Teaching in Higher Education Podcast with Bonni Stachowiak
On Episode 611, I welcome Danny Mann, Executive Director of the University of California Irvine’s Division of Teaching Excellence and Innovation, to Teaching in Higher Ed. Danny brings his experience as an educational developer, a passion for fostering peace, joy, and community in higher education, and expertise in cognitive science. Danny helps us explore the importance of grounding teaching and leadership in peace, joy, and authentic community. He shares stories of what shaped his focus on these three values, reflecting on the role of mindfulness, building inclusive learning environments, and establishing classroom and team norms that encourage open, transformative conversations.
Danny is dedicated to fostering more peace, joy, and community in higher education. This passion drives his work as the leader of UC Irvine’s Division of Teaching Excellence & Innovation. With a Ph.D. in Cognitive Science, his expertise in educational development has gained national recognition through publications, invited presentations, and leadership within professional networks such as the POD Network. At UCI, he focuses on advancing pedagogical excellence, institutional innovation, and inclusive learning environments. Outside of his academic pursuits, Danny is a seasoned musician and rock and metal guitarist!
Quotes from the episode:
Great teaching, and I think great life, is this adaptive, responsive thing, pulling out the bugs or getting things back in balance.
Peace and joy are really interrelated, and I gravitated a lot towards these, as I spent time studying and practicing mindfulness practices.
If you discover your why, you could basically feel much more energized and joyful about what you do, if you align your life with that.
Giving students space to speak and share ups and downs. So the ironic leading by listening.
Resources from the episode:
- University of California Irvine’s Division of Teaching Excellence & Innovation
- Find Your Why, by Simon Sinek
- How to Debug Your Life, by JA Westenberg
- Happiness: Essential Mindfulness Practices, by Thich Nhat Hanh
- Pedagogical Wellness | UCI Division of Teaching Excellence and Innovation
- The Four Agreements: A Practical Guide to Personal Freedom, by Don Miguel Ruiz
- How to Debug Your Life, by JA Westenberg
- Happiness: Essential Mindfulness Practices, by Thich Nhat Hanh
Episode topics:
- Fostering Peace, Joy, and Community in Higher Ed
- Discovering and Living Your “Why” as an Educator
- Building Inclusive and Equitable Learning Environments
- Navigating Vulnerability and Difficult Dialogues
- The Challenge and Value of Transparency in Leadership
- Balancing Teacher Identity and Self-Integration
- Relationship-Focused Approaches to Leadership and Teaching
Discussion questions:
- Danny Mann references Simon Sinek’s work on finding your “why.” How can identifying our purpose impact teaching effectiveness?
- The episode addresses the importance of integrating your authentic self in both personal and professional settings. What challenges or benefits have you experienced (or observed) when trying to align your identities in personal and work contexts?
- Danny Mann explains the value of allowing space for students to share both their successes and struggles. How can we create classroom or team environments that encourage honest dialogue, especially about difficult topics?
- What role does the modeling of community norms by instructors or leaders play in shaping the culture of a classroom or organization? Can you think of examples where modeling had a significant impact, either positive or negative?
- The idea of “assuming good intentions” is presented as a tool for reducing conflict and fostering relationships. When might this approach be helpful, and are there contexts where it might be inappropriate or even unsafe?