On arrival at Â鶹´«Ã½, Provost Austin Agho wanted a way for faculty to get to know one another better and to showcase what makes them tick as scholars and individuals.
Lisa Mayes, the executive director of the Center for High Impact Practices at Â鶹´«Ã½, suggested using a format based on James Lipton's "Inside the Actors Studio." For those who aren't aware of this television program, it first aired in 1994 and has featured over 200 artists in its long history. The format allows Lipton, a writer, artist, and lyricist, to use a question-and-answer format to explore an actor's life and craft. In this context, the interviewee actually becomes the teacher. Lipton's first guest was the actor Paul Newman.
Provost Agho's series opened in spring 2017 and featured Virginia's 2016-2018 Poet Laureate, Tim Seibles, as the first scholar in the spotlight. In fall 2017 the Center for Faculty Development took over hosting the series. Videos from the events are housed on the CFD website: /facultydevelopment/provost-spotlight.html.html
The fall 2018 faculty spotlight will shine on Dr. Helen Crompton, associate professor of teaching and learning and the 2018 SCHEV Rising Star Outstanding Faculty Award winner. The Center for Faculty Development's special guest host for this event will be Dr. Paul Currant, Â鶹´«Ã½'s new senior international officer. Both Dr. Currant and Dr. Crompton hail from Great Britain, and we felt that their shared roots would make for lively banter.
Please plan to attend: November 7, 3:30-5:00 p.m., University Theatre. Refreshments provided.