The 41st Faculty Showcase on Teaching and Learning is only a bit over one week away—and if you’re a faculty member finding yourself on the verge of (or fully in) burnout-mode, this year’s Showcase is one you won’t want to miss.

Dr. Rebecca Pope-Ruark, author of Unraveling Faculty Burnout: Pathways to Reckoning and Renewal and faculty development coach at Georgia Tech University, has traveled nation-wide sharing her expertise on disengagement and burnout in faculty at higher education institutions, helping faculty members navigate the systemic pressures of academic life and develop healthy, supportive connections that can sustain them through the many challenges they face as educators. On August 12, Dr. Pope-Ruark will join the Faculty Showcase on Teaching and Learning as the keynote speaker to bring her experience and transformative advice to the Missouri State University campus community.

Dr. Pope-Ruark will be presenting two keynote sessions at the Showcase this year: the keynote workshop at 8:00 AM, entitled “Unraveling Faculty Burnout: Strategies for Compassion and Connection,” and the keynote luncheon at 12:00 PM, entitled “Faculty Vitality In and Through Change.” Both sessions will address the seldom-discussed exhaustion and emotional labor of university faculty members and open up important conversations regarding what exactly burnout is, how to recognize it, how to mitigate it, and how to stay grounded and embrace change in an era that demands adaptability and openness. Attendees can expect to walk away from these sessions with a deeper understanding of their own state of burnout and applicable strategies to help them return to a healthy, active academic role while managing stress more effectively.

Register to Attend Now

Dr. Pope-Ruark will be joined at the Showcase by a series of 20 concurring faculty presentations that will be held simultaneously in different rooms on the third floor of the PSU. While general attendance to the Showcase is limited to 300 attendees, seats for both keynote sessions with Dr. Pope-Ruark are limited to just 120 spots. Attendees must be registered to participate in either keynote session. Register to attend Dr. Pope-Ruark’s sessions or to attend only faculty presentations (general attendance) through the links below.

The Showcase will be held on August 12, 2026, from 7:30 AM to 1:00 PM on the third floor of the Plaster Student Union. To read about the presentations and presenters who will be at the Showcase from other colleges, visit the Showcase event schedule or follow this blog to be notified when posts detailing presenters from other colleges are posted.

To register for Showcase and the Showcase Workshop, select from the links below and navigate to the bottom section for the Session Details. Select the View Details button next to the session and choose Request to register.

Register to Attend Showcase 

Register to Attend the Showcase Workshop