Ashton Speaker Series, Spring 2026 Workshop

"Confidence Optional, Connection Required: Learning, and Leading Beyond Expertise" by Dr. SherAaron Hurt

Tuesday, March 31st

Where: Waters Room, Zimmerman Library

• 12:30 - 1:30 PM: lunch (Included with registration. To guarantee a lunch choice, please register by Friday, March 20th.)
• 1:30 - 4:00 PM: workshop

Audience: instructors, librarians, and library professionals

Registration for the workshop is free, but limited to 30 participants. In the event that the workshop fills, we will maintain a waitlist. Please register only if you are certain you can attend!   

Workshop Description

Building on the morning lecture, When Expertise Isn’t Enough: How Connection and Belonging Sustain Learning, this interactive workshop moves from theory to practice. Participants will reflect on when imposter syndrome shows up in their professional lives and how it affects learning, teaching, and leadership. Through guided reflection and discussion, the session explores strategies for navigating self-doubt and sustaining engagement when confidence is low. Informed by doctoral research on volunteer retention and practices from open learning communities such as The Carpentries, the workshop emphasizes connection and encouragement as practical tools for learning and leading beyond expertise.

Presenter Biography

Dr. SherAaron Hurt is a leader in data science education and inclusive community building. As the Director of Workshops and Training for The Carpentries (a nonprofit that teaches foundational coding and data science skills to researchers worldwide), she provides strategic oversight for global workshops and leads Instructor and Trainer programs, including certification, curriculum development, and community engagement. With a background in Business Administration, Marketing, and Hospitality Management, she brings a service-driven, people-centered approach to advancing equitable learning experiences worldwide.