Faculty and staff encouraged to register for fellowship opportunity

The Center for Instructional Innovation at Augusta University is starting a new program called “Slice of Life” to promote community-building among faculty and staff. The program is currently recruiting participants and plans to launch later this month.

The Slice of Life program will serve as a space for Augusta University faculty and professional staff to fellowship and network. Each Slice of Life event will offer free pizza and conversation-starters to encourage participants to get to know each other.

The program is inspired by a quote from Ben Chestnut, Augusta native and billionaire co-founder of the company Mailchimp.

“No group should be so large that it would take more than one pizza to feed everyone. This is a method for ensuring that everyone’s voice would be heard and individuals would feel vested into the conversation,” he said.

The recommendation is a variation of Jeff Bezos’s famous two-pizza rule.

At each Slice of Life event, which will last about an hour, participants will be placed in groups of about five and will ask each other questions. Questions might be “mild” (What would be your super power?), “medium,” (What’s your favorite childhood memory?) or “spicy” (What’s the biggest risk you’ve ever taken?). Participants can pass on any question.

The program is being managed by Jeff Mastromonico and Lynsey Steinberg from the CII. These managers will ensure each conversation group is an even mix of faculty and staff from various disciplines to encourage interdisciplinary collaboration and networking.

“Now more than ever we have a need for community. We are looking to provide the AU family a ‘low stakes’ opportunity to create relationships outside of their normal work-related groups,” said Mastromonico.

Sign up for Slice of Life online. The registration form asks for each registrant’s favorite type of pizza so that participants with similar taste will be assigned the same conversation group.

“By providing opportunities for conversation we are championing inclusiveness, collaboration and community,” said Steinberg. “We all have a role in building a culture of belonging, and it starts with a single conversation.”

For more information, email the CII.