#NCLUDE offers individuals who desire to grow their knowledge, skills, and awareness in a particular area an environment of care, commitment, and accountability. Learning groups co-create a space for students, staff, faculty, alumni, and community members to engage in dynamic dialogue, reflection, and offer support to one another.
Registration Now Open!
Joining an #NCLUDE group
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#NCLUDE is designed so that groups can address a wide variety of topics that fit into one or more of the following categories:
- Elevate knowledge and awareness about diverse perspectives and shared experiences that shape our community
- Enhance skills for pursuing building community and environments that promote a sense of belonging and mutual respect; and
- Develop support networks or skills for navigating institutional structures that may impose barriers to building community and belonging
Look at small group descriptions carefully as some groups have an intended audience (I.e., instructors, supervisors, etc.).
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Check meeting dates and times as group members are expected to attend all scheduled meetings. Add these dates to your calendar.
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Complete registration form indicating your intentions for participating, group preferences, and accommodations.
Fall 2025 NCLUDE Groups
Group 1: Strengthening Connection to Combat Loneliness
This group will read and discuss *Together: The Healing Power of Human Connection in a Sometimes Lonely World* by Dr. Vivek Murthy, former U.S. Surgeon General. Dr. Murthy's powerful work explores the profound impact of human connection on our well-being, the hidden health risks of loneliness, and the transformative power of community.
This learning group provides a unique opportunity for undergraduate students, graduate students, post-doctorate fellows, faculty, staff, alumni, and community members to come together and explore the critical themes of connection and belonging. Through engaging discussion, we will not only delve into the book's insights but also actively apply these lessons to our own lives and community. Join us as we build a stronger, more connected community, one conversation at a time. This NCLUDE group relates to the E.N. Thompson Forum on World Issues 2025-26 theme of "Belonging: Finding Connection in a Lonely World."
Anchor(s): Rebecca Baskerville and Brian Reetz
Location: Canfield Administration South 316
Dates: 9/4/2025, 9/18/2025, 10/2/2025, 10/16/2025, 10/30/2025, 11/13/2025
Time: 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
Open to: Undergraduate Student, Graduate Student, Post-Doctorate, Faculty, Staff, Alumni, Community Member
Track: Enhance skills for pursuing building community and environments that promote a sense of belonging and mutual respect;
Group 2: Intentional Work: Building Purpose, Boundaries, and Belonging in Our Day-to-Day
This interactive NCLUDE group is a space for staff from across the university to reconnect with their values, clarify healthy boundaries, and reflect on how small, intentional actions can lead to community and a meaningful work environment. Drawing on tools and frameworks from the Center for Academic Success and Transition’s success coaching and CAST POWER programs, this group blends reflection, conversation, and weekly action steps to support personal and professional growth.
In this group, we will explore how to build a stronger sense of belonging and community in our professional lives. Each session offers practical strategies and guided discussion to help you align your day-to-day work with what you care about most, fostering a deeper connection to your purpose and the people around you. While the content is tailored toward professional staff experiences, faculty and students are welcome to join us in building a more connected and values-aligned workplace.
Anchor(s): Jordan Heim
Location: Love Library South 224
Dates: 9/4/2025, 9/18/2025, 10/2/2025, 10/16/2025, 10/30/2025, 11/20/2025
Time: 3:30 PM - 4:30 PM
Open to: Staff, Staff from across the university seeking to build self-awareness, community, and actionable strategies for inclusive, values-aligned work. Faculty and students are welcome, but content is tailored toward professional staff experiences.
Track: Enhance skills for pursuing building community and environments that promote a sense of belonging and mutual respect;
Group 3: Leader Shift
This NCLUDE learning group is for staff seeking to become transformational leaders. This group will explore a blueprint for change, discussing key shifts that can reshape our approach to leadership. We will delve into topics such as:
- The Improvement Shift:** Moving from team uniformity to celebrating and leveraging team diversity.
- The Abundance Shift:** Shifting our mindset from simply maintaining to actively creating new possibilities.
- The Reproduction Shift:** Building a legacy by moving from ladder climbing to actively building ladders for others.
- The Impact Shift:** Evolving from being a trained leader to becoming a truly transformational leader.
Our discussions will provide insight and guidance, helping you embrace these shifts and put them into action. Join us in this journey to redefine leadership, strengthen our community, and foster a more inclusive and dynamic workplace where everyone feels a sense of belonging and has the opportunity to thrive.
Anchor(s): Vicki Highstreet
Location: JGMC 211
Dates: 9/29/2025, 10/6/2025, 10/20/2025, 11/3/2025, 11/17/2025, 12/5/2025
Time: 10:30 AM - 11:30 AM
Open to: University staff
Track: Elevate knowledge and awareness about diverse perspectives and shared experiences that shape our community
Group 4: Movie Moments, Real Life Impacts: Connecting film to Policy
What can a movie teach us about navigating real-life challenges on a college campus? This workshop for faculty and staff invites you to explore this question by examining how scenes from popular films reflect the complex situations we encounter in our university life.
