Building Community: How WOB Built an Impactful, Productive, And Collaborative Academic Community

Faculty work is often isolating, especially with AI adoption, student mental health concerns, and institutional financial challenges. This symposium examines how community building can counter isolation and lead to positive personal and professional outcomes. Using the WOB community as an example and sense of community theory, this symposium will illustrate how this community was built and has endured. Participants will hear impact stories and engage in an interactive, Pomodoro-style breakout session to experience the benefits of this caring community. The session offers practical, research-informed strategies for building inclusive academic communities where faculty members can thrive.