ADCET UDL Symposium Keynote: The Architecture of Empathy - Telling the Stories that Transform Tertiary Education

In-person Keynote

Empathy is more than a feeling: it is a practice, a story, and a shared act of meaning‑making. This keynote explored how empathy can move beyond sentiment and into structural, cultural, and relational change. It examined how empathy becomes visible through the stories we tell, the language we use, and the ways we invite others to understand experiences different from their own. Empathy is not a soft skill but a transformative force - one that reshapes systems, expands our collective imagination, and helps create universities where every learner can thrive.

Presenter

Lillian Nave is the Faculty and Educational Development Specialist for Appalachian State University’s CETLSS (pronounced like Beatles) on the Hickory campus. A former art historian who fell in love with intercultural learning, she also teaches First Year Seminar and connects her students with peers across Europe, Africa, and Asia. She is the creator and host of the Think UDL podcast, now with more than 150 episodes and over 100,000 global downloads. Through the podcast, she interviews practitioners around the world who create more accessible and engaging learning environments for their students. Lillian is a listener who delights in connecting people and ideas, and she believes deeply in the power of connection and storytelling to transform teaching and learning. Her three college‑aged children serve as her “spies,” reporting back on what does and does not work in college courses, keeping her grounded in the real student experience. When she’s not teaching, podcasting, or collaborating with faculty, Lillian is an avid hiker exploring the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina, where she finds inspiration, perspective, and plenty of new stories to tell.