Day in the Life: Certificate in Facilitation Participant
The Certificate in Facilitation at UVA Northern Virginia brings together professionals from a variety of backgrounds to strengthen their ability to lead meaningful conversations, foster collaboration, and guide groups through challenges and opportunities. Through hands-on activities, peer learning, and real-world practice, participants develop facilitation skills they can immediately apply in their workplaces and communities. This Fall, members of Cohort 2 gathered in Fairfax for the program’s first in-person module. Among them was a familiar face: a UVA Northern Virginia staff member who is usually the one sharing stories about university programs, not experiencing them firsthand. Associate Director of Communications and Marketing Jane Catania stepped out from behind the camera and into the classroom to see what it’s like to be a participant in the Certificate in Facilitation.
Jane:
Most days, I help tell the story of what’s happening at UVA Northern Virginia. This Fall, I had the chance to experience one of our programs from the other side: as a participant in Cohort 2 of the Certificate in Facilitation.
Our cohort spent our first three days together in Fairfax for the first in-person module. By day three, I decided to bring my notebook and camera along and document what it actually feels like to learn facilitation by doing it. Spoiler alert: there was a lot more participation and a lot less sitting quietly than you might expect.
Starting the Day Together
Like many good learning experiences, the day began with coffee, breakfast (which I helped set up as a staff member!), and a quick glance at an agenda packed with opportunities to practice. Before the program even started, each of us had been assigned a partner to co-lead a mini practicum later in the module, so there was already a sense that everyone would have a chance to step into the facilitator role. We kicked off the morning with “Four and One,” an activity led by two of our classmates that challenged us to find commonalities within our small table groups. It was a fun way to break the ice, compare notes, discover unexpected connections, and ease into a day that would ultimately push all of us well beyond simply sitting and listening.
Another assignment leading up to the module was designing our own facilitation practicum to present to a small group of classmates. That made the morning’s main event both exciting and a little nerve-wracking. One by one, we stepped into the facilitator role, leading short sessions and receiving feedback from our peers.
For my practicum, I explored a question that’s close to home: How can we bring the UVA spirit to life at our Fairfax location? My activity focused on creating meaningful connections among the students, faculty, and staff who share our space. Afterward, my group offered thoughtful, actionable feedback. The chance to test an idea, hear how it landed, and reflect on what I might do differently was one of the most valuable parts of the experience.
I also enjoyed watching my fellow participants facilitate their own sessions. Everyone brought a different style, approach, and personality to the room. Seeing how people framed questions, guided conversations, and adapted in real time was a reminder that there’s no single formula for effective facilitation.
Learning Through Images and Ideas
After lunch, we shifted gears with a visual metaphors exercise, another mini practicum led by two of our classmates. We each selected image cards that represented where we currently are in our facilitation journey and where we would like to be at the end of our facilitation journey. As someone who works in communications, I appreciated seeing how a simple image could spark meaningful conversation and reveal perspectives that might not emerge through a traditional discussion.
The afternoon also introduced us to design sprints and the principles of design thinking. We explored a human-centered challenge and worked through the stages together as a team. One thing I’ve learned from this program is that facilitation isn’t something you can master by reading about it. Nearly every lesson involves practicing, experimenting, and reflecting. The design sprint exercise continued that theme and gave us another opportunity to turn concepts into action.
Taking the Learning With Us
Before wrapping up, we gathered to share key takeaways and reflect on our first three days together. We talked about lessons learned, moments that challenged us, and skills we wanted to continue developing before the next module.
And because no great program experience is complete without a little creativity, we ended the day with a hands-on activity for our PIE partners. Throughout the program, each participant is paired with a Partner in Excellence (or PIE), someone who serves as a thought partner, sounding board, and source of support along the way.
Armed with construction paper, colored pencils, Play-Doh, and plenty of imagination, we created small keepsakes for our PIE partners. I chose to make a tiny brain mold out of Play-Doh for mine. My hope was that it would earn a spot on their desk and serve as a reminder of all the facilitation tools, techniques, and ideas we explored together during the week, and of the continuous learning that great facilitation requires.
It was a simple activity, but it was also a fitting way to close out the module. The Certificate in Facilitation is built on reflection, creativity, and collaboration, and this final exercise captured all three.
I left Fairfax with new facilitation tools, plenty of feedback to think about, and a group of peers I’m excited to continue learning alongside. As someone who spends much of my time sharing stories about UVA Northern Virginia’s programs, it was refreshing to step into the learner role and experience firsthand the energy, thoughtfulness, and community that make these programs special.
Our cohort will continue meeting virtually before returning for another in-person module in November. If the first three days are any indication, there’s much more to discover.