✔️ This workshop has been pre-approved for one substitute credit toward either theFoundations or Principles Certificate in University Teaching Skills, offered through the Reinert Center for Transformative Teaching and Learning. Participants must follow the standard substitute credit procedures to earn the credit.
Workshop Overview:
Grounded in a mission-focused, student-centered, and research-driven approach, this full-day, hands-on teaching workshop offers a pathway to masterful teaching in the executive classroom. The practices and strategies introduced will also enhance teaching effectiveness and student learning at both undergraduate and graduate levels. The Deans’ Panel will share valuable insights and inspiration for transformative teaching.
Learning Objectives:
Design impactful session openings and closings
Discover insights that elevate unique content
Create and maintain a compelling learning atmosphere
Advance facilitation and delivery techniques
Craft slides and materials that promote learning transfer
Date & Time:
Saturday, September 13, 2025.
9:00am – 4:30pm
Venue:
L30, Chaifetz School of Business lower level, Saint Louis University
3674 Lindell Blvd, St. Louis MO 63108
Facilitator:
Dean Jackson Nickerson
Dr. Jackson Nickerson, Edward Jones Dean of the Chaifetz School of Business, is a distinguished and internationally renowned scholar, professor, and consulting strategist. Prior to joining SLU’s Chaifetz School of Business, Dr. Nickerson was the Frahm Family Professor of Organization and Strategy (Emeritus) in Olin Business School at Washington University in St. Louis. He also was the Associate Dean and Director of Brookings Executive Education from 2009-2017, was a non-resident Senior Fellow in Governance Studies at the Brookings Institution from 2010-2020, and is a Fellow of the Strategic Management Society.
Deans' Panel:
Donna J. LaVoie
Dr. Donna J. LaVoie, dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at Saint Louis University, is a distinguished scholar, educator, and leader. A cognitive psychologist by training, she earned her B.A. from Loyola Marymount University and both her M.A. and Ph.D. in cognitive psychology from Claremont Graduate University. Dr. LaVoie has been a faculty member at SLU for nearly three decades. She has served in multiple senior academic leadership roles, including chair of the Department of Psychology, associate dean for faculty affairs and research, and interim dean of the college before her appointment as permanent dean effective July 1, 2023. As dean, she oversees more than 16 academic departments and leads strategic initiatives in faculty recruitment, diversity and inclusion, and scholarly excellence. Dr. LaVoie’s research explores age-related memory, cognitive processing, and false memory in older adults. Her work includes peer-reviewed publications, book chapters, and presentations totaling over 80 contributions to the field. She has received numerous honors, including SLU’s Woman of the Year Award in 2019 and the Frank J. Severin, S.J. Award for Distinguished Service to the Psychology Department in 2010.
Kristine L’Ecuyer
Dr. Kristine L’Ecuyer, interim dean of the Trudy Busch Valentine School of Nursing at Saint Louis University, is an esteemed nurse educator, researcher, and academic leader. She holds a Ph.D. in education from Saint Louis University, an M.S.N. from the University of Alabama at Birmingham, and a B.S.N. from the University of Missouri–Columbia. Dr. L’Ecuyer serves as interim dean and professor, previously holding the role of associate dean for undergraduate and pre‑licensure nursing programs. She is also a board‑certified Clinical Nurse Leader (CNL) and CNE-certified nurse educator. Her research spans nursing preceptor training, interprofessional education, leadership development, and the Clinical Nurse Leader role. She developed the widely used Preceptor Self‑Assessment Tool (PSAT‑40). Dr. L’Ecuyer is a peer reviewer for the Commission on Collegiate Nursing Education and serves on several professional committees related to nursing education and accreditation. Among her accolades are St. Louis Magazine’s Excellence in Nursing educator award, the American Association of Colleges of Nursing CNL Educator Award, and the Advancement of Science Award from the Midwest Nursing Research Society.
Twinette Johnson
Dr. Twinette Johnson, dean of the Saint Louis University School of Law, is an accomplished academic leader, legal scholar and strategist. Previously, she served as dean and professor of law at the University of the District of Columbia David A. Clarke School of Law (UDC Law), where she also held roles as interim dean, associate dean for academic affairs and director of academic success. A proud SLU alumna, Dr. Johnson earned her B.A. in English literature and her Ph.D. in public and social policy with a concentration in implementation and management from Saint Louis University, along with her J.D. from Tulane University School of Law. She began her career clerking for Missouri Supreme Court Judge Duane Benton and later practiced in the financial institutions group at Shearman & Sterling in New York. Dr. Johnson’s scholarship focuses on higher education access policy, learning theory in legal education, affinity group formation and identity, and disaster policy. She also leads innovations in bar exam preparation and student academic success programming.
The Emerson Leadership Institute’s 2025 Mid-Year Report highlights key programs, research initiatives, and events from the first half of the year. The report features updates on the Be Heard Women in Leadership Conference, the Dignity-Based Leadership Development Series, and other efforts aimed at promoting dignity-based leadership and fostering organizational growth.
