Purdue University Northwest (PNW) faculty members were recognized for earning a nationally recognized teaching credential co-endorsed by the Association of College and University Educators (ACUE) and the American Council on Education (ACE) during a pinning ceremony last semester.

Faculty demonstrated their commitment to student success by completing the “Effective Teaching Practices” course to equip them with the instructional skills shown to promote student motivation, learning, and persistence. More information about the program is available on the Center for Faculty Development and Leadership website.

Among the 22 PNW faculty to be honored is Amanda Kratovil-Mailhiot, assistant professor of Nursing. In a self-reflection about her experience, Amanda wrote:

“As a recent graduate of a Ph.D. program, I received very little formal training in teaching. Naively, I entered academia as an assistant professor of nursing believing that, like in my past experiences, on-the-job training would suffice. … Earning the ACUE credential this early in my career not only provided the opportunity for me to incorporate evidence-based theory and techniques into my teaching philosophy at an early stage, but it also afforded me a solid foundation upon which I can continue to improve and develop.”

To earn their Certificate in Effective Instruction, faculty members completed an evidence-based, 25-module course that requires them to learn about and implement new teaching practices in their courses and reflect on the experience. Aligned with the latest research in cognition and adult learning, ACUE’s courses address over 200 evidence-based teaching practices, covering how to design an effective course, establish a productive learning environment, use active learning techniques, promote higher order thinking, and utilize assessments to inform instruction and promote learning.

The credentialed faculty members honored include:

• Lizbeth Bryant, Associate Professor of English
• Karen Covington, Assistant Clinical Professor of Nursing
• Taryn Eastland, Associate Professor of Nursing
• Mohammed Errihani, Associate Professor of English
• Bankole Fasanya, Assistant Professor of Organizational Leadership and Supervision
• Robert Hallock, Assistant Professor of Psychology
• Emily Hixon, Professor of Education
• Bir Kafle, Assistant Professor of Mathematics
• Mandy Kratovil-Mailhiot, Assistant Professor of Nursing
• Jin Lu, Professor of French
• Randyl Marquis, Supervisor, Office of Instructional Technology
• Robert Merkovsky, Associate Professor of Mathematics
• Maged Mikhail, Assistant Professor of Mechatronic Engineering Technology
• Paolo Miranda, Associate Professor of Finance
• Songtao Mo, Associate Professor of Accounting
• David Nalbone, Professor of Psychology
• Libbie Pelter, Associate Professor of Chemistry
• Vanessa Quinn, Professor of Biological Sciences
• Michael Roller, Associate Professor of Computer Graphics Technology
• Wendy St. Jean, Associate Professor of History
• Dan Wilbur, Associate Professor of Communications
• Lin Zhao, Associate Professor of Management Information Systems