CELT announces 2023-24 Teaching Innovation Institute faculty cohort
LEXINGTON, Ky. (June 29, 2023) — Innovation is sometimes understood as a moment when an idea for “the new” occurs to a lone thinker like a light bulb illuminating the dark. At CELT, however, we understand innovation as a product of sustained collaboration across different perspectives, positionalities, backgrounds and, of course, disciplines. The view from far afield opens up new possibilities for our work, just as our own experiences help our colleagues better understand the challenges and opportunities in their respective curricula and classrooms.
Most importantly, collaborative work allows us to address the emerging issues for higher education more strategically: for example, new technological developments, shifts in learning habits and expectations, and improvements in understanding barriers that students — and instructors — face when it comes to belonging and success.
At CELT, we have long sought to provide a venue for community-building around our shared goals as teacher-scholars at the Commonwealth’s flagship public, land-grant university. The Teaching Innovation Institute is an expression of that mission, and we eagerly anticipate the fourth cohort for the 2023-2024 academic year.
“The time spent in conversations with the CELT team and other faculty gave me many ideas to implement in my courses,” said Erin Richard, Ph.D., senior lecturer in the Department of Biology and Teaching Innovation Institute alum. “I gained knowledge of research-based teaching practices, technology for the classroom, and advice on helping students be successful. I also had the unique opportunity to interact with faculty from across the university. I made connections with colleagues from other colleges and departments and now am part of the Teaching Innovation Institute’s community of thoughtful educators.”
With the incoming faculty cohort, the Teaching Innovation Institute has reached 16 colleges and 49 schools or departments since its launch in 2020. Faculty spend the academic year exploring theories, research, and practice for teaching in engaging and inclusive ways. As an application of their learning, they develop and implement a meaningful innovation in their teaching and/or courses. Previous cohorts have shared their implementations and reflected on the impact of the Teaching Innovation Institute.
CELT is excited to announce the faculty members of the 2023-24 Teaching Innovation Institute:
- Kim Anderson, Chemical and Materials Engineering;
- Marc Cormier, Kinesiology and Health Promotion;
- Shannon Crawford Barniskis, Information Science;
- Crystal Felima, Anthropology;
- Tonja Fisher, Entomology;
- Nathan Haan, Entomology;
- Anastasia Hauser, Chemical and Materials Engineering;
- Hayley Hoffman, Information Science;
- Mengtian Jiang, Integrated Strategic Communication;
- Seth Jones, Biology;
- Jayoung Koo, Landscape Architecture;
- Alissa Rossi, Community and Leadership Development;
- Eric Sanday, Philosophy;
- Nazmus Sakib, Lewis Honors College;
- Jack Schieffer, Agricultural Economics;
- Carol Street, UK Libraries Special Collections Research Center;
- Anastasia Todd, Gender and Women’s Studies;
- Koji Tanno, Modern and Classical Languages, Literatures and Cultures;
- Helen Turner, Interiors;
- Ashley Vowels, Health and Clinical Sciences; and
- Sarah Wackerbarth, Health Management and Policy.
As the state’s flagship, land-grant institution, the University of Kentucky exists to advance the Commonwealth. We do that by preparing the next generation of leaders — placing students at the heart of everything we do — and transforming the lives of Kentuckians through education, research and creative work, service and health care. We pride ourselves on being a catalyst for breakthroughs and a force for healing, a place where ingenuity unfolds. It's all made possible by our people — visionaries, disruptors and pioneers — who make up 200 academic programs, a $476.5 million research and development enterprise and a world-class medical center, all on one campus.
In 2022, UK was ranked by Forbes as one of the “Best Employers for New Grads” and named a “Diversity Champion” by INSIGHT into Diversity, a testament to our commitment to advance Kentucky and create a community of belonging for everyone. While our mission looks different in many ways than it did in 1865, the vision of service to our Commonwealth and the world remains the same. We are the University for Kentucky.