Auburn faculty selected to participate in national development program
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Following a nomination process, 14 Auburn University faculty members have been selected to participate in the 2023 Faculty Success Program offered by the National Center for Faculty Diversity and Development, or NCFDD.
As part of the 12-week program, faculty will acquire professional strategies and personal approaches to increased work-life balance. Nominated by their college and with significant support from the Office of Inclusion and Diversity, or OID, the national program enables faculty to identify and implement approaches to balance research productivity, teaching responsibilities effectively, service and personal priorities.
Through weekly sessions, faculty participate in courses focused on accountability, personal coaching and peer support. In addition, OID will host meetings among the group to discuss their progress and experiences.
“The feedback from participants affirms the value of the NCFDD program in improving work-life balance and writing productivity,” said Taffye Benson Clayton, Auburn’s vice president and associate provost for inclusion and diversity. “Overwhelmingly, participants indicate a positive experience, particularly through the small group sessions with NCFDD-certified coaches.”
Hosted January through April, the program supports OID’s efforts to promote faculty welfare and enhance productivity among faculty at all ranks.
“I’ve learned a great deal so far,” said Lauren Redden, an associate professor in the McWhorter School of Building Science in the College of Architecture, Design and Construction. “If I had to narrow it down to one highlight, it would be the importance of developing a realistic weekly plan that balances my personal goals with the university’s priorities and my values. The weekly modules contain beneficial insights, tools and strategies presented in an encouraging and safe space.”
This year’s participants are:
- Atiya Avery, assistant professor, Department of Business Analytics and Information Systems, Harbert College of Business;
- Jason Bryant, associate clinical professor and director of the Truman Pierce Institute, Department of Educational Foundations, Leadership and Technology, College of Education;
- Christine Charvet, associate professor, Department of Anatomy, Physiology and Pharmacology, College of Veterinary Medicine;
- Portia Johnson, extension specialist and associate professor, Department of Consumer and Design Sciences, College of Human Sciences;
- David Marshall, assistant professor, Department of Educational Foundations, Leadership and Technology, College of Education;
- Betty Patten, director of the EAGLES program and assistant clinical professor, Department of Special Education Rehabilitation and Counseling, College of Education;
- Soledad Peresin, associate professor, College of Forestry, Wildlife and Environment;
- Jennifer Pindyck, associate professor, School of Architecture Planning and Landscape Architecture, College of Architecture, Design and Construction;
- Ana Plana, lecturer, Horst Schulze School of Hospitality Management, College of Human Sciences;
- Lauren Redden, associate professor, McWhorter School of Building Science, College of Architecture, Design and Construction;
- Camila Rodrigues, associate professor and extension specialist, Department of Horticulture, College of Agriculture;
- Hae Sagong, associate professor, College of Nursing;
- Travis Smith, associate professor, Department of Educational Foundations, Leadership and Technology, College of Education; and
- Gwendolyn Williams, professor, Department of Curriculum and Teaching, College of Education.
The NCFDD is an independent center that provides professional development, training and mentorship opportunities to more than 83,000 members representing colleges and universities in the United States.
Fourteen Auburn University faculty members were selected to participate in the 2023 Faculty Success Program offered by the National Center for Faculty Diversity and Development.
Media interested in this story can contact Communications Director Preston Sparks at (334) 844-9999 or preston.sparks@auburn.edu.
Auburn University is a nationally ranked land grant institution recognized for its commitment to world-class scholarship, interdisciplinary research with an elite, top-tier Carnegie R1 classification, life-changing outreach with Carnegie’s Community Engagement designation and an undergraduate education experience second to none. Auburn is home to more than 30,000 students, and its faculty and research partners collaborate to develop and deliver meaningful scholarship, science and technology-based advancements that meet pressing regional, national and global needs. Auburn’s commitment to active student engagement, professional success and public/private partnership drives a growing reputation for outreach and extension that delivers broad economic, health and societal impact.
