Laurie provided our incoming cohort of PhD and master's students with engaging, relevant, and tailored games and activities to help us connect, get to know each other, and even start thinking critically and deeply about our new field. It was a lot to pull off in one icebreaker orientation session, but she did it smoothly and with zest and style! - Hannah Satein, PhD student in Metropolitan Planning, Policy, and Design at the University of Utah |
Fun, energizing, thought-provoking-- Thanks, Laurie!
Laurie has a way of getting people to relax, open up and have a good time. She was instrumental in setting the tone for our graduate orientation. We were all laughing by the end of the workshop! Thank you. - University of Utah professor
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A great alternative to the typical team building activities that I usually find annoying and/or exhausting. I wish all my former workplaces did this." - Wilbur Datillo, M.D. Just knowing how to move from "no, but..." to "yes, and..." is a tool that hundreds of my students have received as a direct lineage from you. Brilliant. - University of Utah professor
"It was fun to get deep meaning out of something while also laughing SO hard!" Claudia Wilson, MS, RDN, CSSD, CSCS |Registered Dietitian | Nutritionist and Board Certified Sports Nutritionist | ALL OF NUTRITION
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"It was an incredibly fun and interesting experience. It made me feel connected to the group, and helped me be able to participate without any feelings of inadequacy. In fact, the processes were filled with a lot of laughter." -Retreat participant
"Laurie led an improv session for our Negotiation and Dispute Resolution class. The class was filled with laughter, and we made great connections among improv, collaboration, and facilitation. Even those who were nervous to participate reflected on the value of the improv session." -Workshop Participant |
With this being my first improv class, I was delighted with what I learned about myself and others through Laurie's guidance. She helped our class discover the importance of listening and supporting each other with her thought-provoking exercises. She was encouraging of all of us and particularly inspired me to always be present and openminded. Thank you, Laurie! - Hillary Hansen, Master of Real Estate Development student, University of Utah
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"It was a fun and relaxed way to get to know people. " - University of Utah workshop participant
Laurie has a way of getting people to learn and interact in a profound way. Jim Stringham, Ph.D., LCSW |
Laurie Mecham has done improv sessions with both my graduate level Negotiation and Dispute Resolution course and our professional Short Course on Natural Resources Collaboration training. These trainings have proven invaluable for students’ learning - improv forces them to reflect on the importance of being present, of responding rather than reacting, of mindfulness, and of allowing themselves to think and act creatively in the moment. Laurie does an excellent job of tailoring exercises to the desired teaching objectives. She also does a great job of debriefing the exercises to emphasize key learning points. Laurie is very relaxed and easy to work with, and she does a fabulous job of modeling the key elements of a good improv actor. Every time she does a session for one of my classes, I learn something new about using improv as a pedagogical tool and about myself as person! Additionally, student feedback on her sessions has been overwhelmingly positive, with many people saying they are eager to do another improv session (which is particularly amazing since many express trepidation about having to do improv prior to the session)." Danya Rumore, Ph.D. | Associate Director and Research Assistant Professor| Environmental Dispute Resolution Program | Wallace Stegner Center for Land, Resources & Environment | S.J. Quinney College of Law | University of Utah
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