The LMU Center for Faculty Development was established in 2024. The CFD represents an expanded version of our previous Center for Teaching Excellence (CTE). Whereas the CTE was focused on promoting excellence in teaching, the CFD has a wider focus on our faculty as teacher-scholars and academic leaders. Thus, the CFD promotes comprehensive support for faculty development in three areas: teaching/learning, scholarship/creative practice, and leadership/professional development.
In the spring semester of 2024 a proposal for the CFD was developed by a team of faculty together with the Director of the CTE, in response to the articulated needs of LMU faculty. The proposal was approved by the Faculty Senate and the Committee on Excellence in Teaching as a significant milestone in LMU’s institutional commitment to supporting and enhancing the professional growth and academic excellence of our faculty members. Funding for the CFD comes from the Provost’s Office and from a generous endowment (see below).
The original center, The Center for Teaching Excellence, was established in 1998 on the recommendation of the Committee on Excellence in Teaching. Funding for the CTE came from an endowment. The center was designed to be led by faculty, for faculty. Thus, the throughout its history the center had rotating faculty directors. Mel Bertolozzi, Professor of English, served as the first Director of the CTE in December 1998. In its inaugural year, the Center received the Theodore Hesburgh Award for Faculty Development. In 2000 the CTE moved to its current location in University Hall and expanded its programs, services, and grants. Psychology Professor Patricia Walsh became Director of the CTE in 2001 and served until 2006. To honor her memory, grants in her name are awarded to faculty to promote excellence in teaching by supporting transformation of teaching methods that research shows improve student learning. In 2003, the CTE was part of a major Irvine Foundation grant supporting intercultural campus initiatives, faculty development, and course transformations to integrate diversity and inclusive teaching.
From 2006 to 2010, Jackie Dewar, Professor of Mathematics, served as Director of the CTE. Professor Dewar strengthened and expanded the CTE's work on Scholarship of Teaching and Learning, Community-Based Learning, and played a key role in developing new teaching-related guidelines and policies. Professor Suzanne Larson of the Mathematics Dept. served as Interim Director of the CTE for one semester in 2011. From 2011 to 2017, Dorothea K. Herreiner, Professor of Economics, served as Director. Professor Herreiner initiated an orientation and faculty development program for part time faculty and also initiated an Open Classroom Week, in which faculty opened their classroom to other university faculty. From June, 2017 through May, 2018, Physics Professor Vincent Coletta served as Director. Professor Coletta initiated the Faculty Learning Community program, expanded the Open Classroom program to a year-round program, provided distinguished speakers, including Nobel laureate Carl Wieman and Matthew Peterson, founder of the MIND Research Institute, and led a university discussion on how teaching should be evaluated in light of recent research. Professor Martina Ramirez, Biology Professor, became Director of the Center for Teaching Excellence in 2018. As an advocate of technology, professor Martinez provided the faculty with critical support in transitioning teaching and learning online during the COVID-19 pandemic. She also partnered with the Office of Intercultural Affairs to facilitate DEI programming through the CTE. Her term ended in 2021. Professor Karie Huchting, Professor of Education, served as director of the CTE from 2021 through 2024 and continued to support teaching and learning through the pandemic and its aftermath. She aligned CTE programming LMU’s Strategic Plan through DEI initiatives, global-local pedagogies, and interdisciplinary and integrative approaches to teaching. She also created the revised LMU Faculty Fellows program, and the CTE Professional Development Program for NTTF and PT faculty (the Delphi Award). Finally, together with a team of faculty, Professor Huchting spearheaded the creation of the Center for Faculty Development in 2024, to expand support to LMU faculty across teaching, scholarship, and leadership. In 2024 the CTE was expanded into the CFD and Professor Máire Ford (Department of Psychological Science) became the inaugural Associate Vice Provost of Faculty Development, overseeing the CFD. Together with a team of 3 faculty directors she is working to imagine and grow the CFD, as a hub to promote faculty development and community across the university. The Director for Scholarly and Creative Practice is Professor Rosalynde (Roz) LeBlanc Loo (Dance). The Director for Professional and Leadership Development is Rebecca Sager (Sociology). The Director for Teaching and Learning is TBD.