Nominees

Cyndi Kernahan

Director | Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning, UW-River Falls

I began my association with OPID in my very first year as an Assistant Professor, attending Faculty College in May 2000. Soon after, I was chosen as a Wisconsin Teaching Fellow, sharing a class with Nancy Chick, Aeron Haynie and Regan Gurung among many other notable OPID Alumni. Since that time, I have served as an OPID Faculty Representative, the WTFS Co-Director and an OPID Center Director Representative.

Throughout my long association with OPID I have always believed in the power of our mighty little group to help both instructors and students from across the system. I have seen the ways in which coming together from across disciplines and across campuses, can help us to learn and grow and help others all at the same time.

I would like to serve on the OPID Executive Committee so that I can be a part of keeping that work going. I want to learn from my colleagues and help to provide opportunities for others. I believe strongly in the power of OPID.

Headshot of Jordan LandryJordan Landry

Director | Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning, UW-Oshkosh

Statement: I would like to continue serving on the Executive Committee because I am a teacher, advocate, and scholar who strives to collaborate with a wide range of folks to increase equity and inclusion for minoritized students and other students who have been structurally excluded from higher education. I have been inspired by Fay’s vision for OPID in terms of her focus on anti-racist pedagogy. And, I would love to continue to work with her and you all to advance OPID’s goals around transforming teaching and learning around the state to provide a greater sense of belonging to all students. I also believe in cupcakes and pledge to bring some to meetings whether or not I am nominated.

Sarah Riforgiate, UW-MilwaukeeSarah Riforgiate

Interim Director | Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning, UW-Milwaukee

Statement:  If selected, it would be my honor to continue to serve on the OPID Advisory Board and contribute to UW-System efforts. Over this last year, I have grown considerably. As an OPID Advisory Board Member and Center Director, I have been exposed to different teaching ideas and practices across disciplines and UW institutions that enrich my ability to promote positive educational practices more broadly and with greater nuance. Discussions in the Digital Pedagogy group have made me think about engagement and “Hot Topics” in teaching with digital tools differently. This group has also provided a deeper perspective on what is important in teaching that has enriched the way I explain and teach educators and students. I have also worked on developing healthy relationships on my own campus and across campuses which has increased my ability to understand and engage in more accurate and extensive perspective taking. An example of this was listening carefully to concerns raised about the Civic Dialogue and Online Program initiatives systemwide. Often, it is easy to look at these larger initiatives and focus on how they affect your own institution. However, I see great value in understanding how others interpret the initiatives and see the work influencing different campuses to understand the broader picture and work to find solutions. Finally, I appreciate the opportunity to bring people together by leading the Digital Pedagogy group. This leadership role provided an important space to work with OPID members and collaborate by designing experiences to promote discussion and understanding of digital pedagogy strategies and tools.

I appreciate your consideration to extend my work on the OPID Advisory Board. I also respect if it is time for someone new to step into this role.

Erin Speetzen, UW-Stevens Point

Erin Speetzen

Director | Center for Inclusive Teaching and Learning , UW-Stevens Point

Statement:  As a new center director, serving on the OPID executive committee will allow me to gain a better understanding of the role that OPID plays in UW-System and help to strengthen and build relationships with other center directors, both of which will be important as I continue to grow in this new role.  Most of my career has been focused on improving outcomes in STEM education, particularly in regard to closing educational opportunity gaps, and I feel that the knowledge that I would bring to the executive committee will help to strengthen OPID programming.

Headshot of Angie StombaughAngie Stombaugh

Director | Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning, UW-Eau Claire

Statement: I am interested in serving on the Executive Committee to continue my work in OPID. I have been a director of the UW-Eau Claire CETL for ten years and have seen many initiatives from UW-System. I have served on the OPID Executive Committee for the last three years. I have led the Mentoring committee for the last three years and I have learned so much from everyone. I feel it is important for center directors to have a voice in OPID to influence System level thinking of what Centers are capable of. I know that each of us have unique centers and duties. I hope being on the Executive Committee will help me be a voice for the needs of our group and a voice for the different campuses and needs. We need System support, but we also need to have a say on what is important to us.


Please cast your vote before April 7th, 2023

Executive Committee FAQ

Executive-Committee-Duties-FAQ-23 pdf


Questions regarding the OPID Advisory Council and Executive Committee can be directed to Fay Akindes, Director, Systemwide Professional & Instructional Development, 608-263-2684.

 

For technical support contact:

Erin McGroarty, Program Associate, Office of Academic Affairs, UW System, OPID@uwsa.edu, (608) 262-8778.