Bethany Lisi

Assistant Director and Senior Lecturer

Bethany Lisi
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Since joining the CTL in 2017, I am always thinking about how we can incorporate visual thinking, metaphors, and universal design for learning (UDL) in teaching as an exciting and effective way of explaining new ideas or organizing a course. I love talking with faculty about these strategies and other ways to experiment in the classroom through individual consultations on syllabus and course design and in our MAP (Midsemester Assessment Process) program. I also facilitate CTL workshops and discussions on student-centered teaching approaches, course design, and assessment. 

I have taught first-year seminars focused on education and visual thinking and graduate courses in higher education at UMass Amherst, and am currently an adjunct instructor in the Department of Educational Policy, Research, and Administration in the College of Education.

My courses include:

  • FYS 191: To Rage or Not to Rage Against the Machine
  • FYS 191: How to Think with Your Hands
  • EDUC 601A: Foundations of Higher Education (fully online)
  • HONORS 391AH: Curious about Curiosity?

I hold a bachelor’s degree in communications and public relations and a master’s degree in education with a teaching certification in high school English, both from the University of Rhode Island. I earned my PhD in education with a specialization in higher education and faculty development from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. I am also a faculty affiliate of the Comics-Based Research Lab and a research affiliate of the Center for Student Success Research.

Recent Publications

Baldi, B., & Lisi, B. (2025). How to teach AND be well": A workshop on well-being through course and teaching design. The Journal of Faculty Development, 39(1), 23-27.

Lisi, B., & Varner, W. (2024). First Year, First Friday: A space for connection and comradery. In D.D. Chapman & M.E. Bartlett (Eds.), Faculty Development on a Shoestring: Programs to Support Higher Education Faculty Using Little or No Resources, 141-154. Information Age Publishing. 

Bettencourt, G. M., & Lisi, B. (2023). Boosting the signal: Helping students with disabilities thrive during the transition to higher education. About Campus, 28(5), 24-32. 

Recent Conference Presentations & Workshops

Lisi, B., & Baldi, B. (2024). What your pay attention to grows: Building trust internally. 49th Annual Professional and Organizational Development (POD) Network Conference, Chicago, IL.

Lisi, B. (2023). Flash 15: A microlearning program inspired by Peloton. 48th Annual Professional and Organizational Development (POD) Network Conference, Pittsburgh, PA.

Lisi, B., & Cavallo, S. (2023). Playing with possibilities: An emergent strategy game for educational developers. 2023 New England Faculty Development Consortium Annual Conference, Worcester, MA.

Lisi, B. (2022). Using the mental Velcro of visual metaphors to guide understanding. 2022 SoTL Summit. Online. 

Lisi, B. (2022). Thinking outside the box -- Experiments with grading alternatives. Invited panelist for the 2022 NEFDC Conference. Online.  

Vanasse, M., Shih, M., & Lisi, B. (2020). Mining for information: Reporting and consulting techniques for formative assessment. 45th Annual Professional and Organizational Development (POD) Network Conference (Virtual Session).

Lisi, B., & Vanasse, M. (2020). Mapping a landscape of opportunity: Removing roadblocks in faculty development. The Teaching Professor Virtual Conference.