Webinars

Connecting Mission to Action in a Changing Academic Landscape

AGU/AGI Heads and Chairs Webinar Series

Friday, August 14, 2026 at 12:00 PM ET | 1 hour

Building on the themes that arose in the May session, this webinar focuses on translating institutional mission and values into concrete action within the academic landscape. It is not enough to merely know what should be done—faculty and leaders must have the practice, skill, and confidence to take action, especially when facing difficult personalities, conversations, or situations.

Participants will be introduced to practical tools and skills for navigating difficult situations and making challenging decisions, and practice applying them through targeted case studies.

Speaker: C.K. Gunsalus, Author of The College Administrator's Survival Guide, Director of the National Center for Principled Leadership & Research Ethics (NCPRE)

Current Trends and Future Trajectories for the Geoscience Workforce

AGU/AGI Heads and Chairs Webinar Series

Friday, November 6, 2026 at 12:00 PM ET | 1 hour

A webinar discussion looking at current and upcoming geoscience workforce trends with a deeper dive on the implications in the current employment landscape. We will look at employer needs for skills and competencies, including new skills/competencies that are expected to become more prominent in the coming years.

Speakers: Christopher Keane and Leila Gonzales, Higher Education & Profession program, American Geosciences Institute.

Mission and Integrity in Higher Education: Understanding Today's Environment

AGU/AGI Heads and Chairs Webinar Series

Friday, May 15, 2026 at 12:00 PM ET | 1 hour

This one-hour webinar will examine how questions of mission, academic integrity, and institutional values are playing out within today’s higher education landscape. As geoscience programs navigate shifting enrollment patterns, evolving workforce demands, increased scrutiny of research practices, and the growing importance of interdisciplinary work, they face distinct pressures in aligning their core mission with external expectations.

Rooted in the work of C. K. Gunsalus and her College Administrator’s Survival Guide, the session will explore how geoscience faculty and leaders can center their work in their values and mission amid the challenges of the academic environment. A brief case study will ground the discussion in a realistic departmental scenario, followed by an interactive conversation inviting participants to reflect on challenges and practical strategies for sustaining mission-driven, integrity-centered work.

Speaker: C.K. Gunsalus, Author of The College Administrator's Survival Guide, Director of the National Center for Principled Leadership & Research Ethics (NCPRE)

The presentation slides are available here.