Imagining Just Futures through Community

Join us for an interdisciplinary exploration of Sofia Samatar's The Practice, the Horizon, and the Chain and themes of collaboration, higher education, and just futures.

Facilitated by Daisy Breneman, CFI & CAL; Sofia Samatar, CAL; Emily York, CISE; and Shannon Conley, CISE

3:30 - 5:00 p.m.

Counseling Center Self-Care Spaces

As part of Faculty Well-being Weeks, the Counseling Center is keeping its unique self-care spaces, The Oasis and The Studio, open late just for faculty. Please check in at the entrance to the Counseling Center (Suite 3100) to access these spaces! Can’t make this date? Both spaces will also be open late for faculty on Wednesday, April 15.

5:00 - 6:30 p.m.

Scholarship Retreats @ The Farm

Join us for Scholarship Retreats at the JMU Farm! Lunch, snacks, and coffee/tea will be provided. Please include any accessibility needs including dietary restrictions at the bottom of your profile form.

9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

"Read it or Not" Book Group: The Caring University

Join us to explore themes from The Caring University. Read it or not—all are welcome!

Facilitated by Mollie Stambler, CAL & CFI; Daisy Breneman, CFI & CAL; and Carolyn Schubert, JMU Libraries

11:30 a.m. - 12:30 p.m.

Inclusive Approaches to Well-being: Lunch, Roundtable, and Conversation

Join us for a luncheon and roundtable focusing on interactive, authentic conversations about inclusive well-being.

Facilitated by Daisy Breneman, CFI & CAL

Presented by Mollie Stambler, CAL & CFI; Lori Gano-Overway, CHBS, CAL & CFI; Modjadji Choshi, CHBS; Mark Gabriele, CSM & Serenity Center; Lindsey Harvell-Bowman, CAL; and Angela Webb, COE

12:30 - 2:30 p.m.

Stewarding Our Shared Spaces: A Workshop on Public Lands Stewardship

​​Join us in the George Washington National Forest for a day of exploration, learning, and connection.

In partnership with the Department of History and Department of Geography

Facilitated by Christy Bradburn (CISE) and Shaun Mooney (CAL)

8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

Mindfulness Walk

Mindfulness is the practice of being present and aware in the moment. It can help reduce stress and anxiety, improve mood, and promote overall well-being. Join the Counseling Center in the Edith J. Carrier Arboretum to practice ways that you can cultivate mindfulness! Faculty are welcome to pick up the materials from our table at the Education Center, or access materials for faculty online, and engage asynchronously. While the event will occur for three hours, the walk can be taken at your own pace so it can take as little as a half an hour or as much as the full three hours—whatever serves you best! Open to students, faculty, and staff.

1:30 - 4:30 p.m. (or asynchronous for faculty)

Music for the Mind

Join mental health and wellness organizations, student performers, and the JMU Counseling Center for an event that will help you unwind to some upbeat tunes and performances. Tips about socio-emotional wellness strategies and opportunities to de-stress strategies on campus will be presented! Open to students, faculty, and staff.

8:00 - 9:30 p.m.

Mindfulness Walk

Mindfulness is the practice of being present and aware in the moment. It can help reduce stress and anxiety, improve mood, and promote overall well-being. Join the Counseling Center in the Edith J. Carrier Arboretum to practice ways that you can cultivate mindfulness! Faculty are welcome to pick up the materials from our table at the Education Center, or access materials for faculty online, and engage asynchronously. While the event will occur for three hours, the walk can be taken at your own pace so it can take as little as a half an hour or as much as the full three hours—whatever serves you best! Open to students, faculty, and staff.

12:00 - 3:00 p.m. (or asynchronous for faculty)

Out of the Darkness Walk

Please join us for America's Foundation for Suicide Prevention's Out of the Darkness Campus walk. The event will include tabling from on and off campus organizations, activities, speakers, an honor bead ceremony, and a 3-5K walk. To make a team or donate to the cause you can also visit the website. Registration starts at 11:00 a.m.

Hosted by the Counseling Center

11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Unpacking the Caring University

Join us for a keynote from author Dr. Kevin McClure on The Caring University, featuring ideas for fostering workplaces where everyone can thrive.

Co-sponsored with JMU Libraries

10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

Building a Community of Care: Mental Health First Aid with Dr. Joe Leblanc and Karla Kale

In this special Well-being Week edition of the CFI Faculty Lounge Podcast, host Eric Magrum chats with Dr. Joe Leblanc and Karla Kale about mental health first aid for faculty and staff, sharing practical ways to notice and respond with care. To be released Monday, April 13!

Anxiety Toolbox for Faculty

Join fellow faculty for the Anxiety Toolbox workshop, which offers one of the quickest ways to access evidence-based strategies and interventions to reduce anxiety symptoms.

In partnership with the Counseling Center

Facilitated by Wendy Kinyeki, Counseling Center and Caleb Best, Counseling Center

11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

Mindful Doodling for Faculty

​​Join us for this experiential and hands-on workshop for faculty where you can practice mindfulness skills through doodling.

In partnership with the Counseling Center

Facilitated by Karla Kale, Counseling Center

9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.

Anxiety Toolbox for Faculty

​​Join fellow faculty for the Anxiety Toolbox workshop, which offers one of the quickest ways to access evidence-based strategies and interventions to reduce anxiety symptoms.

In partnership with the Counseling Center

Facilitated by Wendy Kinyeki, Counseling Center and Caleb Best, Counseling Center

11:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.

Faculty Community of Care

Join us for a community of care in which faculty can connect and engage in real and authentic conversations about care, grief and healing relevant to our work as educators and academics.

Facilitated by Daisy Breneman, CFI & CAL; Elaine Kaye, JMU Libraries; and Nicole Wilson, JMU Libraries

1:45 - 3:00 p.m.

Faculty Hours at the Counseling Center Self-Care Spaces

As part of Faculty Well-Being weeks, the Counseling Center is keeping its unique self-care spaces, The Oasis and The Studio, open late just for faculty. Please check in at the entrance to the Counseling Center (Suite 3100) to access these spaces!

5:00 - 6:30 p.m.

Well-being Reflection Day

Please consider using this day to reflect on what well-being means to you; to engage with other resources listed on our CFI Well-being website; and to prioritize well-being in whatever ways work best for you.

Certification in Mental Health First Aid

Participate in Mental Health First Aid training to learn how to respond to students experiencing mental health challenges or crises, and to receive certification.

Facilitated by Joe LeBlanc, CHBS & CAL and Karla Kale, Counseling Center

9:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.

• JMU Libraries
• The Counseling Center
• President’s Council on Health and Well-being
• Balanced Dukes
• CommonHealth
• Talent Development

Duke2Duke

Please consider taking a moment to express gratitude to a colleague through Duke2Duke, a peer recognition program offered by Balanced Dukes. Gratitude can be a valuable tool for promoting wellness and well-being, including on college campuses. 

Care is important to wellness and well-being, but how do we operationalize it? We are working to create a CFI Faculty Community to explore that question and center mutual care. We want to create space for authentic conversations about our needs, explore scholarship and evidence-based strategies for care and well-being, and provide opportunities to build meaningful collaborations.

Now more than ever, we must prioritize extending care for ourselves and our communities—including our university community.

Various Well-being sessions will be part of May Symposium 2026 again this year. More updates will follow soon.