JONESBORO — Eighteen Arkansas State University (A-State) faculty members recently concluded the institution’s first Summer Teaching Summit, organized by the A-State Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CETL). The summit, held in early August atop Petit Jean Mountain in Morrilton, aimed to foster innovative, evidence-based teaching practices and enhance student success.
“This retreat reflects interim Chancellor Calvin White Jr.’s vision of elevating teaching as a defining strength of Arkansas State University,” said Dr. Jill Simons, director of CETL. “Teaching has always mattered, but now more than ever it is central to who we are as an institution and to the success of our students.”
The three-day summit featured workshops led by A-State faculty-in-residence Dr. John Hershberger, associate professor of chemistry, and Dr. Loretta McGregor, associate dean of the College of Education and Behavioral Science and professor of psychology. Guest speakers included Dr. Claire Major, faculty director of the University of Alabama Teaching Academy, and Dr. Amy Hawkins, assistant provost at the University of Central Arkansas.
“Our goal with the Summer Teaching Summit was to create learning experiences that help every student succeed by drawing on evidence-based practices,” Simons added.
The faculty participants were selected through a competitive process open to all full-time A-State faculty. Those who took part included Nicole Arnell, professor of graphic design; Dr. Binol Balachandar, assistant professor of nursing; Dr. Angelo Brown, assistant professor of criminology; Dr. Kelsie Clark, assistant professor of physical therapy; Dr. Michael Cooper, assistant professor of nursing; Dr. Maureen Dolan, associate professor of molecular biology; Dr. Matthew Harmon, associate professor of nursing; Dr. Mark Herman, instructor in philosophy; Dr. Chad Martin, instructor in teacher education; Cassaundra McCauley, instructor in writing and reading in transition studies; Dr. Philip Johnson, professor of veterinary medicine; Dr. Nilesh Kumar, instructor in management; Dr. Patrice Parkinson, assistant professor of counseling; Dr. Amin Abbasi Pooya, assistant professor of information systems and business analytics; Dr. Paula Ruby, professor of information systems and business analytics; Caitlan Smith, instructor in art history; Dr. Deborah Wammack, assistant professor of reading; and Dr. Chiqian Zhang, assistant professor of civil engineering.
The program invited these educators to step away from the pace of the academic year and engage in meaningful dialogue while connecting with colleagues across disciplines. Faculty explored best practices through group discussions, expert-led sessions, and intensive collaboration.
In addition to Simons, Dean Murry, a CETL staff member, and Dr. Melanie Wicinski, associate vice chancellor for accreditation and assessment, contributed to the summit’s facilitation.
The Summer Teaching Summit is part of A-State’s ongoing efforts to support and strengthen teaching and learning across campus.