At Play in the Classroom for Thirty-Five Years: Recollections and Recommendations for Keeping Our Spirits—and Our Students—Soaring

Retirement is looming. Each day ticking by comes with a thought that I might not ever give that specific lecture again, and with a nagging feeling that I still—after more than 30 years—didn’t perfectly nail it. And with that thought, each day ahead becomes even more important, bringing butterflies to my stomach, and questions like: What can I do differently this time? What can I do to really make an impact, to help make the next class even more effective?  

Three Ways to Make the Most of Midterm

Isis Artze-Vega serves as college provost and vice president for academic affairs at Valencia College in central Florida, a Hispanic-serving institution long regarded as one of the nation’s best community colleges. She provides strategic leadership in curriculum, assessment, faculty development, online learning, career and workforce education, and partnerships for educational excellence. She is the lead author …

Continue reading Three Ways to Make the Most of Midterm

Now More Than Ever: Humanizing Online Courses in the Post-COVID Era

Milton W. Wendland (J.D., Ph.D.) is a professor of instruction in the Department of Women’s, Gender, & Sexuality Studies at the University of South Florida, where he specializes in equitable and inclusive online education. He regularly teaches Queer Film & Television; LGBTQ+ Cultures; Gender Sexuality & the Law; Intro to Women’s & Gender Studies; and …

Continue reading Now More Than Ever: Humanizing Online Courses in the Post-COVID Era

How I Learned to Love Conferences 

Joshua Barsczewski is director of the writing program and assistant professor of English literatures and creative writing at Muhlenberg College. He’s recently published in Peitho and Composition Forum and is the co-editor of an upcoming collection on labor practices in writing studies, due out in late 2024 or early 2025.  Joshua BarsczewskiImage Credit: Joshua Barsczewski …

Continue reading How I Learned to Love Conferences 

Nurturing the Mind (and Academic Soul)

Dr. Meridith A. Balas is a Service Assistant Professor and Director of the Nemacolin Hospitality Lab at West Virginia University, where she brings extensive expertise in hospitality management, tourism, and student-centered experiential learning. In her role, she leads innovative consulting projects with partners like Nemacolin, offering students hands-on experience in solving real-world industry challenges. Her career spans …

Continue reading Nurturing the Mind (and Academic Soul)

On Not Returning to School After Thirty-Five Years in the Classroom: What Did the Teacher Learn After All That Time in the Classroom?

Jim Burke, a former English teacher at Middle College at the College of San Mateo, taught for over thirty-five years, and has written more than twenty-five books about teaching and literacy. He has received numerous awards, including the Exemplary Leadership Award from the National Council of Teachers of English and the Distinguished Service Award from …

Continue reading On Not Returning to School After Thirty-Five Years in the Classroom: What Did the Teacher Learn After All That Time in the Classroom?

Personal and Professional Reading: Making Time for What We Love Most

Jim Burke, an English teacher at Middle College at the College of San Mateo, has been teaching for more than twenty-five years, and has written more than twenty-five books about teaching and literacy. He has received numerous awards, including the Exemplary Leadership Award from the National Council of Teachers of English and the Distinguished Service …

Continue reading Personal and Professional Reading: Making Time for What We Love Most

Feeling Out of Balance? Tips for Fostering Better Work-Life Balance for College Faculty

As faculty members, we take on a variety of roles and tasks. We work to prepare quality learning objectives and course materials that are relevant to our students. Those in the tenure-track lines are expected to keep an active research and publishing agenda. Many of us also serve on multiple time-consuming committees and, outside of academia, we often have personal and household responsibilities, such as caring for children or elderly parents.