University of Washington Human Resources

Event Schedule

Please see session descriptions below.

Sessions

After you register, you’ll receive a Zoom link. You can drop into whatever sessions work with your schedule and interests.

Welcome (9:15 a.m.)

– Ujima Sands, Assistant Vice President, Total Talent Management
– Skyla Savitch, Learning and Development Consultant
– Jamie Wilson, Assistant Director, Total Talent Management; Interim Manager, POD Learning Programs

Kick off a day of development with a warm welcome from Ujima Sands and then learn more about what the day has in store from event coordinators Skyla Savitch and Jamie Wilson.

Prompt, Prototype, Produce: Practical AI Skills (9:30 a.m)

– Jeff Leinaweaver, Senior Organizational Development Consultant

Join Jeff for a fast-paced, 50-minute Zoom workshop designed to turn AI from a buzzword into a practical tool for your daily workflow. We’ll cover the essential mechanics of effective prompting to help you get exactly what you need out of AI platforms. You’ll also learn how to use these tools to rapidly test, iterate, and bring your rough ideas to life. Expect to walk away strategies you can apply to your very next project.

UW Brand & Editorial Style (10:30 a.m.)

– Alanya Cannon, Senior Director, Brand Management, University Photography & Campus Filming
– Meredith Jacobson, Associate Director, Editorial

The UW’s reputation is in your hands! Whether you’re crafting a message for your department newsletter or looking for the right shade of purple for your PowerPoint presentation, you help make the UW brand one of the most respected and recognizable brands around. Not sure where to start? Learn from UW brand experts from University Marketing & Communications about the importance of our brand identity, the wealth of resources on the UW Brand site and the fundamentals of UW editorial style. Come ready with your questions for the Q&A segment, and rest assured that, after this session, you’ll never again wonder when to capitalize “university.”

Lunch with The Whole U (11:30 a.m.)

– Lauren Updyke, UWHR Wellness Officer and Executive Director of Employee Engagement
– Anna Tegelberg, Marketing and Events Director, Employee Experience (The Whole U)

Revive and connect with an invigorating lunch hour hosted by The Whole U:

• Stretch! Start off with a much-needed stretch break. Learn the value of a stretch break and how you can incorporate stretch breaks into your regular routine.
• Engage! Participate in icebreakers and interactive games while enjoying your lunch.
• Refresh! Close out the hour with a mindfulness activity, and discover how mindfulness and meditation can set the tone for your day and for your experiences and interactions at work.

De-Escalation in the Workplace (12:30 p.m.)

– Skyla Savitch, Learning and Development Consultant

How well do you handle conflict at work? Why do you react to criticism the way you do? And how do other people experience you in a crisis situation? Being able to identify an escalating situation is the first step in de-escalating the situation and salvaging the relationship—whether it be with a boss, coworker, or customer. In this session, participants will learn a framework for understanding and managing escalating behavior with the goal of early intervention to prevent crisis escalation, foster safety, and support positive outcomes.

Restorative Practices (1:30 p.m.)

– Ujima Sands, Assistant Vice President, Total Talent Management

Staff Development Day closes with an opportunity to decompress and reassess with facilitator Ujima Sands. Move beyond the usual ways we attempt to avoid or overcome burnout, and discover practices that can restore your energy and balance and equip you to be your better self each day.

Closing (2:20 p.m.)

Before you return to your regularly scheduled workday, take a moment to reflect on the day and ask any outstanding questions.