Welcome to the blog of the Office of Institutional Culture. This blog allows staff members of the OIC to share their musings regarding culture. These posts represent the thoughts of the individual bloggers. The blog is not an official communication of University policy. Think of this blog as a test-bed for sharing ideas regarding culture at UM.
Recent Blog Posts
Connecting the U
by Adam McMahon on 07/06/2018
In the Office of Institutional Culture, we are trying to connect people together who have common interests. The U is a big place, but sometimes it is hard to find people with common interests. To...
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Focus on Discussion-Based Learning
by Adam McMahon on 07/06/2018
At UM there is a new initiative to make the classroom more engaging to students by using a discussion and dialog based format. To learn more about this, read the article at this link: Focus on...
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Values that Matter
by Isaac Prilleltensky on 07/02/2018
We should aim to balance feeling valued with adding value. The two must be present to experience mattering. A life of complete sacrifice without any appreciation is unsustainable and frustrating...
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Mattering and Pity
by Isaac Prilleltensky on 06/15/2018
Pity undermines the sense of mattering because it makes us feel devalued, and it implies that we cannot add value. After I lost my parents in a car accident when he was eight years old, I became...
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Mattering and Fairness
by Isaac Prilleltensky on 06/06/2018
We seem to be wired for fairness. As human beings we are hypersensitive to fairness transgressions. So much so that lack of fairness and rejection register in the brain as physical pain. But the...
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A Quiet Place - important movie for inclusivity
by Adam McMahon on 05/21/2018
While it has been in the theaters for a few months now, I recently had the chance to see the new horror flick: A Quiet Place. While this movie might at first look like any given horror flick, it...
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Our hearts go out to the Verbeeck family
Eric Peter Verbeeck, 17, a Key Biscayne honors student, was in the process of transitioning to a girl named Hope. After her March 6 suicide, her mother, Patricia McKay Verbeeck, has a message to...
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Ibis Recognition Award
by Adam McMahon on 02/06/2018
The folks over at Donor Relations came up with a unique way to encourage engagement within their team. Ivette Mancha, director for University Advancement, created the concept of the Ibis...
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Spring Culture Kickoff Breakfast
by Adam McMahon on 02/04/2018
On Jan 25th, the Office of Institutional Culture held our Spring Culture Kickoff Breakfast. At this breakfast, 110 employees, staff and leaders met to enjoy a meal as we shared and discussed UM's...
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School of education dean to step down, take one-year leave
by Adam McMahon on 01/03/2018
Isaac Prilleltensky will step down from being Dean of School of Education and Human Development at the end of the fall 2017 semester. He will return to UM after a one-year leave. Photo Courtesy:...
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