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Leadership Corner
Leadership Corner
Greetings MaPS Community,
Our school remains grounded in purpose and progress as we continue advancing initiatives that support student success, faculty development, and community engagement. In both service and scholarship, our community exemplifies purpose and dedication.
In this digest edition, you'll find updates on faculty publications, upcoming events like the PG Village and LinkedIn workshop, and reminders to share your volunteer efforts and stay connected through our school's LinkedIn page.
Thank you for all you contribute to making MaPS a place of connection, growth, and care.
Mya Fields,PhD, MBA Assistant DeanSchool of of Multidisciplinary and Professional Studies
Remembering Anthony “Tony” Russo
Remembering Anthony “Tony” Russo
The Department of English and Rhetoric is sad to announce the sudden passing of Anthony “Tony” Russo on June 13, 2025, at his home. Tony had been a part-time Instructor since March of 2009. His consistent surpassing of standard faculty expectations and personable presence showed what a compassionate, dedicated educator he was. He was well respected by his students and colleagues. He had a humble way of presenting himself as less knowledgeable about pedagogy and technology while providing insights and solutions to others.
As assistant chair, Barbara Green accurately summarized: “Tony had a gift for making everyone around him feel a little more at ease, and that's exactly the kind of legacy any educator would be proud to leave behind.”
What’s Buzzing in MaPS?
What’s Buzzing in MaPS?
Welcome, Dr. Adam Galarza – New Professional Studies Full Time Faculty
Welcome, Dr. Adam Galarza – New Professional Studies Full Time Faculty
The School of Multidisciplinary and Professional Studies is proud to introduce our new full-time faculty member in Professional Studies, Dr Adam Galarza.
With a fulfilling career spanning the performing arts and higher education, Dr. Adam Galarza brings a wealth of experience as a Show/Music Director, Producer, Choreographer, Actor, Singer, and Dancer. His work has taken him across regional theatre, national and international tours, cruise lines, commercial studios, and major entertainment organizations, including NBCUniversal, Walt Disney World, Disneyland, Universal Destinations and Experiences, and more. Adam has served as a National Anthem Soloist for the United States Air Force and as an active member of the Actors’ Equity Association and the International Thespian Society. He has served as a vocal and acting coach across Central Florida and as a longtime judge for Florida State Thespian Competitions. Adam holds a Doctor of Education in Leadership and Innovation from Purdue University Global, where he now serves as a professor in the School of Multidisciplinary and Professional Studies. He also holds an MS in Entertainment Business from Full Sail University (Valedictorian), a BFA in Theatre Performance from UCF, and an AA in Music Performance from Valencia College. Adam is a proud member of the LGBTQIA+ and Latinx communities and formerly served as a Merchant Mariner with the United States Coast Guard.
Publication Highlight – Congratulations to Barbara
Publication Highlight – Congratulations to Barbara
We are excited to celebrate Barbara Green, Assistant Chair of English & Rhetoric, on her recent publication in Communication Design Quarterly (CDQ), Volume 13, Issue 2.
Barbara contributed a book review of UX Writing: Designing User-Centered Content to this latest issue, which features a dynamic range of scholarship in the field of communication design.
Congratulations, Barbara, on this well-deserved recognition!
Read the abstracts and access the full issue [here].
Barbara Green, MAAssistant Department Chair
Carolyn Stevenson, EdD Professional Studies Faculty
Upcoming Speaker Series Session – Don’t Miss It!
Title: The Art of Saying No: A Strategic Skill for Academic and Professional Wellbeing
Date & Time: Tuesday August 12th at 1ET
Location: [Meeting Link]
Join Dr. Carolyn Stevenson and Christiana Bevier for a timely and practical session focused on “The Art of Saying No", a powerful, research-based look at how setting boundaries can enhance your academic and professional well-being. This presentation will explore the psychological and cultural reasons that make saying no difficult and offer proven communication strategies to do so effectively and respectfully.
We look forward to seeing you there!
