Belonging Through Connection: A Student Perspective

November 13, 2025 - 1:00-1:45 PM

Location: This is an online event. Register to receive the Zoom link and calendar invitation.

Intended Audience: Faculty, Instructors, Graduate Student Instructors, Academic Support Staff

This is the final session in the three-part workshop series inspired by the Finding Space:  Where Students with Disabilities Thrive podcast (other parts of the series: Part I, Part II.) This workshop builds on the 25-minute podcast episode, The Power of Relationships with Undergraduate Student Marlenne Perez, which features undergraduate student Marlenne Perez reflecting on her powerful journey navigating UC Berkeley as a first-generation, low-income, independent student with a disability. In her episode, Marlenne reflects on how relationships with professors, mentors, and support staff helped her remain at Berkeley during some of her most difficult moments.

In this session, we will explore how faculty relationships can shape student persistence and belonging—and provide practical ways to foster inclusive, trust-building classroom environments.

 We encourage you to listen to the episode before the workshop—it’ll help you get the most out of our time together.

This session will run for 30 minutes, with an additional 15 minutes reserved for questions. 

➡️Register for this event here!⬅️

Registrants will be sent a Zoom link and bCal invite as the workshop date draws near.

***Registration for this session will close one hour before the session***

This event is part of the "Building Inclusive Classrooms" learning path. Be sure to check out this learning path and explore its other components!

Facilitators:

Empty headshot Tracie AllenM.A. is the Access & Innovation Strategist at the Center for Teaching & Learning. She holds a M.A. in Leading for Education Organizations - Leading Change for Student Success in Higher Education. She has over 24 years of experience in working in online education. Her expertise focuses on psychological safety, accessibility, strategic planning, fostering inclusive learning environments, and broad educational leadership encompassing organizational theory, and social justice 
Picture of the facilitator, Tara Mason Tara Mason, Ph.D. is the Universal Design for Learning Consultant at the Center for Teaching and Learning. She holds a Ph.D. in Special Education from Texas Tech University and an M.Ed. in Curriculum and Instruction from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. She has over 20 years of experience working in K-12 as a special and general education teacher, coach, and interventionist. Her research primarily focuses on Universal Design for Learning, writing, promoting equity and inclusion, assistive technology, trauma-informed instruction, mentoring, and special education teacher preparation.