spring showcase 2021

Faculty Spring Showcase 2021

Extraordinary Teaching in Extraordinary Times

After more than a year of working under pandemic conditions we hope to foster a time of celebration, appreciation, and collective reflection. Let’s acknowledge the struggles, celebrate the wins, and think about where we go from here.

Live Events: Registration

Kitchen Table Conversations are candid and informal chats hosted by the Director for Inclusive Teaching during the Spring Showcase 2021, about the struggles and the wins of teaching during an unprecedented time in higher education. Join us as we humanize every aspect of our pedagogy, laugh, cry, cringe and honor our individual and collective prowess in the face of the unknown. By pulling the curtain and revealing what’s behind some of the most transformative courses on campus, we invite you to join us in considering the past year’s events and how they will define the future of teaching and learning at DU.  

Podcasts of the Kitchen Table Talks are linked below.

Kitchen Table Talks Cover Photo

Martin Katz

Sturm College of Law
Episode 1

Dr. Deb Ortega

Graduate School of Social Work
Episode 3

Motherscholar Dr. Laura Sponsler

Morgridge College of Education
Episode 5

Dr. Timothy Sweeny

College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
Episode 2

Motherscholar Dr. Miriam Valdovinos

Graduate School of Social Work
Episode 4

Motherscholar Dr. Erin K. Willer

College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
Episode 6

The Teaching Slam was hosted as a virtual event to recognize and celebrate the innovative approaches faculty have made to their teaching practices. During this session, we heard from faculty across disciplines who have been identified for their efforts in teaching during this global pandemic.  The event was facilitated by the OTL and included the pre-recorded videos below from each recognized faculty member.

Lorena Gaibor

Graduate School of Social Work

Dr. Michele Tyson

Morgridge College of Education

Dr. Jonathan Leathwood

Lamont School of Music

Dr. Alison Krogel

College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences

Dr. Polina Dimova

College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences

The Canvas Course Tours was hosted as a virtual event that recognized and shared innovative Canvas courses! During this session, we heard from faculty across disciplines who have used Canvas in interesting and creative ways.  The event was facilitated by the DU Office of Teaching and Learning and included pre-recorded videos from each recognized faculty member which are linked below. Following the faculty presentations, participants had the opportunity to ask questions in a facilitated Q&A.

Dr. Brette Garner

Morgridge College of Education

Dr. Sabine Lang

College of Natural Sciences and Mathematics

Dr. Clayton Kuklick

Graduate School of Professional Psychology

David Thomson, J.D.

Sturm College of Law

Over this past year, teaching courses in a ‘hybrid-flexible” format (in which students can choose between online and face-to-face modes of participation) presented us a with a whole new host of opportunities and challenges … and we are still learning! Please join us for this panel discussion in which faculty members who taught hyflex courses this past year will reflect together on their successes, challenges, and lessons learned from teaching in this format. Panelists include:

  • Keith Gehring, Teaching Associate Professor, Joseph Korbel School of International Studies
  • Rachel Horenstein, Teaching Assistant Professor, Ritchie School of Engineering and Computer Science
  • Lisa Martinez, Professor, College of Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
  • Cheri Young, Associate Professor, Knoebel School of Hospitality Management, Daniels College of Business

    A Zoom link will be sent to registered participants on the day of the event. We look forward to seeing you there!

 04-May-2021 | 1:30 PM-2:30 PM
https://otl-events.du.edu/public/registration/4712

Teaching Awards

Our faculty members do amazing things!  The Office of Teaching and Learning sought faculty nominations from students for “Extraordinary Teaching in Extraordinary Times” teaching awards.   This award reflects the passion and expertise they bring to their fields and the excellence that distinguishes the University of Denver experience!

Dr. Christine Vega

Dr. Christine Vega

IRISE Post-Doctoral Fellow

Dr. Kenneth Leung

Dr. Kenneth Leung

Reiman School of Finance

GISELLA BASSANI

Gisella Bassani

Department of Business Information and Analytics

Dr. Brette Garner

Dr. Brette Garner

Department of Teaching and Learning Sciences

Dr. Michele Tyson

Department of Higher Education

Andrew Michael Mrkvicka

Andrew Michael Mrkvicka

Graduate School of Social Work

Michele D. Smith, Ed.D Candidate

Michele D. Smith, Ed.D. Candidate

Graduate School of Social Work

In acknowledgement of cultivating a positive and supportive environment in the Practicum Seminar.

Tonya Dalhaus

Tonya Dalhaus

University College

In acknowledgement of building a class community and deeply engaging with  students.

Dr. Apryl Alexander

Dr. Apryl Alexander

Graduate School of Professional Psychology

In acknowledgement of student engagement and allowing students the time and space to process current events.

Dr. Doris Candelarie

Dr. Doris Candelarie

Morgridge College of Education

In acknowledgement of the ability to give critical, insightful, and honest feedback in an encouraging way.  Also in acknowledgement of receiving feedback from student evaluations and acting upon that feedback. Lastly, transformative leadership that encourages students to battle injustice and oppression.

