We are pleased to announce the Teaching Academy Fellows for fall 2024: Dona-Gene Barton, Kwakiutl Dreher, and Wendy Smith.
The initiative engages our faculty in local, national, and international conversations about essential issues in higher education; develops teaching expertise across the disciplines and at all levels of learning; and recognizes and rewards exceptional teachers. Fellows serve three-year terms, and new fellows are selected annually.
Dona-Gene Barton is an associate professor in the Department of Political Science. Her research and teaching interests involve American political behavior. Drawing heavily on relevant psychological perspectives while keeping the real world of politics in sight, her work focuses on better understanding how and how well citizens use political information to inform their judgments.
Kwakiutl Dreher is an associate professor of English and film studies. Her research areas are African American literature, mass-market popular literature, and film and visual culture. She is part of the team that collaborated to produce the films "Anna," "The Bell Affair," and "The Diary of Michael Shiner."
Wendy Smith is a research professor in the Department of Mathematics and the director of the Center for Science, Mathematics, and Computer Education. They are principal investigator for a 22-institution research collaboration aimed at smooth STEM students' path from 2-year to 4-year institutions. Smith's research interests include PK-20 mathematics, science and computer science education, institutional change, and active learning.
