The College of Engineering Lunch & Learn Series is designed for staff and faculty in the College of Engineering and will explore topics central to creating a culture of belonging and inclusion for all.
Format: Sessions will be 1 hr in length, and provide an overview of the topic, questions for individual reflection and small group discussion, with a focus on concrete action; resources for additional exploration and learning will also be provided.
You are invited to bring your lunch. Snacks and beverages will be provided for in-person events.

Upcoming Events
SESSION #2 – Mindfulness practice in everyday life
Building on Richard Davidson’s John Brady Memorial Lecture Series presentation about compassion and wellbeing in research environments, this session will provide a brief introduction to/reminder about mindfulness practice. We’ll then focus on ways to build mindfulness practice into your day as a tool for creating and sustaining more positive, supportive interactions with others. Skill-building practice will be provided.
Facilitator: Michelle Bond | Mental Health Provider – Engineering Focus
In person
When: Tuesday, March 11th from 12:05-1:00 pm CT
Where: 1413 Engineering Hall (Cheney room)
Online
When: Thursday, March 20th from 12:05-1:00 pm CT
Where: Zoom link provided upon registration
SESSION #3 – Making sure you’re ready for the new Digital Accessibility rules
The Department of Justice released new digital accessibility rules in 2024. Public, post-secondary institutions like UW-Madison have a responsibility to ensure a digitally accessible environment for all by April 2026. Join us to learn about the new DOJ digital accessibility rules, meet Digital Accessibility Liaisons in the College, learn about resources and reflect on what this will mean for your work, and the work of your unit more broadly.
Facilitators: Luis Loya, Shelly Burns, Erica Hagen, and Kristina Spannbauer | COE Digital Accessibility Liaisons
Online
When: Tuesday, April 15th from 12:05-1:00 pm CT
Where: Zoom link provided upon registration
In person
When: Tuesday, April 22nd from 12:05-1:00 pm CT
Where: 1413 Engineering Hall (Cheney room)
Please contact Don Gillian-Daniel at <dldaniel@wisc.edu> with questions or if you need accommodation of any type.
Resources from Past Lunch & Learn Events
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Facilitating productive discussions
In person session PRO POSITION DOCUMENT / CON POSITION DOCUMENT
Online session PRO POSITION DOCUMENT / CON POSITION DOCUMENT
Resources:
How do you ensure inclusion of diverse voices and opportunities for deeper learning in discussions that you lead? Join us to learn a purposeful and collaborative approach that leads to deeper understanding of different perspectives.The Discussion Project (TDP; https://discussion.education.wisc.edu/) focuses on classroom-based discussions. Non-instructional staff have found the approach that they learn useful in department meetings and interactions with groups of colleagues. In addition to providing information about the initiative and approach, this session will include small group discussions and debriefs.
Facilitator: Mariana Castro | The Discussion Project
Interoceptive Awareness
SLIDES_Interoceptive Awareness Part 1
SLIDES_Interoceptive Awareness Part 2
Handout_Interoceptive Awareness Part 1_4_10_24&4_24_24
Interoception includes reading our bodies’ signals and emotions so we can make effective choices for self-regulation. Improving interoceptive awareness has benefits for our wellbeing as well as our relationships with ourselves and others. We introduce components of interoception, skills for building this awareness, and practices for participants to try on their own. The sessions include reflection and discussion of participants’ experiences, incorporating interoception into work roles, and ways participants can develop an ongoing personal practice.
Communicating Using Plain Language
Belonging
Learning about others’ lived experiences
Learning about others’ lived experiences is a resource developed by Dr. Evangeline Su with the NSF Eddie Bernice Johnson INCLUDES Aspire Alliance for Aspire’s Inclusive Professional Framework Level 2 Workshop. I includes a compilation of videos, podcasts and other resources to help you learn about others’ lived experiences without causing harm. This content has been created by people who have agreed to share their experience, curate their story, and have in turn published it publicly.