Anita Casavantes Bradford, associate dean of faculty development and diversity in social sciences and professor of Chicano/Latino studies and history, and Angela Jenks, vice associate dean of faculty development and diversity in social sciences and associate professor of teaching in anthropology, are two of 31 faculty named as inaugural fellows of the UCI Faculty Academy for Teaching Excellence (FATE). The honor recognizes professors who have demonstrated their commitment to creating learning environments that foster the growth of all students while developing their own skills as peer-recognized model educators. The program is sponsored by the Office of the Vice Provost of Teaching and Learning.

Fellows will be working on one of three pre-determined projects focused on assessing and implementing instructional models for teaching in the 21^st century, helping faculty create courses that promote inclusion and wellbeing, and identifying alternative assessment strategies.

Casavantes Bradford is excited about her role on the instructional models for the 21st century project team.

“I chose to be on this team because, as a former high school teacher and curriculum/assessment director, I am interested in how thoughtful instructional models and design can promote diversity, equity and inclusion in the classroom, and promote the success of first-generation, low income and underrepresented minority students,” she says. “Together with colleagues from across campus, I'm looking forward to identifying ways that the campus can support departments and faculty to adjust to the ever-increasing demands produced by our changing higher educational context.”   

For her part, Jenks will be working on the team tasked with helping faculty construct courses that promote inclusion and wellbeing.

“Teaching through the COVID-19 pandemic and other ongoing collective traumas has underscored the importance of pedagogical approaches that recognize both students and instructors as whole human beings," says Jenks. "This project seeks to develop policy recommendations and communicate concrete strategies that promote inclusion and wellbeing in our classrooms. Such an approach is critical to supporting equitable and transformative learning for all students."

Fellows will serve in their role for one year, and project teams will report out with recommendations and best practices within each of their groups.