Faculty Achievement: Dr. Elliott Crozat Publishes Peer-Reviewed Article on Metaethics
Faculty Achievement: Dr. Elliott Crozat Publishes Peer-Reviewed Article on Metaethics
We are proud to celebrate the recent publication of a peer-reviewed article by Dr. Elliott R. Crozat, a full-time faculty member in the Humanities and Social Sciences Department at Purdue University Global.
Dr. Crozat's article, "A View on the Possibility of an Ethics Without God," appears in the July 2025 issue of Religions as part of a special edition dedicated to contemporary topics in metaethics. Spanning over 14,000 words, the article explores fundamental questions about morality, ethics, and the role of the divine.
We extend our heartfelt congratulations to Dr. Crozat for this significant academic achievement and thank him for his ongoing contributions to the intellectual and scholarly community at Purdue University Global.
Elliott Crozat, PhDHumanities & Social Sciences Department Faculty
CONFeRENCE BRIEFS
CONFeRENCE BRIEFS
Highlights from the 2025 Teaching and Learning with AI Conference (Orlando, FL)
Left to right: Melissa Scranton, Mark Marino, Mary Bruce
Left to right: Tiffany Eaton,Mark Marino, Mary Bruce
The Math Department and School of MaPS were well represented at the 2025 Teaching and Learning with AI Conference in Orlando, FL! This conference, hosted by the University of Central Florida, was held May 28-30 and included over 900 attendees from over 150 different colleges and universities. Presentations include 10-minute lightning sessions (TIA Talks) or 25-minute interactive sessions. Sessions varied from beginner (embracing AI) to advanced (building custom GPTs).
Our group presented on the following (special thanks to Liz Fitzgerald for joining us):
Title: More than Meets the Chat: Transformative Math with AI-Assisted Support
Presenters: Mary Bruce and Melissa Scranton (Kirsten Meymaris - collaborator)
Title: Leveraging AI to Optimize Online Instructor Time and Energy
Presenter: Mark Marino (Leslie Johnson - collaborator)
Title: Using MathGPT to Create Personalized Math Problem-Solving Videos
Presenters: Mary Bruce and Melissa Scranton
Title: Revamping Course Outcomes: Weaving Bloom’s Taxonomy and AI Together
Presenter: Tiffany Eaton (Liz Fitzgerald - collaborator)
Title: Amping Up with AI: Making Personal Connections with Online Students
Presenter: Tiffany Eaton (Leslie Johnson - collaborator)
"The conference attendees represented a wide range of disciplines and were very eager to connect. Lots of great conversations happened throughout the event. Mostly, attendees seemed eager to hear from other faculty using AI and collect ideas to bring back to their classrooms, though there were many presentations from Teaching and Learning staff as well." -Tiffany Eaton
The 2026 Teaching and Learning with AI Conference will be held June 11-13 at the Gaylord Palms Resort & Convention Center in Orlando. If you are interested in collaborating for the 2026 conference, please email Leslie Johnson: ljohnson6@purdueglobal.edu
Jennifer Caseldine-Bracht, PhD
Humanities & Social Sciences Department FacultyEmpowering Civic Engagement: Jennifer Caseldine-Bracht Represents Purdue Global at Third Way Civics Workshop
In June, Jennifer Caseldine-Bracht attended the Third Way Civics (3WC) workshop at Ball State University.The workshop covered 3WCs principles and goals, with a focus on inclusive civic engagement.The focus was on developing skills for effective democratic participation. The springboard for our discussion was through the lens of “who constitutes the ‘we’ in American democracy.” The workshop involved structured discussions around the Revolutionary War, as well as the Civil War. Two groups were assigned different reading material. The groups with the same assigned reading material met to answer questions based on what they read.The groups were then rearranged so that folks interacted with people who had read different articles related to the same topic. Participants explored how to apply this approach to learning in our own classrooms. Workshop participants were encouraged to empower students to see themselves as active participants in democratic communities, rather than passive observers of civic life. Professors from Ball State University, Indiana University, Ivy Tech, and other universities in Indiana attended the workshop. Jennifer was proud to represent Purdue Global.
