We're excited to announce that the College of Continuing and Professional Studies is expanding its popular free webinar program, bringing you even more opportunities for career-boosting insights. Each webinar offers a fresh, engaging look at topics vital for today's professionals—from effective communication and leadership strategies to promoting workplace wellbeing—and wraps up with a Q&A. Our presentations are crafted and led by University of Minnesota instructors, all of whom bring decades of on-the-ground experience and expertise directly to you.
This expanded series reflects the University of Minnesota's deep-rooted commitment to excellence and our "Maroon and Gold" standard of quality in education. We believe that continuous learning shouldn't be a luxury, but an accessible pathway to advancing your career and personal growth. By offering these free, expert-led sessions monthly, we aim to provide timely and relevant guidance that helps you stay ahead in a constantly evolving professional landscape. Join us each month to connect with leading minds and gain practical knowledge you can apply right away.
University of Minnesota employees can receive 200 wellness points by viewing a CCAPS professional development webinar. The form to collect wellness points will be included in an email to webinar registrants after the webinar.
Leading Through Change Resistance
Presented by Duriel Johnson
Wednesday, July 8 | noon–1 p.m.
People resist change, even when it's good for them, so what can leaders do about it?
Change is inevitable but resistance doesn't have to derail it. This interactive session equips mid-level managers and organizational leaders with the psychological frameworks, practical strategies and change management tools needed to guide their teams from resistance to readiness.
We’ll explore the neuroscience behind why our brains resist change, learn how to identify where your team is in the change journey and walk away with proven strategies to move people from resistance to genuine adoption.
This isn't a lecture—it's a practical, interactive experience designed for leaders who want to be better prepared the next time change lands on their team's doorstep.
In this webinar, we’ll:
- acknowledge the psychological effects of change.
- explore foundational change resistance strategies.
- apply change resistance tools.
Duriel Johnson has over 15 years of experience leading enterprise-wide transformations for Fortune 100 companies, specializing in large-scale initiatives that span retail, healthcare and global supply chains. A University of Minnesota alumnus and certified change practitioner, he currently guides AI adoption strategies in the financial services sector to modernize workforce operations and technology integration.
Are Your Work Processes AI-Ready?
Presented by Valerie Lockhart
Wednesday, June 10 | noon–1 p.m.
AI tools are everywhere, but not every process is ready for AI.
Many organizations rush to adopt AI without first understanding whether their workflows are structured, measurable or stable enough to benefit from it. The result? Wasted time, inconsistent outputs and failed initiatives.
This webinar is designed for professionals who want to move beyond experimentation and begin applying AI in a more structured, effective way within their organization. Explore the characteristics of processes that are strong candidates for AI, common warning signs that indicate a process is not ready and how to think more strategically about where AI can create real operational value.
During the session participants learned to:
- identify the key characteristics of processes that are well-suited for AI integration.
- assess whether an organization's current workflow is AI-ready or requires further refinement.
- recognize common risks and pitfalls of applying AI to unstructured or poorly defined processes.
Valerie Lockhart is a digital strategist, educator and communications expert with over a decade of experience helping a wide range of organizations and entrepreneurs tell their stories online. As a specialist in accessible and audience-focused content, she is passionate about empowering others to communicate with clarity, confidence and impact.
Explore the U's Portfolio of Professional Development Programs
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Webinars Library
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Don’t hesitate to send us an email. We're here for YOU!
University Employee Wellbeing Points
CCAPS's Free Webinar Series is partnering with the University's Employee Wellbeing Program. For each free webinar attended, you may earn 200 points towards your goal.
How many points will I receive after attending a webinar?
1 hour webinar = 200 points
Are there limits on the number of CCAPS professional development webinars I can listen to in order to receive Wellbeing points?
No. You can now receive points for attending unlimited webinars per program year.
How do I request my Wellbeing points?
CCAPS will also provide a link to the request form at the end of each webinar. A link to the request form should also appear in the YouTube description of past webinars.
When will OHR process my Wellbeing points request?
Point requests will be submitted on the 1st Tuesday of the month following the webinars. If you have any questions or are not seeing your Wellbeing points reflected, please contact [email protected].
How do I check my current points rewards status?
You can check your current status by visiting the Wellbeing Program page, or you can email [email protected].
Can I obtain Wellbeing points for listening to past webinars?
Yes. You can obtain points for listening to past webinars. You can access our past webinars by visiting CCAPS's Professional Development Webinar Archive. You will need to submit a separate request for each webinar you listen to, the wellbeing form can be found in the webinar description on our YouTube channel.
Who do I contact if I have questions about the Wellbeing Program?
Visit the Wellbeing Program website or email your questions to [email protected].