Postdoctoral Associate Florida International University, United States
How can narrative reshape higher education institutions to build connection and belonging? This session will present a pioneering storywork framework developed at Florida International University and a partner Hispanic-Serving Institution. Using mixed-methods research and guided storytelling practices, the approach elevates student and faculty voices to uncover structural and cultural barriers while building relational accountability across campus communities. Attendees will briefly engage with a storytelling prompt modeled on actual campus activities, gaining experiential insight into how narrative practices can shift institutional culture. The session also will provide practical resources for adapting the framework across diverse professional settings. Transcending disciplinary silos, this innovative work reorients institutions toward empathy, belonging, and restorative engagement, offering a scalable, adaptable strategy for fostering student success and institutional transformation in divided campus environments.