Dr. Elizabeth Anderson

Dr. Elizabeth Anderson

Research Methods and Statistics

In acknowledgement of your flexibility and accommodations in Correlation & Regression.

Dr. Kellie Keeling

Dr. Kellie Keeling

Department of Business Information and Analytics

In acknowledgement of organizational skills, Canvas courses, and going above and beyond to make sure that online courses are accessible and interesting in INFO 3200, INFO 3440, as well as INFO 3500.

Faculty Features

Despite the challenges created by moving all classes online, University of Denver faculty are finding creative ways to teach and connect with students during this unprecedented time –  finding interesting ways to deliver their course content in the new online format.  Faculty features highlight these innovative teaching methods and ideas.

Dr. Sarah Bexell

Clinical Associate Professor
Graduate School of Social Work

Dr. Sarah Bexell

Sarah displays such compassion and caring in her work with students which has been essential in the past couple of years through Covid. She comes to her classroom with passion, innovation and such expertise along with this compassion that her students are lucky to have her.

Dr. Sara Chatfield

Assistant Professor
Political Science

Dr. Sara Chatfield

Sarah redesigned her FSEM this year to incorporate an ePortfolio project into the course, where students worked in groups to research legislation related to our course topic and then created multimedia ePortfolios that showcased their research and their reflections on the 4D experience.

Dr. Santhosh Chandrashekar

Assistant Professor
Department of Communication Studies
CAHSS Career Champion Nominee

Dr. Maria del Carmen Salazar

Clinical Associate Professor
Higher Education
Morgridge College of Education
Faculty Co-Director
4-Dimensional Experience

Dr. Maria del Carmen Salazar

Maria models a humanizing pedagogy through high standards, treating students with dignity and respect, and always modeling a critical consciousness. Her ability to dig deeper and critically on an assortment of topics and her practice of humanizing pedagogy is impressive.

Dr Robert M. Dores

Professor
Political Sciences

Dr. Robert M. Dores

Bob is widely recognized as one of, if not the best, teacher in our department. His Endocrinology course is an upper level class for our Biology majors that routinely receives the highest student evaluations in biology. Students consistently remark to me what an exceptional course Endocrinology is and that Dr. Dores is an exceptional instructor.

Dr. Aaron Duncan

Director
Masters in Digital Leadership Assistant Teaching Professor
Daniels College of Business

Dr. Aaron Duncan

Aaron has great energy and sense of humor that students appreciate. He taught 6 classes during part of the pandemic and always made time for his students. As a colleague, I was impressed with his dedication and his constant energy. To teach so many courses during such a chaotic time is amazing.

Dr. Kathryn Fox

Assistant Professor
Department of Psychology

Dr. Kathryn Fox

CAHSS Career Champion Nominee

Dr. Keith Gehring

Associate Teaching Professor
Josef Korbel School of International Studies

Dr. Keith Gehring

Keith is an incredible professional who receives outstanding classroom evaluations. He teaches very complex courses at the undergrad level here at Korbel, including taking complex forecasting models that are normally only the subject of coursework at the graduate level but successfully translating them to the undergraduate level.

Dr. Jennifer Ghormley

Affiliate Professor
School of Art & Art History

Dr. Jennifer Ghormley

CAHSS Career Champion Nominee

Colleen Gibley-Reed

Adjunct Faculty Member
Graduate School of Social Work

Colleen Gibley-Reed

Colleen has been a long standing adjunct with GSSW and the coordinator for our Power, Privilege and Oppression course. Colleen provides support to other instructors who teach this course and assists in navigating difficult conversations with incredible respect and knowledge around social justice. There isn’t one specific thing Colleen does it involves bringing her whole self at all times.

Dr. Brian Gonzales

Concentration Coordinator
MH & Online MH & Trauma Concentrations
Graduate School of Social Work

Dr. Brian Gonzales

Faculty Fellow

Dr. Neil Gowensmith

Associate Professor
Graduate School of Professional Psychology
Director
Denver FIRST

Dr. Neil Gowensmith

Neil has risen to the challenges of COVID with innovative teaching practices, adapting his courses to meet students “where they are,” sometimes literally (e.g., offering optional, socially distanced, small group walks to check in with students).

Dr. Gillian Gower

Visiting Teaching Assistant Professor of Musicology, Lamont School of Music

Dr. Gillian Gower

Dr. Carol Helstosky

Associate Professor
Department of History

Dr. Carol Helstosky

CAHSS Career Champion Nominee

Kiersten Ann Hillkirk, MA

Adjunct Professor of Spanish
Center for World Languages & Cultures

Kiersten Ann Hillkirk, MA

Kiersten is an absolute bastion of support for her students. She goes well above and  beyond the requirements of her position by constantly checking in on students, offering emotional support, putting huge amounts of effort into getting students who are behind caught up, etc. 

Dr. Jason O. Jeffries

Assistant Professor
of Religion in the Americas
Department of Religious Studies

Dr. Jason O. Jeffries

Jason is the kind of teacher that students talk about without prompting, and mention with both reverence and affection. His erudition is matched by his commitment to supporting student learning, at the undergraduate and graduate levels, through thoughtful and inclusive pedagogy.

