Testimonials

Workshop Testimonials

  • “This reading group helped me be accountable for quickly reading Inclusive Teaching, and offered an excellently structured environment for discussing and synthesizing ideas from the book, plus our own experiences, for use during this coming academic year. Thank you so much for leading it, Cait!”

    — Staff member

  • “I am so, so, so grateful. I learned like five things I hadn’t previously known, got the chance/space to think carefully about what I’m doing in the classroom, and possibly best of all for me, got to be in a space where I could feel safe and be in community with people on campus, which truly, is not something I’ve done in years. Thank you so much for making campus better.”

    — Faculty member

  • “This was an incredibly informative workshop. I appreciated the balance of useful information communicated and time/space to exchange ideas with my colleagues. Cait's deep expertise is appreciated.”

    — Faculty member

  • “I loved everything about this workshop—it was one of the most masterfully conducted ones I've attended in years. Cait did an excellent job of leveraging the literature on teaching and learning, scaffolding points (carrot/stick opening question to preview the external/internal loci of motivation), and inviting pushback and reflection. I wouldn't have asked for anything differently.”

    — Faculty member

  • "[This workshop inspired me] to articulate for myself and the students the objectives of the course at various levels (familiarity, capability, and long term takeaways). I also really like the way Cait organized small-group activities and asked us to listen actively to each other by taking responsibility for each other's thoughts in reporting back to the larger group.”

    — Faculty member

  • “The metacognition exercise was helpful in identifying key features of promoting a sense of belonging that I have personally experienced. In particular, the idea of receiving and giving attention/feedback stood out for me. I was challenged to think about how to provide recognition (from myself and from peers) in ways that promote belonging and sense of community. I will keep brainstorming specific ways to implement this in my course.”

    — Faculty member

  • “I had never really considered the impacts of different types of questions, so I learned a lot from the role playing game. I thought it was helpful to have someone point out the different types of questions I asked so that I could identify and change the closed questions.”

    — Undergraduate TA

  • “This was fantastic. Thank you, truly, for modeling such dynamic and well-informed classroom practices.”

    — Faculty member

  • "At this session Dr. Kirby demonstrated a rare ability to synthesize descriptions of teaching from people in a diverse array of fields and positions at the college. Specifically, she helped me to see a way to rethink my approach to in-class participation based on a description of tactics offered by a faculty member from a different area than mine. This new tactic for collaboration proved very fruitful in a class I then taught, by substantively increasing the number of students who felt invited to interact deeply with peers in a manner they also felt prepared to do."

    — Staff member

Job Search Testimonials

  • "I wanted to let you know that I've just been offered the job at [redacted] University. Thank you so much for all of your help in preparing - it was really useful in getting me the position!"

    — Faculty member

  • "I have accepted an offer at [redacted]! I am feeling excited, relieved, and thankful for this opportunity. I thank you for your input, guidance, thoughtful questions and feedback throughout my application process. My materials led to a successful interview, and you contributed immensely to the strength and sense of 'me' in these materials."

    — Early career faculty member

  • "I got the job offer!!!!!"

    — Early career faculty member who had not received any interview invites until working with Cait

Consultation Testimonials

  • “The meeting was wonderful! Cait was super easy to talk to and very present. It helped to have Cait affirm some of my current teaching practices and offer alternative ones too!“

    — Faculty member

  • “Cait was super helpful and enthusiastic during our meeting. We exchanged ideas for future programming, including the possibility of putting together a pedagogy-themed bibliography.”

    — Faculty member

  • "My teaching has improved thanks to the materials you've share with me, including the Inclusive Teaching book and the mid-semester feedback. Thank you for your contribution to my own development in the classroom."

    — Early career faculty member

Colleague Testimonials

  • “Cait is a true gem in nurturing a culture of non-binary thinking. Her ability to provide insightful and practical advice on effective communication across diverse backgrounds and identities is simply outstanding.“

    — Faculty member

  • "I've had multiple opportunities to both observe and interact with Cait in her professional capacities. Cait is collegial, deeply knowledgeable, respectful, responsive, and above all, highly engaged. Her expertise in multiple frameworks of pedagogical theory has been consistently enacted in every interaction I've had with her, whether in individual consultation or workshop settings. Her commitment to equity and inclusion as baseline values of expert teaching is both inspiring and incredibly valuable - one may say, essential - to [redacted] as a top-tier liberal arts college with exemplary teachers who see pedagogy as a practice of building intellectual community with students."

    — Staff member

  • "Meeting with anyone to discuss teaching styles can be a bit intimidating. Cait is marvelous in how she creates a safe space in which to hold sensitive discussions -- that skill is her bread and butter and is a tremendous -- and uncommon -- asset."

    — Faculty member

  • "She is a skilled facilitator and demonstrated this leading the "Inclusive Teaching" Reading Group. She offers information clearly, listens deeply, and communicates openly and easily. She is flexible and easy to work with. Cait has been both incredibly helpful and reassuring in discussions about creating and enhancing syllabi."

    — Faculty member