Center for Educational Excellence (CEE) 2021-22 Annual Report

Annual

Report Center for Educational Excellence

2021-22

Message from the Director This year we all faced challenges brought by the enduring pandemic. In addition to the ongoing strain on our domestic lives, our social lives and our research agendas, in our teaching we were masked in the classroom and continually accommodating a stream of student absences due to COVID-19 symptoms and quarantine. Yet as we returned to an in-person campus life, USD faculty showed sincere dedication. Their energy to creatively meet students’ needs was impressive, as was their motivation to learn and grow in their teaching. 27% of the faculty body engaged with the CEE in communities of practice, pedagogy workshops, Magna seminars, reading circles, teaching and writing retreats, and other events.

Faculty snapped up pedagogy books in CEE raffles; read weekly Community Builder tips; and made time to learn from external guest speakers whom we brought virtually to campus. Faculty showed up for our students and for each other all year long. Continued on next page.

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The CEE continued to focus on antiracism and equity, hosting 10 events this year including reading circles on books such as Teaching to Transgress, Pedagogy of the Oppressed, The Sum of Us, and Racism as Zoological Witchcraft; collaborating with Student Support Services for a workshop on advising students of color; and offering our ongoing Race Talk coaching series.

Our Racial Equity Liaison, T.J. Tallie, History Department, held a Teaching Your Humanity retreat, holding space for the experiences of faculty of color on our campus. Additionally the CEE collaborated to support the Cross-Campus Racial Equity Advocates program, funded by an IESI grant and facilitated multiple implicit bias trainings across campus. Many of these initiatives simply required the CEE to say yes to invitations and requests from faculty and others across campus who are eagerly and innovatively doing antiracism work at USD. I am proud to be part of our community and proud that the CEE continues to be a center that is invited into the work others are doing, as befitting the CEE’s long history in this before I joined the team.

The spirit of partnership and collaboration exists beyond antiracist initiatives as well. A wide range of offices, centers, departments and schools across campus partnered and collaborated with us throughout the year. 23 of our events were accomplished jointly with others. We look forward to even more collective endeavors in the coming years.

Lisa Nunn, Ph.D 3

Mission

and Values The Center for Educational Excellence is dedicated to inspiring educators to adopt practices that lead to meaningful student learning; enhance the success of interactions between teachers and learners; and cultivate relationships among our community of educators.

We believe...

That it is imperative to anchor our work in a commitment to equity in all its forms, recognizing the ever-evolving nature of injustice.

That meaningful student learning is best realized through teaching that is grounded in evidence-based practices.

That inspiring growth in teaching includes paying attention to holistic wellbeing and balance among professional demands such as scholarship and service.

That affirming the dignity of the student through inclusive practices is critical to successful interactions between teachers and learners.

That growth, exploration, and innovation in teaching happens best through a reflective process.

That fostering a campus culture that values teaching includes rewarding and recognizing faculty efforts.

That cross-disciplinary interactions spark creativity, collaboration, and meaningful relationships.

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I’m so appreciative of everything you’re doing here.

The CEE’s events and resources are thoughtful, relevant and useful - I wish there were more hours in the day because there are so many great offerings!

- Desiree Aspiras, SOLES - Counseling & Marital and Family Therapy CEE is such a great help through all the changes. Your work is certainly appreciated!

- Sue Lowery, CAS - Biology

My thanks to your office for all the great support it provides in helping facilitate student learning and teaching excellence!

- Jason Kelly, CAS - Theology and Religious Studies

Thank you so much for these amazing resources! I really appreciate it.

- Eliza Smith, CAS - Languages, Cultures and Literatures

I just so value your feedback and ideas. Thank you!

- Avi Spiegel, CAS - Political Science and International Relations

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A Year

in Review Folks engaged with the CEE

1,022

Out of that total

280

times.

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Reading Circles & Communities of Practice Small, self-paced groups. Topics covered equitable pedagogy, wellness, Indigenous knowledge, and mentoring.

were unique.

I attended two reading groups this semester. learner centered and I learned from other pa Thanks for choosing great books.

- Reading Circle participant. Anonymous feedback

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Teaching Tips Shared

I enjoyed facilitating the reading group and feel very lucky that we have such opportunities at USD. I felt very supported by the CEE who did all the hard work scheduling and communicating! Even though we were online, the team all spoke

Pedagogical and community-building bite-sized tips.

about how the discussions made us feel connected and grateful that we could openly discuss such important topics.

- Caroline Baillie, SMSE - Integrated Engineering

23 We thank you for your continued partnership and collaboration with SOLES. - Sarina Molina, Associate Dean - SOLES 6

Collaborative Events Opportunities for faculty to engage with colleagues across campus.

I finished

and it wa

so much eager to

and shar

- Leslie Boo

The best part is

100%

. You are all articipants.

