Editor’s note: Ashley Holmes joined Oregon State University in July as the associate vice provost for teaching and learning in the Division of Academic Affairs. Ashley oversees the Center for Teaching and Learning, collaborates with units across campus, and works closely with units in Academic Affairs. Prior to coming to OSU, Ashley was the interim director of teaching effectiveness in the Center for Teaching, Learning, and Online Education at Georgia State University. Ashley has a Ph.D. in Rhetoric, Composition, and the Teaching of English from the University of Arizona. She is the author of Public Pedagogy in Composition Studies and Learning on Location: Place-Based Approaches for Diverse Learners in Higher Education. In this interview, Ashley’s responses point to her enthusiasm for faculty development to enhance teaching and learning, and to her excitement about embarking on this new role at OSU.
Q: What drew you to this position as Oregon State’s AVP for teaching and learning?
AH: I was drawn to the position for a few reasons. First, I am passionate about teaching, learning, and faculty development, and this position allows me to do what I love! Second, I saw exciting opportunities to expand the Center for Teaching and Learning’s work around innovative teaching practices, in the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL), and in support of OSU’s student success initiatives across campus. Third, as a teacher-scholar committed to place-based education, I am excited by OSU’s commitments to its land grant mission.
Q: As you’ve started to get to know faculty and staff, what stands out to you about teaching and learning at OSU?
AH: I have really enjoyed talking with faculty and staff across OSU’s campus over the last couple of months. What stands out is that people care about students here: the discussions I have had with leaders and administrators across campus have demonstrated the innovative ways the university is coming together to clear pathways toward equity, access, and success for all students. In talking with faculty, I hear genuine interest in being a good teacher, to help students engage with learning inside the classroom and out. And a final standout: OSU students! I had the pleasure of visiting the Hatfield Marine Science Center a few weeks ago and toured the Innovation Lab. As welding sparks flew nearby, I chatted with two iLab interns working on projects in marine science. Their passion for the research and their commitments to innovative solutions were compelling: this is OSU teaching, research, and hands-on learning at its best!
Q: What are some highlights of CTL programming for the coming year?
AH: Oh, there are so many amazing programs happening at CTL it’s hard to pick only a few, but I’ll mention our new series: “Teaching in Turbulent Times” that includes a couple of 20-minute Sparkshops on preventing and addressing incivility, as well as a workshop on “Facilitating Constructive Conversations” and plans for a roundtable on “Navigating Civil Discourse.”
I’m also excited about the CTL’s continued offerings around Artificial Intelligence in Teaching and Learning. Our team provides curated resources, strategies for getting started, faculty learning communities, and drop-in sessions for faculty and GTAs related to AI in instruction.
Lastly, CTL continues to coordinate with several units on campus in support of Core Education, offering trainings and drop-in sessions. We are enjoying the opportunity to partner with faculty in developing new course proposals and (re)designing their curricula toward the launch of Core Ed.
Q: In what ways does the work of CTL support OSU’s Prosperity Widely Shared Strategic Plan?
AH: Excellence in teaching is absolutely central in achieving the goals of Prosperity Widely Shared. Effective teachers leverage the curriculum to help students see themselves as agents of change in the world—to see themselves as working toward big discoveries and as academic citizens contributing to a thriving community. Moreover, I see university instruction as one of the most consequential ways we can help achieve “every student graduates.” In the Winter and Spring, the CTL plans to offer a series on “Teaching for Student Success” to offer support for strategies at the course instructional level. The way Prosperity Widely Shared specifically calls out “building faculty excellence” in teaching and research is really encouraging to me as AVP for teaching and learning: it’s part of what drew me to OSU. Go Beavs!
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