Candidate Statement

The teaching profession is a delicate balance of instruction, service, and research in a dynamic environment. My objective is to excel in leadership, scholarship, and educational innovation so that my presence at UTC is seen as an unquestionable asset. While not infallible, I believe that my record to this point demonstrates my ability to succeed in the academic environment while remaining relevant to my profession and my community. I will continue to evolve as the world around me demands, without compromising the values and standards worthy of higher education. This dossier is a brief summary of my efforts and accomplishments, supported by many failures. Though not a satisfactory summary of the energy and resources required to bring me to this point, I feel that it paints a fair picture of who I am currently. Please review the objective measures listed on the pages below in regard to my professional impact. This dossier highlights the following:

Teaching:

  • Documented instruction of 14 or more courses at UTC, with many others taught at Calvin College and the University of Minnesota.

  • Above UTC average student evaluations for all courses.

  • A standard teaching load of 3-4 courses each semester, with the exception of sabbatical.

  • Dedicated efforts to include experiential learning, student research, service learning, and/or contextual learning in all courses delivered.

  • Efforts to include multi-modal learning (face to face, hybrid, online), despite my dedication to experiential education.

Advising:

  • Consistent advising loads of 75-100 students.

  • Positive feedback in the form of personal communication with students, as well as course evaluations.

  • Implementation of various forms of advisement (group, individual, zoom, website) to insure the success of all SORT students.

Research:

  • More than 20 full-length articles published in relevant peer-reviewed journals.

  • More than 50 presentations at regional, national, and international conferences.

    • First-authorship on the vast majority of those articles and presentations.

    • Many articles and presentations include collaborative teams from outside of my program, as well as student researchers.

  • Involvement in 29 grant proposals (Internal and external)

    • Involvement in the acquisition of nearly $200,000 in funding (internal and external)

Service:

  • Consistent Departmental, College, and University/System service in various capacities.

  • Service to publications and organizations in my discipline.

  • Community-based research and service projects that connect abstract ideas to real-world contexts to enhance student learning and community well-being.