Members of Centre College’s faculty and staff have been awarded grants through Associated Colleges of the South (ACS), an organization that supports 16 private liberal arts colleges in 12 states of the southeastern United States.
ACS’s goal is to advance the professional growth of faculty and staff, foster diversity and inclusion, build partnerships across their member campuses and improve collective student and institutional success. Through the grants, participating institutions are encouraged to collaboratively develop initiatives that can meet the needs of multiple campuses.
“The Centre faculty and staff involved in these projects spent lots of time preparing their applications, and will spend even more time developing curriculums and course modules that will increase access and help students connect coursework and real-world issues,” said Kathryn Bowles, associate director for corporate and foundation relations. “These awards from ACS are a recognition of the dedication that Centre faculty and staff have for their students.”
Carrie Frey, associate director of library services; Beth Morgan, technical services in the library; Amy Frederick, assistant professor of art history; and Rodmon King, associate vice president for academic affairs and diversity initiatives, received a grant of $30,119.20 for their project titled “Pathway to Diversity: Uncovering Our Collections.” This project is a collaboration with Furman and Washington and Lee universities and Rollins College.
Joel Kilty, Elizabeth Molloy Dowling Associate Professor of Mathematics, and Alex McAllister, H.W. Stodghill, Jr. and Adele H. Stodghill Professor of Mathematics, received a $24,450 grant for “Supporting Diversity and Inclusion in Mathematics and STEM Disciplines.” This project is a collaboration with Southwestern University.
Kerry Paumi, assistant professor of chemistry, was awarded a grant of $18,990 for “Faculty Development through Learning Design.” This project is a collaboration with Birmingham-Southern College.
In addition, Jennifer Muzyka, H.W. Stodghill, Jr. and Adele H. Stodghill Professor of Chemistry, is working on a project with Spelman College titled “Increasing Diversity in the STEM Pipeline Through the Incorporations of Culturally and Socially Responsive Pedagogy in the Organic Chemistry Laboratory,” which was awarded $37,950.
Sarah Lashley, director of the Center for Teaching and Learning, and Joel Klepac, counselor in Parsons Center, are involved in a project with Sewanee titled, “Improving Inclusion and Pedagogical Practices for Students with Learning Disabilities,” which received $31,957.50.
Dean and Vice President for Academic Affairs Stephanie Fabritius said these grants will enable members of Centre’s faculty and staff to collaborate closely with colleagues at other ACS schools in order to work on issues of common interest.
“Centre faculty members are outstanding teachers, and they genuinely care about reaching all of their students,” she added. “Having this opportunity to explore their teaching practices will only add to their excellence. The results of these projects will also serve as models and inspiration for future work at all of our member institutions.”
Director of Faculty Programs for ACS Jennifer Dugan said they are really excited about Centre’s engagement with their program.
“Centre has been very active in our grant program—really diverse and rich projects,” she added. “It’s worth knowing that Centre is part of this network of excellent, small liberal arts colleges that are strengthening the student experience. I think it’s a qualitatively different kind of education when an already excellent Centre education is plugged into this robust network.”
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