Even more meaningful is

of academic units were represented.

A Little Bit of Teaching

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CEE offerings were generated by faculty.

7 Thanks again! It was a really great event...an awesome informal way to discuss teaching.

Informal meetups to talk about teaching and mentoring.

- Colin Campbell, KSB - Marketing

These are so great! Thanks for all the CEE does for this community!

- Jennifer Owens-Jofré, CAS - Theology & Religious Studies

I appreciate all that you do in modeling and promoting opportunities for educational excellence!

- Nolan Fossum, CAS - Mathematics

d the training on Tuesday

as outstanding! Thank you

h for all your support. I’m implement what I learned

re it with others.

ozer, SOLES - Leadership Studies

Travel Grants

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Funding to attend pedagogical conerences.

Teaching Books Delivered

310

Through our Faculty Reading Circles, events, and newsletter book raffles.

Thank you! I’m so excited!

- Nadine Kassity-Krich, Hahn School of Nursing 7

Featured

Speakers Really wonderful and useful! Thank you!

- Anonymous feedback

Promoting Equity through Inclusive Teaching Practices with Drs. Viji Sathy and Kelly Hogan, UNC Chapel HIll

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Professors Kelly Hogan and Viji Sathy facilitated a virtual workshop for USD faculty explaining the inequities that arise in learning environments and techniques to add structure and equity to any classroom.

The workshop gave excellent insights into how very small classroom habits can be changed to be more equitable and inclusive. Thank you.

- Anonymous feedback

I really loved the useful tips and the high amount of interaction. I now have many ideas on how to engage all of my students.

- Anonymous feedback

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Thank you for organizing the talk last week. It invited me to consider new issues and ideas in teaching.

- Patricia Márquez, Dean - Kroc School of Peace Studies

Excited for this talk. Thanks for bringing him to campus.

- Gordon Hoople, SMSE - Integrated Engineering

Teaching Change with a New 3R’s with José Antonio Bowen, Author of Teaching Change José Antonio Bowen, author of Teaching Naked, Teaching Change, and “Is Your Math Course Racist?” (just to name a few of his works), facilitated a virtual keynote and workshop for 22 USD faculty on a new

As the semester gets underway and as we move back to classes on campus, the workshop offered important ways to rethink things--because students have changed and are changing as a result of pandemic-time education. Much appreciated.

- Sr. Mary Hotz, CAS - English

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A Cause for

Celebration In April 2022, the CEE and the Mulvaney Center for Community, Awareness, and Social Action joined together to offer the inaugural End-of-Year Celebration to honor the years’ accomplishments with food, drinks, raffles and connecting.

Thank you so much for an amazing Friday celebration of pedagogy, student support and camaraderie!

- Adriana Vamosiu, KSB - Economics

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celeb

I appreciated being able to gather and enjoy meeting new people and connecting with old friends after our long COVID hiatus. It’s energizing to be around others that value teaching and community engagement.

- Anonymous feedback

Dr. Ch

Co-recip

CEE Fos

Dr. T.J

Co-recip

CEE Fos

Usually when I go to these things, I’m just trying to find someone to talk to and fit in for a little while. This event made that so much easier. So two thumbs up, five-stars, and a perfect 10!”

- Anonymous feedback

Dr. Kr

Recipien

Fosterin

Dr. An

Recipien

Freire an

Thank you for a great convening of kindred spirits! We had an amazing time.

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- Evelyn Cruz, CAS - Theatre

Dr. Jo

Recipien

and hoo

The sense of community was palpable.

- JC Rivas, Changemaker Hub

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faculty, staff, students, and community members brated the following award recipients:

hannon Miller,

History

Dr. Odesma Dalrymple, Industrial and Systems Engineering

pient of the Undergraduate 2020-21

Recipient of the 2021-22 CEE & Mulvaney

stering Black Educational Excellence Award

Educational Excellence in the Community Award

J. Tallie,

Dr. Kate DeConinck, Theology and Religious Studies

History

pient of the Undergraduate 2020-21

Recipient of the 2020-21 CEE & Mulvaney

stering Black Educational Excellence Award

Educational Excellence in the Community Award

ristopher Hall,

Dr. Jonathan Bowman, Communication Studies

Counseling, Marital & Family Therapy

nt of the Graduate 2020-21 CEE

ng Black Educational Excellence Award

Recipient of the 2020-21 USD Just Read!

Faculty Integration Award

ntonieta Mercado, Communication Studies

Dr. Callen Hyland, Biology

nt of the Undergraduate 2020-21 CEE

Recipient of the 2019-20 CEE Frequent

nd hooks Decolonial Pedagogy Award

Participation Award

oi Spencer, School of Leadership & Education Sciences

nt of the Graduate 2020-21 CEE Freire

oks Decolonial Pedagogy Award

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A Continued

Practice Last year, the CEE shared ways we were striving to live and practice one of our top values: “to anchor our work in a commitment to equity in all its forms, recognizing the everevolving nature of injustice.” This year, we are sharing the ways we are continuing the journey from within, with others, and institutionally.

