Candidate Information and Open Forums
We are pleased to announce the final candidates for the Scholarly Teaching Director. The campus community is invited to attend the forums.
Candidate information will be public 48 hours in advance of each candidate's arrival.
Dr. Gwen Tarbox
Open Forum: Friday, March 20, 1:00-2:00 p.m. WIH 111
Dr. Gwen Athene Tarbox directs the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning at the University of Connecticut. Her areas of expertise include equitable and accessible teaching practices, student engagement strategies, faculty professional development, and the impact of AI on higher education. Prior to joining UConn, Gwen directed the Office of Faculty Development at Western Michigan University, where she was a professor of English and recipient of WMU’s Distinguished Teaching Award. Her publications include a Choice Award designated monograph on Progressive-era girls’ fiction, a monograph on children’s and YA comics, and articles on university teaching.
CV for Dr. Tarbox
Evaluation form for Dr. Gwen Tarbox
Evaluation form will close Sunday, March 22 at 5:00 p.m.
Dr. Damla Isik
Open Forum: Monday, March 23, 9:00-10:00 a.m. Circus Room
Damla Isik is Professor of Anthropology at Regis University's Department of Anthropology, Sociology and Criminal Justice. She has taught and conducted research internationally in Bulgaria, Croatia, and Turkiye. She was a Fulbright Scholar in Bulgaria (2025) and Croatia (2018) where she led workshops on inclusive teaching and teaching of writing for faculty and students and gave several lectures on her research. She is an interdisciplinary scholar. She received her Ph.D. in Anthropology from the University of Arizona with a minor in Rhetoric, Composition, and the Teaching of English and a Graduate Certificate in Women’s Studies and Gender. She also has an undergraduate degree in English Language and Literature.
CV for Dr. Isik
Evaluation form for Dr. Damla Isik
Evaluation will close on Wednesday, March 25 at 5:00 p.m.
Dr. Ellen O'Brien
Open Forum: Tuesday, March 24, 9:00-10:00 a.m. Circus Room
Ellen O’Brien is the Program Manager for Curriculum Change Initiatives at UW-Madison’s Center for Teaching, Learning and Mentoring (CTLM) and Professor Emerita of English and Women’s & Gender Studies at Roosevelt University. At the CTLM, Ellen manages the Include Engage Challenge (IEC) Program, collaborates on the design and delivery of programs and services, and consults with individual instructors. At Roosevelt University, she served as a faculty member, directed an interdisciplinary academic program, directed university-wide learning support services, and created faculty development initiatives in teaching and learning. Ellen holds an M.A. and Ph.D. in English and an M.A. in Training and Development.
Evaluation form for Dr. O'Brien
Evaluation form will close on Thursday, March 26 at 5:00 p.m.