The College of Education and Health Professions offers students the unique opportunity to explore engaging topics such as outdoor adventure, leadership philosophies, body-mind connection, workplace health and the art of self-care for caregivers through its transformative Dean's Seminar series.

The courses are open to students from any major and feature a new topic every spring and fall. The fall 2025 seminar will focus on working with individuals who have disabilities and learning more about disability rights.

The course is still open for registration, and classes will be held on Tuesdays from 3:30-4:20 p.m. The Disability Advocacy and Responsibility Experience (D.A.R.E.) course will be taught by Assistant Professor of Counselor Education and Supervision Julie Hill and Clinical Professor of Communication Sciences and Disorders Rachel Glade.

The semester-long course is one credit hour, but graduate students may earn a total of three credits if they are approved for an independent study with Glade.

"The course is meant to provide an understanding of disability and the importance of advocacy for both the person with the disability and those who work with individuals with disabilities," Hill said. "Guest speakers will talk about their experiences with advocacy on both the personal and professional levels."

Dean's Seminars are offered each semester for students looking for a focused study opportunity. Each semester, the seminar explores a different complex societal challenge, leveraging faculty expertise and allowing students from various disciplines to participate. 

The fall 2024 Dean's Seminar "Nature and You: Adventure, Growth and Well-Being" was a course offered by faculty members David Christian, an associate professor of counseling and director of the college's Adventure Therapy Lab, and Michael Hoover, a clinical instructor in the outdoor leadership program. The course examined the intersecting aspects of nature and the outdoors. Students and faculty participated in adventure activities on and around campus throughout the semester. The course culminated with students presenting a plan or program to strategically address a current challenge faced by professionals in outdoor recreation, education and therapy.

"Work Shouldn't Hurt" was offered by Kaitlin Gallagher, an associate professor of exercise science, and Yuanlu Niu, an assistant professor of human resource development, in spring 2025 and taught students about safe workplace practices in healthcare and education settings. Students learned how to be "well-being prepared" to increase employability and lay the foundation for nurturing a future workforce skilled in creating and maintaining healthy, productive work environments. Students presented posters on a job and workplace risk factor of their choice to wrap up the course.

College of Education and Health Professions Dean's Seminars began three years ago as part of the college's WE CARE strategic plan. These seminars are designed to strengthen the preparation of educators and health professionals and improve the lives of their future students and patients.