Pedagogical Wellness and the Conditions for Flourishing, with Theresa Duong

·34 min·3 clips

Teresa Young reveals she never applied to her PhD program—mentors recommended her, sparking a challenging but supported transition.

In episode 609 of Teaching in Higher Ed, host Bonnie Stachowiak welcomes Teresa Young to explore pedagogical wellness, which integrates teaching, learning, and well-being in higher education. Teresa begins by defining wellness as thriving and flourishing, drawing from her own experience as a first-generation graduate student who transitioned from undergrad to a PhD without formally applying, thanks to mentor recommendations. She describes facing challenges like high expectations and lack of family understanding, which led her to seek counseling and support, emphasizing the importance of teacher-student relationships in fostering wellness. The conversation then shifts to pedagogy, which Teresa defines as the art and science of teaching and learning, with a focus on practice and refinement. She explains how pedagogical wellness intersects with teaching, noting initial pushback from instructors who viewed it as 'handholding' but arguing it's about creating conditions for success while maintaining rigor. Teresa provides specific examples of small changes instructors can make, such as dance breaks, providing snacks like tangerines, flexible deadlines, and wellness days where students report on self-care activities. She also discusses systemic approaches at UC Irvine, where pedagogical wellness is embedded in the Okanagan Charter and health-promoting university initiatives, involving collaborations with experts in positive psychology, contemplative pedagogy, neuroscience, and campus resources like the Basic Needs Center. Teresa highlights the Institute for Pedagogical Wellness, which pairs instructors to form learning communities and disseminate wellness practices within departments. Bonnie reflects on her own experience leading breathing exercises at a conference, challenging barriers like lack of time or certification. The episode concludes with recommendations: Bonnie shares her enjoyment of an online digital art class by Lisa Bardot using Procreate, while Teresa recommends Calm Rips stickers for box breathing and the Forest app for productivity through a Pomodoro method that grows virtual trees. Teresa announces the Pedagogical Wellness Day at UC Irvine on July 31, 2026, inviting participants to develop plans for their campuses.

As heard by us

Flexible course policies become a form of care when students and instructors are asked to flourish together.

Pedagogical wellness here is treated less as a slogan than as a design problem: how courses, policies, and institutional habits shape whether students and instructors can do their work without needless strain.

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Want course design that leaves room for grief, wellness, and actual learning?

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