UAS Faculty Dr. Kristy Smith to present at the ACBSP Women's Academic Leadership Summit
She will be sharing her experiences participating in two groups at the university. The first is a book club reading through the book Stop Talking: Indigenous Ways of Teaching and Learning and Difficult Dialogues in Higher Education by Libby Roderick and Ilarion Merculieff.
Juneau, Alaska
Date of Press Release: November 1, 2023
Dr. Kristy Smith will deliver the presentation “Enjoy the Uncomfortable Silence,” at the upcoming Women’s Academic Leadership Summit, sponsored by the Accreditation Council for Business Schools and Programs (ACBSP). Smith is Assistant Professor of Management at the University of Alaska Southeast (UAS), and also serves as the Department Chair of the Business and Public Administration programs. She will be sharing her experiences participating in two groups at the university. The first is a book club reading through the book Stop Talking: Indigenous Ways of Teaching and Learning and Difficult Dialogues in Higher Education by Libby Roderick and Ilarion Merculieff. The second is a professional learning community expanding on the ideas of inclusion within the institution including leadership, faculty, and staff.
Said Smith, “When I saw the call for presentations for the Women’s Academic Leadership Summit, I immediately thought about our student population at UAS and my learning about our indigenous students, faculty, and history. In the Spring of 2022, I joined the book club and continue to be part of the professional learning community expanding on the ideas of the book. The group and the guidance of the book have made me aware of my pace in my courses and that slowing down and leaning into ‘the uncomfortable silence’ helps with learning. Other lessons we can incorporate into our teaching and collegiality include speaking to be understood and listening to understand while trusting that people are bringing their best self to the conversation, entering conversations as humans, not as titles, and learning how to lean into silence.”
The Women’s Academic Leadership Summit will be held in New Orleans in November 2023. It is geared towards female leaders in business education, designed to empower them to make a difference in their organizations and communities, while also creating a space for all voices to be heard. Dr. Smith joins a diverse group of speakers and panelists who will focus on topics related to inclusion, innovation, and impact.
Dr. Kristy Smith holds three degrees in business: a Doctor of Management in Organizational Leadership; a Master of Business Administration in Project Management; and a Bachelor of Business Administration in Management. She is certified as a Senior Professional in Human Resources. Her desire to make a difference in people’s lives led her to her career in higher education. She believes she is making a difference every day providing students a ‘product’ that cannot be taken away. She is a life-long learner, reading and teaching, continuing to learn from her discipline and her students.
“This community space allows sharing on how we teach and interact to include rather than to tell. It is important to pause, respect, and listen for an open and honest discussion about inclusion in today's institutions. What I have learned through our breakout sessions, reading, and sharing has helped me incorporate new ways of learning in my asynchronous course offerings and with my faculty colleagues,” remarked Smith.
Learn more about business programs at UAS or call and speak to an advisor at 907-796-6402.