Through guided discussion and reflection, we will connect these cinematic moments to broader conversations about respect, safety, accountability, and the vital role we each play in creating a supportive campus environment. This group is an opportunity to come together, engage in fresh dialogue, and foster a stronger sense of community and belonging. Come ready to watch, question, and engage in a new way—no lectures, just real dialogue inspired by the stories we see on screen.
Anchor(s): Nathaly Jimenez and Jessica Lankford
Location: JGMC 213 Four Winds
Dates: 9/10/2025, 9/24/2025, 10/8/2025, 10/22/2025, 11/5/2025, 11/19/2025
Time: 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM
Open to: Faculty, Staff
Track: Enhance skills for pursuing building community and environments that promote a sense of belonging and mutual respect
CLOSED -GROUP FULL | Group 5: Knitting for Mindfulness
Join this NCLUDE learning group for faculty and staff to explore the intersection of knitting and mindfulness. This group is for individuals who want to refresh their skills or are already knowledgeable knitters.
Each session will involve a brief reading to spark our discussions, providing a foundation for us to reflect and connect. As we knit together, we will explore the themes of focus, patience, and the calming rhythm of our craft, creating a space for community and belonging. This is more than just a knitting circle; it's an opportunity to connect with colleagues, share ideas, and find a sense of peace and purpose in our shared creativity.
Anchor(s): Colleen Kadleck
Location: Nebraska Union (City Campus)
Dates: 10/1/2025, 10/8/2025, 10/15/2025, 10/22/2025, 10/29/2025, 11/5/2025
Time: 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
Open to: Faculty, Staff
Track: Elevate knowledge and awareness about diverse perspectives and shared experiences that shape our community
Group 6: Worthy: Unleashing the Struggles around Self-worthiness
This NCLUDE learning group is a dedicated space for staff and community members to address personal issues centered around self-worth. Together, we will read and discuss the book *Worthy: How to Believe You Are Enough and Transform Your Life* by Jamie Kern Lima.
Through this shared experience, we will explore the challenges we face with self-worth and discover strategies for personal growth and transformation. This group offers a unique opportunity to connect with others on a deeper level, building a supportive community where you can feel a sense of belonging and know that you are not alone in your struggles. Join us in this journey to unleash your self-worth and build a stronger, more confident you.
Anchor(s): Marissa Kemp and Dania Javaid
Location: Nebraska East Union, Legacy A
Dates: 9/12/2025, 9/19/2025, 9/26/2025, 10/3/2025, 10/10/2025, 10/24/2025
Time: 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Open to: Staff, Community Members
Track: Enhance skills for pursuing building community and environments that promote a sense of belonging and mutual respect;
Group 7: Mindful Living Through Yoga: Patanjali and the Gita Reimagined
This NCLUDE learning group for Post-Doctorate Fellows, Faculty, and Staff will explore how the ancient wisdom of Patanjali’s Yoga Sutras and the Bhagavad Gita can be reinterpreted to guide modern mindful living. Patanjali teaches us to quiet the mind and discipline the self, while the Gita offers a powerful framework for action without attachment, emotional balance, and inner strength.
This group is an opportunity to connect with colleagues and build a shared understanding of these timeless strategies for reducing stress, enhancing self-awareness, and living with greater purpose. We will reframe yoga not just as physical exercise, but as a holistic system for mental clarity, emotional resilience, and spiritual well-being in today’s fast-paced world. Join us to build a community centered on well-being and to foster a deeper sense of connection and belonging through ancient wisdom.
Anchor(s): Jitendra Kumar Verma
Location: JGMC 211
Dates: 9/5/2025, 9/19/2025, 10/3/2025, 10/17/2025, 10/31/2025, 11/14/2025
Time: 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM
Open to: Post-Doctorate, Faculty, Staff
Track: Elevate knowledge and awareness about diverse perspectives and shared experiences that shape our community
Group 8: The Person You Mean to Be
Being a better person starts with being part of a better community. This learning group will read and discuss Dolly Chugh's book, The Person You Mean to Be: How Good People Fight Bias, to do just that.
This book provides practical tools to confront difficult issues like sexism, racism, and inequality. By discussing these topics together, we can become a more inclusive and welcoming community, where everyone feels a sense of belonging. As Adam Grant wrote, this book makes a compelling case that being an ally isn't about being a good person, but about constantly striving to be a better person—and that's something we can all do, together.
Anchor(s): Carly Mendoza
Location: Nebraska East Union - Legacy B
Dates: 9/2/2025, 9/16/2025, 9/30/2025, 10/14/2025, 10/28/2025, 11/11/2025
Time: 11:000 AM - 12:00 PM
Open to: Staff, Faculty, Undergraduate Students, Graduate Students, Post-Doctorates, Alumni, and Community Members
Track: Enhance skills for pursuing building community and environments that promote a sense of belonging and mutual respect
Group 9: Academic Freedom in a Changing World
This NCLUDE learning group offers graduate students and faculty the opportunity to read and discuss Julia Schleck’s book *Dirty Knowledge: Academic Freedom in the Age of Neoliberalism.* This is more than a book club; it's a chance to connect with colleagues from across the university and build a common understanding of Academic Freedom.