Culture, Engagement, & Community Updates
Culture, Engagement, & Community Updates
Vanessa Myers, MSScience Faculty
Josef Vice, EDDEnglish & Rhetoric Faculty
The MaPS Culture, Engagement & Community (CEC) Committee (formerly known as the MaPS DEIB Committee) would like to announce its new leadership for the 2025/2026 academic year. Please welcome our incoming Chair, Vanessa Avila Myers (vanessa.myers@purdueglobal.edu), and our incoming Vice Chair, Josef Vice (jvice@purdueglobal.edu).
The CEC committee will be holding its yearly open meeting on August 8th at 2 PM Eastern. Meeting link: All MaPS employees are welcome. Keep an eye out for the next "Theory to Practice” episode in the MaPS events calendar. Details will be published soon.
Please contact the outgoing chair, Jonathan Racster (jracster@purdueglobal.edu), with any questions.
To stay connected with upcoming DEIB events, visit the CEC website.
BITS & PIECES
BITS & PIECES
June’s Literary Festival Serves Up a Creative Feast
June’s Literary Festival Serves Up a Creative Feast
June's Literary Festival was a resounding success, drawing exceptional attendance and celebrating this year's theme: "Food for Thought: A Feast of Forms." The event brought together distinguished authors, photographers, and presenters who led engaging workshops, thought-provoking readings, and vibrant discussions about their creative processes.
Attendees enjoyed a rich variety of literary genres and critical perspectives that truly embodied the theme, offering both inspiration and insight into the many forms creativity can take.
A major highlight of the festival was the Writing Across the Curriculum (WAC) Awards, which recognized outstanding student writing from across disciplines. With high participation and impressive submission quality, the awards showcased the talent and dedication of our student writers.
This year's festival was full of interactive sessions and inspiring moments of reflection, reminding us that creativity nourishes the mind and community. We are already looking forward to next year's event and the next helping of literary brilliance!
Call for Proposals: PG Village Conference 2025
Call for Proposals: PG Village Conference 2025
Submission Period: June 16 – August 10, 2025
The PG Village Conference invites faculty, alumni, students, staff, administrators, and Purdue Global partner organizations to submit presentation proposals for the upcoming event.
Before submitting, please be sure to review the [Proposal Resource Guide] and [Proposal Scoring Rubric] to prepare a strong and thoughtful proposal.
Submit your proposal [here]
Questions? Contact pgvillage@purdueglobal.edu
Strengthen Your LinkedIn Presence
Strengthen Your LinkedIn Presence
Mark your calendars! On August 5 at 12:00 p.m. ET, the Center for Career Advancement will host a special session focused on LinkedIn best practices for our school. Are you looking to polish your profile, expand your network, or boost your online presence? This session will offer actionable tips to help you shine on LinkedIn. Meeting Link
In addition to this valuable workshop, don't forget to follow our school's LinkedIn page:
School of Multidisciplinary and Professional Studies (Purdue Global)
On this page, we share Purdue Global and higher education news, highlight the achievements of our faculty, staff, and students, and post professional development opportunities.
Don't miss this chance to sharpen your LinkedIn presence and stay connected with our growing professional community!
Keep the Spirit of Service Alive – Circle of Community Champions
Keep the Spirit of Service Alive – Circle of Community Champions
The Circle of Community Champions celebrates Purdue Global students, faculty, and staff who make a difference through volunteer service. We have already recognized some incredible individuals, and the opportunity for future recognition is ongoing!
If you have participated in community service, big or small, we would love to hear about it.
Submit your volunteer experience [here] to be considered for future recognition.
Stay Connected With MAPS!
Stay Connected With MAPS!
Looking to get involved? Check out the MaPS Community Events Calendar for upcoming events and meeting links, all in one place!
We would also love to celebrate you! Share your birthday (month and year only) so we can send some well wishes your way. Submit your birthday here, and let us celebrate you in an upcoming digest!
Let's stay connected and keep building our amazing MaPS community!
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