Keystone Concepts in Teaching: A Higher Education Podcast from the Stearns Center for Teaching and Learning

S4 E37: The Inside Perspective from Graduate Students Who Teach

For the first time, Keystone Concepts in Teaching features a graduate teaching assistant (GTA) and a graduate instructor as guests, offering faculty a candid look into the student-instructor perspective. Host Dr. Rachel Yoho is joined by Sehaj Gill and Yasmin Rahmani, who share anecdotes from teaching introductory labs and lectures at George Mason University while pursuing their own graduate degrees. The conversation emphasizes the importance of relatability, patience, and clear communication, especially when guiding students through their core course requirements. The episode explores lessons learned from handling classroom challenges, advice for professors on working productively with GTAs, and practical guidance for aspiring GTAs—including adaptability, not overlooking fundamentals in the age of AI, and confidently admitting “I don’t know.” Faculty will gain actionable strategies and new perspectives on creating supportive, relevant, and inclusive learning environments, straight from the voices of those teaching and learning at the same time.  Resource: George Mason University Graduate Education - Teaching Skills:  https://graduate.gmu.edu/professional-development/teaching-skills  [https://graduate.gmu.edu/professional-development/teaching-skills] Check out our website! [https://stearnscenter.gmu.edu/knowledge-center/keystone-concepts-in-teaching-podcast/]

S4 E36: Recognizing the Value of Investing in Teaching

How do we develop, support, and recognize effective teaching across career stages in higher education? In this episode of Keystone Concepts in Teaching, host Dr. Rachel Yoho is joined by Christi Wilcox, Director of the Office of Outreach, Student Success, and Engagement in George Mason University’s College of Engineering and Computing, for a wide‑ranging conversation about faculty development, graduate student preparation, and the recognition of teaching and learning work. Together, they explore why investing in pedagogical training, especially early with graduate students, strengthens both institutions and the profession. Additionally, Christi provides listeners with strategies for how to make the value of teaching development visible and why faculty should strategically advocate for and document their teaching‑related professional growth. This episode invites faculty across disciplines to rethink recognition, professional development, and the many ways effective teaching contributes to student success and the broader higher education ecosystem. Resource: Faculty Podcast Credential: https://stearnscenter.gmu.edu/credentials/keystone-concepts-in-teaching-podcast-faculty-credential/ [https://stearnscenter.gmu.edu/credentials/keystone-concepts-in-teaching-podcast-faculty-credential/]  Check out our website! [https://stearnscenter.gmu.edu/knowledge-center/keystone-concepts-in-teaching-podcast/]

S4 E35: Faculty Mental Health Matters

Faculty mental health is rarely discussed—but deeply connected to teaching, learning, and student success. In this Hear From Your Host episode, guest host and Producer Kelly Chandler turns the microphone toward our host, Dr. Rachel Yoho, to explore faculty mental health as a critical, and often overlooked, aspect of higher education. Drawing on research and observations, the conversation examines structural stressors in academia, the isolating nature of teaching, and the importance of community and support. Faculty will gain language, context, and practical ways to think about wellbeing - not as individual self‑care alone, but as a shared, systemic commitment essential to effective teaching and sustainable academic pursuits. Guest Note: This is an academic exploration of a topic, not medical or mental health advice. Many campuses, local communities, and health insurances have mental health support.  Resources: Some Mason Resources: Employee Assistance Programs: https://hr.gmu.edu/benefits/insurance-and-benefits/employee-assistance-programs/  Mason Korea: BetterHelp online counseling sessions available. TimelyCare: mental health line https://rsr.gmu.edu/timelycare-now-available-to-faculty-and-staff/?utm_source=provosts&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=facstaff&utm_term=20260126  Leave: https://hr.gmu.edu/benefits/leave/ Dual Career Assistance: https://hr.gmu.edu/support-resources/spouse-and-partner-employment/ Employee Resource Groups, Communities of Practice, and Other Networks: https://hr.gmu.edu/support-resources/faculty-and-staff-networks/ Disability and Religious Accommodations: https://hr.gmu.edu/support-resources/disability-and-religious-accommodations/ Center for the Advancement of Well-being's Faculty and Staff Resources: https://wellbeing.gmu.edu/resources-2/resources/ For references to the discussion and sources cited, please visit https://stearnscenter.gmu.edu/knowledge-center/keystone-concepts-in-teaching-podcast/season-4-spring-2026-keystone-concepts-in-teaching/ Check out our website! [https://stearnscenter.gmu.edu/knowledge-center/keystone-concepts-in-teaching-podcast/]

S4 E34: Career Readiness as a Teaching Practice

George Mason’s University Career Services Executive Director, Saskia Campbell, joins host Dr. Rachel Yoho to explain the role her office plays in supporting students at the university and highlight practical ways faculty can partner in preparing students for life after graduation. The conversation explores George Mason’s career outcomes data, the chaos theory of careers, and the transferable skills employers value most. Faculty will also learn about low‑effort, high‑impact teaching practices and resources. This episode is a must‑listen for instructors interested in helping students make clearer connections between coursework and career pathways.  Resources: University Career Services: https://careers.gmu.edu/ [https://careers.gmu.edu/] Career Readiness Guide: https://mymasonportal.gmu.edu/bbcswebdav/xid-193714404_1 [https://mymasonportal.gmu.edu/bbcswebdav/xid-193714404_1] Career Influencers Network: https://careers.gmu.edu/faculty-staff/career-influencers-network [https://careers.gmu.edu/faculty-staff/career-influencers-network] Request a Classroom Presentation: https://careers.gmu.edu/faculty-staff/request-presentation [https://careers.gmu.edu/faculty-staff/request-presentation] Check out our website! [https://stearnscenter.gmu.edu/knowledge-center/keystone-concepts-in-teaching-podcast/]

S4 E33: Faculty Support is Student Support

In this episode of Keystone Concepts in Teaching, host Dr. Rachel Yoho sits down with Dr. Kim Eby, Vice Provost for Faculty Affairs and Development at George Mason University, for a wide‑ranging conversation about faculty recognition, teaching, and the changing landscape of higher education. Drawing on nearly 30 years of experience at George Mason, Dr. Eby reflects on student‑centered learning, interdisciplinary teaching, and what it means to support faculty across career stages in a time of increasing complexity. Settle in for an insightful conversation with Faculty Affairs' pivotal leader as she makes the compelling case that supporting faculty success is inseparable from supporting student success in a sustainable, effective higher education institution. Resources: Faculty Affairs website:  https://provost.gmu.edu/about/administrative-units/faculty-affairs-and-development [https://provost.gmu.edu/about/administrative-units/faculty-affairs-and-development], The Chronicle article Dr. Eby references: https://www.chronicle.com/article/how-ai-is-changing-higher-education [https://www.chronicle.com/article/how-ai-is-changing-higher-education]  Check out our website! [https://stearnscenter.gmu.edu/knowledge-center/keystone-concepts-in-teaching-podcast/]