I am the founding director of USD's Center for Teaching and Learning, which was established four years ago. In my current role I provide strategic leadership for the CTL as a direct report to our Vice President of Academic Affairs. Despite - or perhaps because of - difficult economic conditions, I have been able to position our center as an integral member of the campus culture, and have been able to expand my staff from 1.5 to 4.5 professional positions. Last year my office, in collaboration with our Office of Disabilities Services, received a $500,000 FIPSE grant to help us develop training programs to help faculty and staff better understand and serve student veterans with disabilities. This year we are presenting that program to every college and university in the South Dakota regental system. Our center serves as the focal point for campus implementation of a regental initiative to make mobile computing a primary component of USD's 21st-century education, and we also manage the Quality Assurance program for our online faculty. In addition to my administrative duties, I teach one course a year in either the Honors Program or in the Department of Music at USD.
POD has been a vital component of my growth as a faculty developer, and I have become increasingly involved in various aspects of the organization, serving as the following over the past three years:
Proposal Reviewer, POD National Conferences, 2009 to present
In the past five years I have published in a number of journals, including To Improve the Academy, the Academic Exchange Quarterly, and New Directions for Teaching and Learning. I've presented papers at the International Institute for SoTL Scholars and Mentors (formerly the National CASTL Institute), the POD National Conference, the National Lilly Conference on College and University Teaching, the Collaboration's National conference, and a number of regional conferences.
What would I like to see POD accomplish over the next three years?
I passionately believe that faculty development will become increasingly important in higher education over the next three years, and POD can help faculty developers prepare for their growing roles. The economic downturn has created a climate of greater accountability and an emphasis on increased efficiency in education across this nation, even for those institutions that are not facing financial hardships. A multitude of issues, including retention, student engagement, faculty satisfaction and the proper use of pedagogical technology are at the forefront of discussion in higher education, and these issues are directly within the circle of influence of Faculty Development Centers. POD has always been a catalyst for change, and I would like to see it continue to help its members grow as strategic leaders as we strive to be effective agents for positive change within each of our institutions. A significant element of this change, I believe, is helping faculty, staff, and administrators better understand the challenges that various student populations face as they enter college, whether they be student veterans with disabilities, Native American students, academically underprepared students, or any other at-risk groups. When we provide all of our students with the opportunity for an extraordinary education, we add immeasurably to the educational experiences of the entire academic community.
POD has been essential to my professional development, and if elected I will bring my passion, skills, and experiences to the POD leadership team. I look forward to participating in CORE as it guides POD in shaping the future of higher education, for I believe we are living through a period of rapidly increasing change - and opportunity - for faculty development.
