Innovations in Pedagogy Summit

A Pedagogy of Trust

Trust is the invisible thread that connects students and educators. It enables students to take intellectual risks, be honest about what they do not yet understand, and engage deeply in the learning process. It allows instructors to teach authentically, experiment, and respond with empathy and transparency. In higher education, trust transforms classrooms from sites of performance into communities of learning.

This year's Innovations in Pedagogy Summit invites us to explore the role of trust in creating conditions where students and instructors can both thrive. Join colleagues from UVA and beyond to highlight teaching practices that deepen engagement, build community, and support transformative learning.

The Summit will kick off with our keynote speaker Dr. Isis Artze-Vega, lead author and editor of the The Norton Guide to Equity-Minded Teaching and co-author of Connections Are Everything: A College Student’s Guide to Relationship-Rich Education. In her presentation titled "Toward Rigor, Health, & Equanimity: The What, Why, & How of Cultivating Trusting Relationships," we will dig into the multifaceted benefits of trusting relationships for faculty and students alike and discuss practical approaches to earning and maintaining trust.

Following the keynote, there will be interactive sessions and presentations by our colleagues at UVA and other institutions. Lunch and coffee and tea will be provided.

The Summit team and advisory committee aspire to create an increasingly accessible event, and we continue to learn about tools and approaches to improve the Summit experience for all would-be presenters and attendees. We invite your feedback at cte-summit@virginia.edu.