This year in our podcast series we want to explore the idea of engagement - how do we create opportunities for our students that are so meaningful they cannot be disengaged from learning, from our school communities, from their higher education journeys. In this episode, Dr. Shantell Strickland-Davis shares with us strategies faculty and staff can take to build community even before class begins! Shantell’s research, which has recently been published, will provide us with tips and insights into how we can foster a sense of community and connection in classrooms outside of the limits of the semester. Tune in to gain valuable perspectives and tools that will make a positive difference in our students' academic journey from day one!