Faculty conference looks to strengthen work environment

Whether someone has worked at Iowa State for a few months or for decades, it's impossible to be aware of everything the university offers and what everyone on campus does. That was the experience for Faculty Senate president-elect and mechanical engineering professor Michael Olsen and others last spring when they heard a presentation from university ombuds Laura Smythe.

"She introduced all the things her office does and all of the workshops and trainings she offers," he said. "It was enlightening to a lot of people there including me because I knew the ombuds existed, but I didn't know all that she did for campus."

Smythe's presentation set the foundation for the 2026 Faculty Senate Conference on March 25 (8:30 a.m.-5 p.m., MU Sun Room) that will focus on collegiality and working well together. Faculty can attend as much of the conference as their schedule allows but are asked to register by March 13 since both breakfast and lunch will be served.

The free conference is built around four 90-minute workshops:

• Bullying in the workplace
• Resolving conflicts
• Creating psychologically safe workspaces
• Conflict management 

Stacy Tye-Williams, English associate professor, will define workplace bullying, examine the scope and nature of the problem in higher education, and introduce strategies for disrupting bullying. Communications studies teaching professor Katherine Rafferty will provide an overview of conflict management and ways to effectively deploy it. Iowa Mediation Services executive director Kiley Fleming will discuss how leaning into the healthy limits of boundaries can provide alignment with the essential need for psychological safety in the workplace.

Smythe will conclude the workshops looking at how verbally and non-verbally showing up for others can help lead to constructive conversations. Each workshop includes a 40‑minute presentation, followed by small‑group conversations or activities and a concluding discussion period.

"Breaking into small groups will allow people to share personal experiences and allow all of us to learn or offer possible solutions," Olsen said. "It also allows the expert to weigh in on any topics that are shared with the larger group."

He hopes the conference will be helpful to those who may be dealing with workplace issues, but also allow attendees to look at themselves and ensure they are not unknowingly engaging in some of the unwanted actions.

"This topic was not chosen because Iowa State is a bad place to work, but even in the best places issues arise," Olsen said. "Having a collegial workplace greatly reduces stress. Being on the faculty is a great job if a stressful one. When a problem arises, knowing there are people who can help is very comforting."