The Guild Institute in Christian Family Studies

Grand Slam Educational Experiences:
Hitting Home Runs through Teaching,
Learning and Research

Saturday, October 12, 12:00-1:30 PM

MCNAIR HALL | MORRIS ULTURAL ARTS CENTER
HOUSTON CHRISTIAN UNIVERSITY

The Dr. Dawn K. Wilson Teaching, Learning, and Research Symposium and Luncheon Honoring The Guild took place on the HCU campus on Saturday, October 12, 2024. The theme for this year’s event was “Grand Slam Educational Experiences: Hitting Home Runs in Teaching, Learning, and Research.” We had more registrants than ever before (171 total), including many of our faculty and adjunct faculty members from colleges and schools across campus, educators and educational leaders from across the city and beyond, undergraduate and graduate students, and ladies of The Guild.

Leonard Geddes, founder of The LearnWell Projects, did an exceptional job as our keynote speaker, providing meaningful content, applicable concepts, and seamlessly incorporating the theme of our event in engaging ways. Many of our faculty commented on how greatly his session impacted them and also shared about ways in which they plan to apply the concepts he presented to their teaching practices.

Faculty, adjunct faculty, staff, students, and educational leaders presented breakout sessions focusing on a variety of innovative topics surrounding teaching, learning, and research, and we received exceptional feedback from these sessions.

During the luncheon, Sharon Saunders presented an excellent overview of the history of The Guild, and one of our doctoral graduates, Dr. Nay Armstrong Chevalier, was recognized as a winner of the prestigious Baptist Educators Serving Texans (B.E.S.T.) Award.

HCU’s Head Baseball Coach Clay VanderLaan concluded our time together by facilitating our “All-Star Panel of Guild Scholars.” Our panel included scholars who are teaching and leading in both public and private school settings across the city. Many of the ladies of The Guild commented that this was a true highlight of the event for them, as it meant a great deal to hear about the ways in which The Guild’s provision of scholarships has impacted the lives of our students as well as the lives of those they serve.

Special thanks to our co-chairs for a wonderful afternoon, Katie Alaniz and Vickey Giles.

The Guild Institute Grand Slam Educational Experience Slideshow