With planning for the GEMS Success Center moving forward, we’re preparing to advertise the Success Center Director’s position.

The Center will support a wide range of activities that supplement and enhance classroom learning and will provide a venue for Supplemental Instruction, peer-led small group learning, “dry” labs, electronic tutoring and content delivery, and meetings of faculty, staff, and students involved as leaders and learners in STEM education.

The Director will administer the programs of the Center and will head the GEMS Assessment Team. The Director will supervise a staff that includes an administrative assistant, a statistician, a technician, and a group of student peer leaders.

As you might suspect, we’re looking for someone with solid credentials in science, mathematics, science education, or mathematics education; a doctorate is preferred, but experience and ability are also worthy credentials for consideration.

I’ll post the official ad when it goes live — with application instructions and contact information. In the meantime, be thinking about how you or someone you know could be a part of an exciting new venture in higher education!

One of the groups that lead the reaffirmation process is the Steering Committee. With representatives from across the institution, the Steering Committee sets the pace and tone for much of the work of faculty and staff members who are engaged in studying UTD’s strengths and weaknesses.

Leading the committee is Associate Provost Robert Nelsen, who also serves as SACS Liaison for UTD. Dr. Nelsen has served the campus community as Speaker of the Academic Senate as well as a strong advocate for the graduate student council. He has also served as an advocate for faculty in the UT System’s Faculty Advisory Council. Nelsen joined the UTD faculty in 1990.

Working with Nelsen on the Steering Committee are:

• Ms. Julie Allen, Administrative Services Officer, SACS Office
• Dr. Pete Bernardin, Director, Office of Assessment
• Dr. Andrew Blanchard, Senior Associate Dean, Engineering and Computer Sciences
• Dr. Duane Buhrmester, Associate Dean, Behavioral and Brain Sciences
• Dr. Michael Coleman, Associate Provost, Undergraduate Education
• Dr. John Ferraris, Dean, Natural Sciences & Mathematics
• Mr. Ben Gaddis, Graduate Student, Public Affairs
• Dr. Gopal Gupta, Associate Department Head, Engineering & Computer Sciences
• Mr. Richard Huckaba, Assistant Provost
• Dr. Varghese Jacob, Associate Dean, Management
• Mr. Simon Kane, Systems Software Manager
• Dr. Kimberly Kempf-Leonard, Professor, Sociology, Crime & Justice Studies & Political Economy
• Dr. Abby Kratz, Assistant Vice President, Business Affairs
• Dr. Dennis Kratz, Dean, Arts & Humanities
• Ms. Iris Kwong, Undergraduate Student, Economics
• Ms. Felicity Lenes, Undergraduate Student, Microbiology
• Mr. Justin Mausel, Graduate Student, Public Policy and Political Economy
• Dr. Inga Musselman, Associate Professor, Natural Sciences & Mathematics
• Ms. Jody Nelsen, Associate Vice President, Business Affairs
• Dr. Lawrence Redlinger, Executive Director, Strategic Planning & Analysis
• Dr. JoyLynn Reed, Director, Center for Excellence in Learning & Teaching
• Ms. Donna Rogers, Assistant Vice President and Dean of Students
• Dr. Ellen Safley, Associate Library Director
• Dr. John Sibert, Director, Quality Enhancement Plan Project
• Dr. Emily Tobey, Professor and Nelle C. Johnston Chair in Communication Disorders

Leading the UTD-SACS Reaffirmation process is a group of dedicated, talented, and focused individuals who also lead the university on many fronts.

1. President David E. Daniel, having joined UTD in 2005, brings with him a history of academic experience in both Texas and Illinois.  Having worked with both SACS and the North Central Association, Dr. Daniel has seen accreditation from the perspective of the faculty member, the dean, and the chief executive officer.  He leads the team with a focus on integrity, honesty, and balance. (more…)