Together, we will explore how we can collaborate to support that freedom in our classrooms, in our research, and in our society. In addition to the book, we’ll work together to make sense of the constantly changing social and political context, and how we can clarify and sustain the value of education and research in a democratic society. Join us in building a community of scholars committed to upholding the essential principles of academic freedom.
Anchor(s): Jennifer PeeksMease
Location: JGMC Ubuntu Room/202
Dates: 9/11/2025, 9/18/2025, 9/25/2025, 10/2/2025, 10/9/2025, 10/16/2025
Time: 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Open to: Graduate Student, Faculty
Track: Enhance skills for pursuing building community and environments that promote a sense of belonging and mutual respect
CLOSED- GROUP FULL | Group 10: The Caring University: Reimagining the Higher Ed Workplace
This NCLUDE learning group for faculty and staff will explore the book *The Caring University: Reimagining the Higher Education Workplace After the Great Resignation* by Dr. Kevin R. McClure. The book offers a compelling vision for how higher education institutions can become more humane, sustainable, and supportive workplaces—especially for the staff members who often work behind the scenes to keep our universities running.
McClure highlights the urgent need to prioritize the well-being and professional experience of all employees. This learning group will provide a crucial space for reflection, dialogue, and strategizing around how to build a stronger sense of community and belonging in our work environments, ensuring that all employees can thrive. Join us in reimagining our workplace as a truly caring university.
Anchor(s): Celeste Spier and Ben Lennander
Location: Virtual
Dates: 9/16/2025, 9/30/2025, 10/14/2025, 10/28/2025, 11/11/2025, 11/25/2025
Time: 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Open to: Faculty, Staff
Track: Develop support networks or skills for navigating institutional structures that may impose barriers to building community and belonging
Group 11: Bridging the Divide
This NCLUDE learning group is for graduate students, post-doctorate fellows, faculty, staff, alumni, and community members who are interested in fostering a stronger sense of connection and belonging. This group will provide a space for dialogue and conversation about the power of meaningful communication.
Each session will involve a reading to spark our discussions. We will use resources like the electronic download of "Bridging the Divide," and we may also explore themes of meaningful connections in the last chapter of a book by Brené Brown. Through intentional self-awareness and reflection, we will explore how we can better navigate the world and build a more cohesive community. Join us as we practice the skills needed to bridge divides and create a more inclusive environment through the art of meaningful conversation.
Anchor(s): Pat Tetreault
Location: Canfield Administration South 316
Dates: 9/25/2025, 10/2/2025, 10/9/2025, 10/16/2025, 10/23/2025, 10/30/2025
Time: 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM
Open to: Graduate Student, Post-Doctorate, Faculty, Staff, Alumni, Community Member
Track: Dialogue and conversation about meaningful conversation and how we can better navigate the world to help create community through intentional awareness, self-reflection, and meaningful conversation.
Group 12: The Light We Carry
This NCLUDE learning group for faculty and staff will read and discuss *The Light We Carry: Overcoming in Uncertain Times* by Michelle Obama. In the book, Obama shares her valuable practices to help us better navigate change and remain steady in a turbulent world. She offers practical wisdom and powerful strategies for staying hopeful and balanced through a series of fresh stories and insightful reflections on change, challenge, and power.
This learning group provides a unique opportunity to come together and connect with colleagues. Through guided reflection and discussion, we will explore how we can support one another, build resilience, and strengthen our sense of community and belonging in a constantly changing environment. This NCLUDE group will provide a space to reflect, discuss, and move forward together.
Anchor(s): Jannah Vanie and Charlene Maxey-Harris
Location: Love Library South
Dates: 9/3/2025, 9/17/2025, 10/1/2025, 10/15/2025, 11/5/2025, 11/19/2025
Time: 9:30 AM - 10:30 AM
Open to: Faculty, Staff
Track: Enhance skills for pursuing building community and environments that promote a sense of belonging and mutual respect
Group 13: Creating connections through the stories of our senses
By delving into Diane Ackerman's *Natural History of the Senses*, this NCLUDE learning group will explore the intricate ways our senses shape our identities and connect us to our communities. Drawing on science, history, philosophy, and art, we'll use the book as a starting point to reflect on our individual and collective sensory experiences.
This group offers a unique opportunity to trace your own sensory history through creative exercises like photography, soundscapes, and storytelling. By sharing these "re-collections" and discussing how our senses have been shaped by our environment and culture, we'll discover shared experiences and gain a deeper understanding of the diverse perspectives within our community.
This learning journey is more than just reading a book; it's a chance to build a sense of belonging and mutual respect by listening to one another's stories and recognizing the interconnectedness of our lives.
Anchor(s): Mariela Hernandez
Location: Nebraska Union (City Campus)
Dates: 9/8/2025, 9/22/2025, 10/6/2025, 10/20/2025, 11/3/2025, 11/17/2025 - Last meeting Nebraska East Union
Time: 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM
Open to: Undergraduate Student, Graduate Student, Faculty, Staff, Community Member
Track: Elevate knowledge and awareness about diverse perspectives and shared experiences that shape our community