Small Moments, Big Impact: Making Informal Interactions Count with Stephany Santos
Join us on October 29
Some of the most meaningful mentoring happens without an agenda: a student lingering after office hours, a quick hallway conversation, or a chance meeting at a campus event or student org meeting. These informal moments can shape whether students feel they belong in engineering, but most of us were never taught how to make the most of them.
This hands-on workshop is for faculty who are new to mentoring or want to build on what you already do. Instead of an hour of lecture, you'll practice with colleagues, work through realistic scenarios, and leave with concrete strategies you can use right away: what to say, how to connect, and how to show up in student spaces authentically. Every strategy is grounded in research on inclusive mentoring and student success.
This hands-on workshop is for faculty who are new to mentoring or want to build on what you already do. Instead of an hour of lecture, you'll practice with colleagues, work through realistic scenarios, and leave with concrete strategies you can use right away: what to say, how to connect, and how to show up in student spaces authentically. Every strategy is grounded in research on inclusive mentoring and student success.
Stephany Santos
UNiversity of Connecticut
Dr. Stephany Santos, Ph.D. is an Associate Professor in Residence in Biomedical Engineering and Executive Director and Endowed Chair of the Vergnano Institute for Impact at the University of Connecticut. Drawing on a unique background that spans biomedical engineering, engineering education, leadership development, and student success, Dr. Santos studies how people learn, communicate, develop confidence, and take action within complex environments. Her work integrates insights from cognitive science, psychology, engineering education research, and storytelling to help individuals and organizations communicate with greater authenticity, influence, and purpose. A nationally recognized educator, researcher, and speaker, she has led multi-million-dollar educational and workforce development initiatives, delivered keynote presentations and workshops across academia and industry, and received numerous honors for her contributions to community engagement, leadership, and STEM education.