From Within:

8 Faculty Reading Circles, 2 Communities of Practice, and 5 events that engaged 156 USD community Over the past year, the CEE team offered

members on inclusive teaching, antiracism, equitable mentoring, Black joy, and having difficult conversations in the classroom.

Teach Your Humanity:

CEE’s

Racial Equity Liaison, T.J. Tallie (CAS - History), led two faculty retreats specifically for faculty of color called “Teach Your Humanity.” The sessions offered shared reflection on what it means to teach your humanity to predominanty white spaces and strategies for how to survive and care for each other through the experience.

It was great to be able to engage in conversations with other colleagues facing similar challenges, and to hear about the various successes as well.

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- Retreat participant. Anonymous feedback

In Collaboration with Others: Beyond CEE-developed programming, we collaborated with to offer

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18 events that engaged 215 campus community members

on implicit bias, homelessness, belonging, first-generation experiences, trust-building in the classroom, and auditing course syllabi.

Every event I have attended by Lisa Nunn has been over the top educational!

- Trust Building Strategies for the Classroom workshop participant.

Anonymous feedback

I think this was one of the most useful sessions I have attended. I already have plans for how to incorporate some of the projects we discussed into my classes this Spring!

- Building Student’s Identities as Researchers workshop participant.

Anonymous feedback In addition, the CEE is a partner of the Cross-Campus

Racial

Equity Advocates program, funded by an Institutional Effectiveness and Strategic Initiatives (IESI) grant.

Institutionally: Beyond collaboration with other entities, the CEE advocated for

access to the National Center for Faculty Development (NCFDD)

institutional membership which provides on-demand access to mentoring, tools, and support for faCulty to be successful in the Academy.

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Fostering Inclusion and Belonging

For Non-Tenure Track Faculty Each year, the CEE invites all new and returning non-tenure track faculty members and academic unit leaders for a series of virtual, in-person, and online opportunities to get to know USD, learn teaching strategies, and build community.

View Program I truly appreciated all the experiences and guidance shared here. What I learned and heard helped alleviate much of my anxiety and answered many questions I had going into my first adjunct experience here at USD. Thank you so much!

- Anonymous feedback

Feeling welcome and supported - Anonymous feedback 14

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5

Unique faculty participated in the 2021

Absolutely incredible session. I have

Just wanted to take a moment to thank you

attended the Orientation since 2014 and

for organizing this excellent orientation event

I am blown away by how comprehensive

for our faculty. I appreciated the opportunity

the support from the CEE is. The

to present and I know that all our faculty feel

information, panel, tips, etc., were

welcome and a part of our community as they

extremely valuable. Highly innovative

start teaching here. Thank you for doing this!

additions this semester. I love it!!

- Priya Kannan-Narasimhan, Associate Dean - KSB

- Indrani Ganguly-Fitzgerald, CAS - Biology

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Academic units’ Deans Offices were represented.

Very knowledgeable panelists with

Attendees: Perspectives on NTT

great advice about teaching.

- Anonymous feedback

Teaching at USD virtual panel.

Attendees: What I Wish My Professors Knew virtual student panel.

The panel was excellent. The students gave me

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a lot to consider. This session is the gift that will keep on giving throughout the semester.

- Anonymous feedback

The university’s values are clearly alive in the faculty

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and administration.

- Anonymous feedback

Attendees: In-Person Kickoff

Attendees: Strategies for Antiracist Teaching virtual panel.

It has been super helpful! Please have more of these sessions!

- Anonymous feedback

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Meet

the Team CEE Core Team

Lisa Nunn Director

Rhea Webb Assistant Director

Jesús Martínez Saucedo Administrative Assistant

Lauren O’Neill Student Office

Leslie Boozer SOLES Liaison

Simon Croom SB Liaison

T.J. Tallie Racial Equity

Benj Gonzalez Student Visual Media Assistant

CEE Liaisons

Kate DeConinck Adjunct Liaison

CEE Advisory Board

Adriana Vamosiu KSB - Economics

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Chris Marcum Copley Library

David Isom Legal Research Center

Jose Frank Jacobitz John Loggins SMSE Mulvaney Center CAS and B Mechanical Engineering

Thank you for another meaningful year!

eph Provost Kevin Guerrieri Martha Fuller - Chemistry CAS - Languages, Hahn School of Biochemistry Cultures, and Nursing Literatures

Yi Sun CAS - History

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Center for Educational Excellence University of San Diego 5998 Alcala Park, San Diego, CA 92110 (619) 260-7402 www.sandiego.edu/cee