The faculty view: teaching at Augustana

Dr. Mike Wolf, professor of geology

I’ve been around a lot of places. I grew up and went to school on the east coast, got my doctorate at Caltech, served on the tenure and promotion committee here. The quality and commitment to teaching here is on par with any institution anywhere. I’ve seen a lot of my Senior Inquiry students grow and blossom into mature, critically thinking, articulate and successful young adults … that makes it so gratifying to work here.

Dr. Greg Domski, assistant professor of chemistry

For me, the most rewarding aspect of being a faculty member at Augustana has been the opportunity to mentor students as they perform original laboratory research.

The Senior Inquiry requirement at Augustana motivates all students to engage in authentic inquiry and to produce a polished final product. In chemistry this means that I get to experience the struggles and triumphs of scientific research anew with each undergraduate collaborator that works in my lab.

Dr. Jessica Schultz, associate professor of psychology, former associate dean

Participation in the Faculty Leadership Academy was pivotal to my career. It’s powerful for the college to tell younger faculty that Augustana wants them to lead the college and then provide a long-term program that teaches them how to do just that. Augustana has made many really meaningful investments in my development as a teacher, scholar and leader.

Next spring I’ll be making my seventh trip with students to study in Guatemala. It’s well outside the bounds of my professional specialty and it sometimes takes me outside my comfort zone, but that’s great. If we’re going to teach our students about cross-disciplinary connection, risk and resilience, engagement across cultures, embodying social justice, there best way is to be there and live it ourselves.

Dr. Lauren Hammond, associate professor of history and co-coordinator of Latin American studies

Faculty have room to make an impact here. Sometimes that’s in one-on-one mentor relationships between tenured and junior faculty, and sometimes it’s institutional change. For example, I founded the Black Faculty-Staff Advisory Council, which coordinates meaningful engagement for employees of color and also provides us with a voice in front of the administration.

It’s possible to plug in here. I’ve had the chance to help make valuable changes.  And I have enjoyed it!