easy to lose sight of what truly drives us. Join us for an interactive session designed to help you reconnect with your deeper purpose, both personally and professionally. Through guided reflection, practical exercises, and meaningful discussion, you’ll explore how understanding your core motivations can lead to greater clarity, fulfillment, and impact in your work and life. A journal and prompts will be provided.

Title: Esports Staff Gaming Hour
Session Leader: Evan Haldeman
*Location: Beck 303
Wednesday, January 8 
3-3:50 PM

*Must register here* Only 24 spots available. 

Ever wondered who the fastest Mario Kart driver in the office is? Now is your chance to find out. Join other members of the Gustavus employee community at the Gustavus Esports lab in Beck 303 to learn more about the new program or to try your hand at in the latest games.

THURSDAY, JANUARY 9, 2025

Title: Cupcake Decorating
Session Leader: Amanda Wentzlaff + Bakery Staff
Location: 3 Crowns Room
Thursday, January 9
9:00-10:00 AM

*Must Register Here.* Only 24 spots available. Registration opening Friday; will close once full. 

Come and learn from our Head Baker, Amanda Wentzlaff, the basics of decorating cupcakes with some fun tips and tricks added in. In this session you will learn about cupcake frosting basics, practice piping and detail techniques, and you will leave with 6 beautifully decorated cupcakes. 

What's provided: 

  • 6 cupcakes per person and frosting
  • All supplies to decorate
  • Box to take home

*Those that participate in this session, will go on the waiting list for any related session opportunities during May 13-14 GPD days. 

Title: Meditation for Well-being
Session Leader: Julie Gilbert
*Location: Heritage Room
Thursday, January 9
 10:00 - 10:50 AM

Meditation for Well-Being - Feeling stressed? Anxious? Disconnected? You aren’t alone. These are challenging times. Studies show that just a few moments of meditation can help reduce stress, improve our sense of connectedness, and help us sleep better. Interested? Join certified meditation teacher Julie Gilbert to explore meditation for well-being. We’ll discuss what meditation is (and isn’t) and explore a few short practices together. Participants will leave with ideas for how to start or cultivate a meditation practice. All are welcome, whether you are new to meditation or have an established practice.

Title: How Do Animals Sleep? 
Session Leader: Jon Grinnell
Location: 3 Crowns Room
Thursday, January 9
11:00 - 11:50 AM

A reprise from our Nobel Conference 60: When we think of sleep, we probably think of the human pattern—a daily long block of unconscious time. But in the huge diversity of animal species we find many different patterns, from penguins dozing for a few seconds at a time to seals that may sleep with only half their brain, to some reptiles and amphibians that seem never to sleep at all. Some animals seem to “sleep” while swimming or walking. What does all this tell us about the functions of sleep and its evolution?

Title: It's Simple...Yet Not - Breaking Down the Complexities of DEIB
Leader: Tom Flunker
Location: 3 Crowns Room
Thursday, January 9 
12-12:50 PM

Lunch provided: Pizza - BBQ, Veggie, Cheese, and Cuban

This session will cover a general overview of the various components and nuances of DEIB (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging), why it can be a struggle to move the needle, and what tools can be useful to help meet the needs throughout the campus community.

Title: Ten Ways to Create a Better Job and a Better Life
Session Leader: Neal Hagberg
Location: 3 Crowns Room
Thursday, January 9 
1-1:50 PM

It doesn't matter what position you hold or do not hold at Gustavus, you can make a bigger impact than you think to positively shape your department, Gustavus, and your personal life. Neal Hagberg, Director of Tennis & Life Camps at Gustavus will talk about how his 25 years as a full time singer/songwriter around the U.S. caused him to think about his job at Gustavus more creatively when he joined the staff fourteen years ago. He will be sharing songs he wrote, insights, successes, and failures that he learned along the way.

Title: Self-Defense Basics with Crest Martial Arts
Session Leader: Jason Wood
*Location: Alumni Hall
Thursday, January 9 
2-2:50 PM

No registration required. 

Are you ready to gain confidence, learn Minnesota defense laws, and practice skills that can protect you and your loved ones? Join us for self-defense training with the owner of Crest Martial Arts, Jason Wood!

Title: Mixology 101
Session Leader: Kim Frisch
Location: 3 Crowns Room
Thursday, January 9 
3-3:50 PM

*Must Register Here.* 60 spots available. Will close once full. 

Ready to craft the perfect cocktail and impress your friends? Join us for a hands-on Mixology 101 session and learn the art of making amazing cocktails and mocktails - with a higher ed twist: The Sabbatical, Roar-Rita, and The Summer Melt. 

Whether you’re a novice or a budding bartender, this session is for you! 
 - Tips on garnishes, ingredients, and presentation
 - Insider secrets for balancing flavors and creating your own signature drinks

Don’t miss this chance to mix, sip, and socialize. Raise a glass to a fun afternoon! 

Join us on May 13-14 for the next round of GPD Sessions! 

If you have any interest in leading a GPD session in the future, 
please contact Jenny Schmidt (jennyschmidt@gustavus.edu)