Dr. Bobbie Kite

Associate Dean
for Academic Operations & Affairs
University College

Dr. Bobbie Kite

Faculty Fellow

Odette Kugler

French Instructor
World Languages & Cultures

Odette Kugler

Odette’s enthusiasm, energy, knowledge, and attention to being inclusive make her a phenomenal instructor. A student wrote “She has a talent for grasping the attention of everyone in the room and making them feel welcomed and encouraged to learn and contribute.”

Dr. Clayton Kuklick

Clinical Associate Professor
Master of Arts in Sport Coaching
Graduate School of Professional Psychology

Dr. Clayton Kuklick

Clayton is an extraordinaire teacher and support of others teaching development. He is always there when OTL asks him to share, present, or use his materials for demonstrations. He scores near perfect on almost every measure. More impressively, he uses this feedback to improve his courses.

Dr. Seth Masket

Professor
Political Science

Dr. Seth Masket

CAHSS Career Champion Nominee

Dr. Paul Michalec

Clinical Professor
Teaching and Learning Sciences
Morgridge College of Education

Dr. Paul Michalec

Faculty Fellow

Julianne Mitchell

LCSW Clinical Associate Professor Coordinator for GSSW
Children and Youth Concentration
Graduate School of Social Work

Julianne Mitchell

Julianne brings such heart to her classroom and is passionate about her work with Children and Youth. Julianne is dedicated to her students and advisees and brings a depth of compassion to their learning and support needs. Julianne brings a thoughtfulness also to her teaching and is intentional in how she approaches her work.

Dr. Julie Morris

Associate Teaching Professor Department of Biological Sciences

Dr. Julie Morris

Julie is a brilliant and beloved teacher. She is dedicated to her students which includes insuring her students appreciate and understand biology as she does. She teaches required undergraduate courses and receives outstanding student evaluations. She is also a teaching mentor to her faculty colleagues.

Kara Neu

Visiting Teaching Assistant Professor
Josef Korbel School of International Studies

Kara Neu

Dr. Lina Reznicek-Parrado

Teaching Assistant Professor
Department of Spanish Language Literary
Cultural Studies Director
Program for Spanish Heritage/Bilingual Speakers

Dr. Lina Reznicek-Parrado

Lina is dedicated to constantly improving how to teach in ways that make a difference to student’s lives, and because I have seen the results of her dedication in my students. Lina has positively impacted her students beyond the academic specifics of the courses she teaches, embodying the teaching excellence we aspire to at DU.

Dr. Laura Sponsler

Clinical Associate Professor
Higher Education
Morgridge College of Education
Faculty Co-Director
4-Dimensional Experience

Dr. Laura Sponsler

Faculty Fellow

Dr. Suter

Professor
department of Communication Studies

Dr. Elizabeth Suter

Dr. Suter teaches ASEM 2696: Communication & Adoption which introduces DU students to the racial disparities, class inequalities, and intersecting issues of gender and sexual orientation at play in US domestic and transnational adoption and fosterage systems.

Dr. Steve Wiest

Professor
Lamont School of Music

Dr. Steve Wiest

CAHSS Career Champion Nominee

Podcasts: The Assessment Salon

The Assessment Salon podcast is your place for all things assessment with the Office of Teaching and Learning at the University of Denver! While assessment may feel like one more thing to do, especially during the pandemic, here we highlight tips from fellow faculty about how to fold assessment into your teaching practices.

“The Choreography of Assessment” with Dr. Christina H. Paguyo and Amelia Gentile-Mathew

Episode 1

“Are the Systems We Built Working?” with Dr. Mark W. Pleiss

Episode 2

“Holistic Assessment through Portfolios” with Dr. Laura Sponsler

Episode 3

"Students' Funds of Knowledge" with Dra. Christine Vega

Episode 4

“Reshaping Undergraduate Curriculum - JEDI + Ethics + Belonging” with Dr. Chris GauthierDickey and Dr. Scott Leutenegger

Episode 5

“Harnessing Empathy to Assess Student Learning” with Dr. Brian Gearity

Episode 6

OTL Faculty Podcast

The OTL Podcast is here to keep you in the loop about teaching at the University of Denver! Tune-in to one of our many engaging series guided by our mission to improve learning across the university, as we foster innovation and strengthen practices in teaching, course design, and curriculum development at DU.

Creating Community and Connection in an Online Course

We know creating a sense of community and connection are important when it comes to student learning and engagement, yet it can be challenging to do this when we are physically distant from one another. In this podcast, Virginia Pitts, Director of University Teaching, chats with Dr. Laura Sponsler, Clinical Assistant Professor at DU’s Morgridge College of Education, along with Brianah Carter and Greg Mahan (both students of Laura’s who are pursuing their masters in higher education) as we talk about how Dr. Sponsler and her students worked together to create a web of connections between students, faculty and content in her courses this past fall.