Last week, Bentley’s faculty and staff participated in the 6th annual Community Learning Conference. This vibrant three-day event included 39 sessions focused on three different tracks: Inclusive Excellence, Positive Culture and Best Self. And in true Bentley style, it also included many social gatherings including lunches, a trivia game and the ever-popular Cookie Monstah Ice Cream Social. 

Melissa Looney, Director of Learning, Development and Engagement Strategies, led the conference but says she could not have done it without all her collaborators, including the Conference Services Team. 

“Steve Mok and his team’s personal touch and dedication makes the entire experience seamless and enjoyable," she said. “They ensured every detail was taken care of, allowing me to focus on connecting with attendees. And I have to give a HUGE shoutout to Sodexo for always working hard to make the event a success.”

The conference kicked off with a keynote address from Dr. Sandra Miles (pictured left) who discussed “When Keeping it Real Goes Right: Using Conflict as a Catalyst for Transformational Conversations.”

Below are some reflections from presenters and participants on what they got out of this year’s conference.

Chris Besse, Director of Emergency Management: “I attended sessions covering Artificial Intelligence and international travel that got me thinking in new ways about both my work responsibilities and personal pursuits. I was also proud to launch the new Falcon Responder course alongside my colleagues Melissa Diglio and Julia Matthews. The course gave attendees an overview of CPR and other lifesaving skills that could be used in an emergency. We plan to offer this course again this fall semester.”

Natalie Schlegel, Executive Director of International Education:
“I had a really insightful conversation with service learning colleagues over lunch, and I had fun with friendly competition in trivia. It was super to have representatives from International Education and the library together on our team. We won!”

Maddie Schroeder, Assistant Director, Multimedia Producer:
“Nana Adu and Ashlee Lindsey’s presentation on 'Unlocking Engagement: Exploring Strategies to Boost Student Attendance' sparked insightful conversations. It was great to see many departments focusing on improving student participation. 

"Dr. Katie Penn’s presentation on 'Uncovering the Lived Experience of Inclusion at Work' was moving. She reminded us of the importance of positive interactions with our colleagues and peers.”

Kendra Criss, Assistant Director, Talent Management:
“There were many interesting sessions this year but I particularly enjoyed the "VR/AR Adventures: Diving into Virtual Worlds for Real-world Learning" session hosted by Steve Salina and Jack Wolfe. It was my first VR/AR experience and I was blown away by the technology.”

Otis Johnson, Assistant Director, Residential Center: 
“Christine Lookner and Patrick Couillard Hale gave a great presentation, 'DEI is Everyone’s Responsibility: Implementing Shared Equity Leadership at Bentley University,' that allowed us to reflect on experiences that we don’t always get time to slow down and do. It was also nice to catch up with colleagues over lunch and learn about sessions that I was not able to attend. It was a highlight for the summer.”

Stephanie Bohler, Associate Director, Student Accessibility Services and Melody Smith, Senior Academic Advisor:
Stephanie and Melody presented on “Can We Be Friends,” discussing work friendships. “We referred to campus resources such as Affinity Groups, Brown Bag Lunch events, Campus Connections, workshops and the Family Table at the Faculty and Staff Dining Room as ways to connect with folks on campus,” said Stephanie.

Jeff Funk, Associate Director, Housing Operations:
“This year, I was blown away by the level of engagement in my sessions. We ended up having wonderful conversations. I am particularly grateful for the opportunity to present my session on 'Unpacking Fatphobia,' an issue that is often not discussed enough, and for the community’s willingness to engage meaningfully with the topic.”

Liz Hess, Vice President and Chief Information Officer;
David Norman, Chief Information Security Officer;
Karen Lamb, Senior Director, Technology, Strategy, and Planning;
Edlira Stefani, Executive Director, Data Engineering and Operations:
"We presented on 'Shaping Tomorrow: Maximizing Value with Smart AI Tools,' said Edlira. “This conference is one of the best venues to present: it's a vibrant hub where we come together to share experiences and exchange knowledge. We demonstrated the functionality of Microsoft Copilot while introducing the risks, benefits and Bentley's framework toward an AI strategy. Maximizing value with smart AI tools is crucial in today's fast-paced world, as it allows us to harness the power of advanced technologies to drive efficiency, innovation, and competitive advantage.”

Vin Ciampolillo, Associate Director, Investigations and Alternative Resolutions: 
“As a new employee, being a presenter (Conflict Resolution Workshop: Skills for Everyday Conflicts) was a wonderful opportunity to share my knowledge and connect with Bentley community members I have not yet met. My perspective is that conflict is inevitable and can create positive opportunities if approached intentionally.”