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FacultyFellowsUTNews-03
2023 Volunteer Experience Faculty Fellows pose for a group photo.

The Office of the Provost at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, recently announced the inaugural class of the Volunteer Experience Faculty Fellows program within the Division of Student Success. The faculty fellows will play a pivotal role in carrying out the Volunteer experience in academic departments across campus. Central to UT’s strategic vision, the Volunteer initiative represents a comprehensive university-wide approach to promoting student well-being and career readiness in all aspects of students’ experience.

The Volunteer Experience Faculty Fellows program is composed of faculty members from across the university who are learning together about well-being-informed pedagogy.

“As we strive to create a culture of well-being across our university, I am thrilled to be leading this group with representation from every undergraduate college,” said Sally Hunter, the program’s faculty director. “Our focus is on promoting a peer-to-peer model that empowers faculty members to learn from one another about the pedagogies that best support student well-being. Although students will undoubtedly benefit from this approach, our primary goal is to foster a faculty culture that recognizes the importance of prioritizing students’ individual strengths and overall well-being in our classrooms without sacrificing the rigor of our academic content.”

As part of the program, faculty fellows will engage in training provided in partnership with the Division of Faculty Affairs Teaching and Learning Innovation, partner with the faculty director to develop an implementation plan for their department or college, and contribute to the process of resource creation and dissemination.

“The Volunteer Experience Faculty Fellows program supports goal one of our Strategic Vision and fulfills a recommendation made by the Strengths Advisory Council, commissioned by the provost in 2021,” said Amber Williams, vice provost for student success. “I am grateful to our 18 faculty fellows, their department heads, and Teaching and Learning Innovation for supporting this critical initiative.”

Meet the Inaugural Faculty Fellows

  • Betsy Chesnutt, Tickle College of Engineering
  • Mark Collins, Haslam College of Business
  • April Conner, College of Arts and Sciences
  • Elizabeth Cooley, College of Arts and Sciences
  • Eva Cowell, Haslam College of Business
  • Renee D’Elia-Zunino, College of Arts and Sciences
  • Jennifer Fowler, College of Arts and Sciences
  • Jessica Frampton, College of Communication and Information
  • Rob Hardin, College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences
  • Heather Coker Hawkins, College of Arts and Sciences
  • Hojung Kim, College of Architecture and Design
  • Laura Knight, Tickle College of Engineering
  • Cheryl Kojima, Herbert College of Agriculture
  • Elizabeth MacTavish, College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences
  • Casey Norris, College of Nursing
  • Ashley Pennell, College of Social Work
  • Andrew Pulte, Herbert College of Agriculture
  • Nora Vines, College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences

CONTACT:

Maggie Palmer (865-974-3993, mpalme19@utk.edu)