LC Nomination Form and Information (pdf Document)
Current LC members include:
Lizz Howard (co-coordinator)
Associate Professor, Computer and Information Technology.
I joined the faculty of Miami in 1995, first as a visiting instructor and then
as a tenure-track professor. I teach a variety of computing classes including
programming, computer architecture, and information technology ethics. I am
interested in incorporating pedagogical approaches to communication, cooperation,
and collaboration, especially since the traditional approach to teaching computing
is to emphasize (and value) only technical skills. My project for the CTL is
to create practical methods to incorporate the theme of "symphony of learning " into our classrooms without sacrificing course content.
Ellenmarie Wahlrab (co-coordinator)
Instructor in English / MUM Curriculum Coordinator. This is my twelfth year at Middletown, where I teach composition courses and the writing studio, all for the English Department. This fall I have begun teaching the initial seminar for the Bachelor of Integrative Studies degree program. I hold a hybrid appointment at Miami Middletown, Instructor in English and Coordinator of Curriculum Development. In the latter role, I am serving my fifth year as a coordinator of the CTL Leadership Collaborative and am also developing curricula for the new BIS degree and co-facilitating the BIS faculty learning community, aka the iFLC. This group of faculty from both regional campuses is working on developing the three integrative seminars that form the core of the degree. I also serve on the RC4, the Regional Campuses Curriculum Coordinating Council, which is charged with making curricular decisions and approving the course of studies that BIS students propose for their degree program. I continue to coordinate the CTL’s Small Group Instructional Diagnosis program. This year I am serving as chair of the AURCO Conference, sponsored by Miami University Middletown this coming spring and coordinated by the CTL.
Moira Casey
Assistant Professor in English, Affiliate Professor in Women’s Studies. I came to Miami Middletown in 2003, and I teach composition, British literature, and women’s studies courses. I also chair the Basic Writing Subcommittee, which has recently focused on rethinking our Writing Studio course, and I direct Miami’s portfolio program, which grants advanced placement and credit towards our composition requirement to incoming students. As the chief advisor for all English and related majors here at MUM, I have a particular interest in advising and hope to focus some CTL energies toward advising issues. In this, my first year on the LC, I will be organizing the CTL Conversations and Specials.
Brad Farr
Coordinator of IT Operations at the Voice of America Learning Center, I began my career on the Middletown Campus as a student employee in 1994. I’ve taught a number of introductory CIT classes and Summer Time Enrichment Program (STEP) courses for Student Services in the summer. Areas of interest for me include the effects of classroom environment on student learning and first year students technical competencies and finding ways of assisting those with less technical experience.
Eric Luczaj
John Burke
Director of the Gardner-Harvey Library. I started at Miami Middletown in 2002, and regularly teach library instructional sessions to courses in a variety of disciplines. I will begin teaching a credit course in effective library use this fall. I am interested in exploring ways to increase students’ information fluency. I would like to increase my understanding of how instructors in various disciplines approach and teach research methods to their students. Then we may be able to find ways to combine library resource and strategy expertise with these methods for a richer collaboration.
Sue Marine
Associate Professor, Chemistry and Biochemistry. I came to Miami Middletown in 1998 to develop the new Chemical Technology Program. I had previously worked in industry 21 years and taught chemistry at the college level six years. At MUM, I have designed several new chemistry courses, revamped old ones, and redesigned laboratory experiments. I am currently involved in the Top 25 Initiative.
In spring 2008 I taught my Chemistry and Art course on Miami’s Luxembourg campus. I am continuously looking for ways to facilitate learning, in class and out, and have been involved in SMET, CAC, SGID’s, SAW, triads, reading groups, Continuing Ed, Lifelong Learning, and Craft Summers.
This is my first year on the CTL LC; John Burke and I are organizing the CTL Conversations and Specials as we help orchestrate the symphony of learning.
Angela Yesh
As a graduate student in philosophy at the University of Louisville, I was mainly interested in writing and research. My second year, I was awarded a Teaching Assistantship in which I had full teaching responsibilities.
After my first week of teaching I was hooked. My teaching mentor, Professor Schuyler, gave me this piece of advice before I began preparing for my first class: “Don’t try to teach as I do. Find your own way to engage the student. Keep them listening and they will do the learning.” I learned much about teaching that year, first and foremost, that I really didn’t know that much about teaching.
It’s been twelve years since I taught that first class and I am still learning much about teaching ; including that I have a lot more to learn about teaching.
My concern about teaching is a natural extension of my concern for my students. The diverse backgrounds from which our students come create a very interesting classroom but can have some drawbacks as well. How can an instructor be effective in a classroom where some of the students do not have adequate preparation or adequate skills? How can I be more inclusive in the classroom?
These questions and an overall interest in becoming a better teacher have led me to the Center for Teaching and Learning. I hope to make a real contribution to our educational community through the Leadership Collaborative.
And our student assistant:
Jackie Couch
I am the new student assistant at the CTL. I recently transferred to MUM from Ohio University-Athens. I love the atmosphere of MUM, everyone is so friendly and the small class size really allows me to gain that one-on-one experience with my professors. I am a Pre-Early Childhood Education Major, and I hope to teach Kindergarten. I am very excited to be a part of the LC—I am looking forward to learning about teaching and learning techniques. I hope to apply these concepts to my classroom one day! I will also be writing "Jackie's Corner" in the CTL Notes.
For a list of all past members of the MUM CTL Leadership Collaborative, click here.
