The William E. Kirwan Center for Academic Innovation at the University System of Maryland (USM) welcomes Dr. Kelly Elkins of Towson University as a Senior Fellow, to lead system support of the scholarship of teaching and learning (SoTL). This will include working with an inaugural cohort of faculty selected as 2023-24 Elkins SoTL Fellows from across five USM institutions.
SoTL focuses on systematic investigation of student learning, instruction, and teaching innovations. Findings from SoTL research studies can help inform educators as they decide which instructional methods to use with students and as they design courses, helping to improve student performance and contributing to the knowledge base related to effective educational practices.
“I’m delighted to welcome Kelly Elkins as our first-ever Senior Fellow,” said Nancy O’Neill, Acting Director, USM Kirwan Center for Academic Innovation. “And Kelly and I are both so inspired by this inaugural cohort of Elkins SoTL Fellows. Their work exemplifies evidence-based teaching by contributing to the evidence base of what works for student success.”
A forensic chemist, Dr. Elkins’ research includes advanced DNA sequencing methods and the detection and analysis of new psychoactive substances and counterfeit drugs. She has also published SoTL research on developing course-based undergraduate research (CURE) courses and methods for teaching professional ethics in forensic science. Additionally, she has served as a fellow with FACET (the Faculty Academic Center of Excellence at Towson), consulting with Towson University faculty around presenting and publishing on teaching practice.
Throughout the coming academic year, Dr. Elkins will be meeting with the Elkins SoTL Fellows (named for former University of Maryland President Wilson H. Elkins, no relation) as their research progresses, and the cohort will meet formally twice to share emerging insights from the studies.
“I’m delighted to take on this leadership role and work with Nancy and the team at USM,” Dr. Elkins said. “We are proud to support and highlight the excellent evidence-based teaching going on in our university system to improve student learning and engagement and advance SoTL in our fields.”
Last Spring, the Kirwan Center created the Elkins SoTL Fellowship Program to support and elevate faculty research on teaching practice. The inaugural cohort of Elkins SoTL Fellows will conduct research spanning areas such as faculty engagement with artificial intelligence, community-building in online courses, perceptions of belonging and other factors contributing to student retention, and more.
The 2023-24 Elkins SoTL Fellows are:
Charles Grattan Baldwin, associate professor of education, University of Maryland Eastern Shore
Billy Brocato, assistant professor of sociology, with co-principal investigator Victoria Wolf, instructional designer in the Center for Instructional Technology and Online Learning, University of Maryland Eastern Shore
Samuel Clevenger, assistant professor of kinesiology, Towson University
Amr Kadry, adjunct faculty in the Merrick School of Business, with co-principal investigators Jessica Stansbury, Director of Teaching and Learning Excellence, Center for Excellence in Learning, Teaching, and Technology (CELTT), University of Baltimore, and Sarah Lausch, Educational Development Specialist, Center for Teaching and Learning, Boise State University (formerly of CELTT)
LaShawn Nastvogel, assistant professor of kinesiology, University of Maryland Eastern Shore
Cory Stephens, assistant professor of nursing informatics, University of Maryland, Baltimore
Courtney Thomas, clinical assistant professor of chemistry, Towson University
Beth Towle, assistant professor of English and associate director of the University Writing Center, Salisbury University
The William E. Kirwan Center for Academic Innovation at the University System of Maryland (USM) welcomes Dr. Kelly Elkins of Towson University as a Senior Fellow, to lead system support of the scholarship of teaching and learning (SoTL). This will include working with an inaugural cohort of faculty selected as 2023-24 Elkins SoTL Fellows from across five USM institutions.
SoTL focuses on systematic investigation of student learning, instruction, and teaching innovations. Findings from SoTL research studies can help inform educators as they decide which instructional methods to use with students and as they design courses, helping to improve student performance and contributing to the knowledge base related to effective educational practices.
“I’m delighted to welcome Kelly Elkins as our first-ever Senior Fellow,” said Nancy O’Neill, Acting Director, USM Kirwan Center for Academic Innovation. “And Kelly and I are both so inspired by this inaugural cohort of Elkins SoTL Fellows. Their work exemplifies evidence-based teaching by contributing to the evidence base of what works for student success.”
A forensic chemist, Dr. Elkins’ research includes advanced DNA sequencing methods and the detection and analysis of new psychoactive substances and counterfeit drugs. She has also published SoTL research on developing course-based undergraduate research (CURE) courses and methods for teaching professional ethics in forensic science. Additionally, she has served as a fellow with FACET (the Faculty Academic Center of Excellence at Towson), consulting with Towson University faculty around presenting and publishing on teaching practice.
Throughout the coming academic year, Dr. Elkins will be meeting with the Elkins SoTL Fellows (named for former University of Maryland President Wilson H. Elkins, no relation) as their research progresses, and the cohort will meet formally twice to share emerging insights from the studies.
“I’m delighted to take on this leadership role and work with Nancy and the team at USM,” Dr. Elkins said. “We are proud to support and highlight the excellent evidence-based teaching going on in our university system to improve student learning and engagement and advance SoTL in our fields.”
Last Spring, the Kirwan Center created the Elkins SoTL Fellowship Program to support and elevate faculty research on teaching practice. The inaugural cohort of Elkins SoTL Fellows will conduct research spanning areas such as faculty engagement with artificial intelligence, community-building in online courses, perceptions of belonging and other factors contributing to student retention, and more.
The 2023-24 Elkins SoTL Fellows are:
Charles Grattan Baldwin, associate professor of education, University of Maryland Eastern Shore
Billy Brocato, assistant professor of sociology, with co-principal investigator Victoria Wolf, instructional designer in the Center for Instructional Technology and Online Learning, University of Maryland Eastern Shore
Samuel Clevenger, assistant professor of kinesiology, Towson University
Amr Kadry, adjunct faculty in the Merrick School of Business, with co-principal investigators Jessica Stansbury, Director of Teaching and Learning Excellence, Center for Excellence in Learning, Teaching, and Technology (CELTT), University of Baltimore, and Sarah Lausch, Educational Development Specialist, Center for Teaching and Learning, Boise State University (formerly of CELTT)
LaShawn Nastvogel, assistant professor of kinesiology, University of Maryland Eastern Shore
Cory Stephens, assistant professor of nursing informatics, University of Maryland, Baltimore
Courtney Thomas, clinical assistant professor of chemistry, Towson University
Beth Towle, assistant professor of English and associate director of the University Writing Center, Salisbury University
