2026 Employee Development Day

The 2026 Employee Development Day is here!

Thursday, November 19, 9 a.m.–1 p.m.

Employees will have the opportunity to move between three speakers, each focusing on a different aspect of building the tools to achieve wellness in the workplace. 

Lunch is not provided. Participants will bring their own snacks and beverage, or plan for lunch at 1 p.m. when the program ends. 

Speaker and Topic Information

Speaker 1: 
Dr. Kelly Collins, University of Minnesota
What does disability justice mean in higher education today?

This workshop introduces disability justice as a framework for understanding access, interdependence, and community care. Participants examine how ableism shapes institutions, cultures, and everyday experiences and explore ways to create environments where everyone can contribute and belong. Through reflection and dialogue, learners develop strategies for addressing barriers with empathy and accountability.

Sessions take place in H.1002
Session 1: 9–10:15 a.m.
Session 2: 10:40–11:55 a.m.

Speaker 2: 
Ben Weng, Interim Dean of Design and Arts, Minneapolis College
Whose Work Is This? AI at Work for College Staff

AI can create writings or complete tasks in seconds. The responsibility and the decision are still up to you. 

Someone once said that when you have a hammer, everything looks like a nail. AI is that new hammer, but not every task at work is a nail. In this workshop, we learn what AI does and what work remains ours.

This introductory session assumes no background in artificial intelligence, showing what AI does well, how to use it, and how to check the answers. Half the session is group work, practicing AI on everyday problems and daily tasks, leaving participants with a confident starting point.

Sessions take place in T.2400
Session 1: 10:15–11:15 p.m.
Session 2: 11:45 a.m.–12:45 p.m.

Speaker 3: 
Tyler Erickson, Employee Engagement Coordinator, Minneapolis College
Wellness in Times of Turmoil: Creating Connection To Thrive Through Change

Change is everywhere, and it’s easy to feel more isolated in times of uncertainty. The discussion will explore how change affects individuals and, more importantly, how employees can thrive and overcome obstacles that can lower morale. The focus will be on workplace wellness, including resources available to Minneapolis College employees.

Sessions take place in K.1200
Session 1: 9–10:15 a.m.
Session 2: 10:40–11:55 a.m.