Four Gordon State College instructors Selected Chancellor’s Learning Scholars
Four Gordon State College instructors have been selected Chancellor’s Learning Scholars.
The Chancellor’s Learning Scholars program includes 110 faculty learning scholars, representing each institution in the University System of Georgia.
The Scholars include:
Wendy Martin, MSN-Ed, RN, CNE, RNC-OB. Martin is Assistant Professor of Nursing and has been at GSC for seven years.
“I hope to build strong collegial, interdisciplinary relationships with other faculty members through collaboration and conversation that will create meaningful and positive change at Gordon State College.”
Dr. Jessica Traylor is Assistant Professor of Psychology. She has been an adjunct faculty member for three years and is in her first year as a full time faculty member.
“I am excited to develop my teaching skills as I learn with and from my colleagues. This experience should allow us to build a local community of scholars who share a love for teaching and learning.”
Tony Pearson, Associate Professor of Theatre, has been at Gordon State College for 12 years.
“I look forward to having some excellent conversations about teaching with my colleagues. I am eager for us to learn from each other, and I hope that as a facilitator I can bring something useful to the table. We have some stellar professors on our faculty, and I hope that anyone who is interested will consider participating.
Samantha H. Bishop Professor of Nursing / Coordinator of the Maternal/Child Course in ASN and BSN programs. She has been at Gordon State for 13 years.
“I hope to be able to share with the faculty at GSC some new and innovative ways to re-energize our teaching and the student experience. I also hope to get the opportunity to network outside of my department and most of all, I hope that we can improve student outcomes with direct impacts on retention and success.”
Selected from an impressive list of GSC faculty nominees, the four Chancellor’s Scholars will facilitate Faculty Learning Communities on the Gordon State campus beginning with Spring Semester.
These supportive communities are designed to give small groups of faculty the opportunity to engage in sustained, meaningful conversations about teaching and learning. Communities will meet regularly throughout the program as they explore areas of interest that will lead to changes in their teaching practices.
At the end of the program, each participant should be able to point to a change or innovation they have made in their course design, approach to assignments, or some other area of their teaching.
“I am extremely proud of this first cohort of Chancellor’s Learning Scholars,” said Dr. Jeffery Knighton, Gordon State College Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs. “They are outstanding teachers who will also be excellent learning community facilitators and pave the way for the second and third cohort of scholars.”
Throughout their tenure, the Scholars will be provided pedagogical and logistical support by Gordon’s Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning, by the Georgia Center for Teaching and Learning Regents Advisory Committee, and by the state-wide Chancellor’s Learning Scholars Community.
Additionally, each Scholar will receive training, funds from the USG to be used for the faculty learning communities, and a stipend.
“I am so happy about this significant service opportunity for the Chancellor’s Learning Scholars, and I am especially thrilled that this program includes such a significant professional development opportunity for both the scholars and for the members of their learning communities,” said Anna Higgins-Harrell, Director for the GSC Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning.