The Karen L. Smith Faculty Center for Teaching & Learning officially began in 1998, though efforts had been percolating for years to start a faculty development office. A resolution by the Faculty Senate (Resolution 1995-1996 11) calls for the creation of a teaching and learning center to enhance teaching effectiveness.
Then-Provost Gary Whitehouse and then-Vice-Provost Frank Juge provided guidance in developing the philosophy of the new office, and turned to Chuck Dzuiban as the first director of the Faculty Center. Chuck was instrumental in achieving a critical mass of support from the faculty around the campus, and a national search for a new director led to Karen Smith's appointment.
The Faculty Center moved to a large office space in the new Classroom-1 building and made its mark early with enthusiastic attendance at workshops and the annual Summer and Winter Institutes (now called Summer and Winter Conferences).
Karen succumbed to a sudden illness not long after. Veteran faculty member Ida Cook was interim director while a national search was conducted. In 2002, Alison Morrison-Shetlar became the new director. In 2006, Alison added Dean of Undergraduate Studies to her duties, and Tace Crouse served as interim director from 2008-2010. The current staff of the Faculty Center can be seen on this page.
The Faculty Center publishes an annual Fact Sheet detailing our numerous workshops and faculty interactions.
At our tenth anniversary, we published a special edition of the Faculty Focus, with articles written by many of the individuals inolved in creating and sustaining the Faculty Center over the years.
From 2004-2011, the Faculty Center published the CenterPoint newsletter.
Kelly Jennings
College of Education
As a teacher for the Early Childhood Development and Education Program at the University of Central Florida, I mentor students through classroom instruction, advising, seminar placements, and Senior Internship. During this time I continually model my teaching philosophy as an advocate for young children. My main g...
Kenyatta Rivers
College of Health and Public Affairs
Based
on my academic training, my clinical experiences as a speech-language
pathologist working in public schools and skilled nursing facilities, and the
advice and guidance that I have received from mentors over the years, I
formulated a "teaching philosophy" when I came to the University of Central
Florida ...
Lindee Owens
College of Arts and Humanities
Over the years, some
things about my teaching have not changed. I always work hard to make that
introduction to college relevant and rigorous. I badger and affirm students
confident enough to question and volunteer, and use collaborative learning when
a group’s strength cushions the personal risk that ac...
© 2012 Karen L. Smith Faculty Center for Teaching and Learning | Terms of Use | Back to Top
