Teaching in a preprofessional program with very specific outcome targets has meant (at least in my experience to this point) that most collaborative efforts happen within the department.  I’ve found it a challenge to get out of the nest.  However, I have pushed myself to try to initiate and respond to opportunities to work across disciplines with other faculty. As I have grown in my role as faculty member, I have been able to participate on university-wide committees and in doing that, have found myself blessed with new friends and new projects!

My opportunities to cooperate and demonstrate collegiality have ranged from inter-departmental projects, to mentoring groups, to Study Abroad partnering, to university committees.  As examples of the first type of opportunity, I’ve been pleased to collaborate with colleagues within my college such as Dr. Wayne Paris (Social Work) as our graduate students took his Research Methods course (I provided the CSD mentoring component).  He was very helpful and communicated with me effectively to make certain our students received the content they needed.

Within the college, I have been invited to speak in classrooms outside of the department, and appreciate that opportunity to expand my network, as well.

Ranging further afield, I was thankful to be able to request and receive assistance from faculty in  the Foreign Languages division for questions having to do with my Spanish-language research and for guidance  in establishing the language proficiency requirements of the Bilingual Emphasis Program.  I appreciate the collaboration of Dr. Beatriz Walker and Dr. Paul Roggendorf in these efforts.

Members of the Foreign Languages faculty have also been gracious to attend Adams Center presentations that I have given on adult bilingualism and on preparing students for bilingual service delivery.   I have attended presentations given by their faculty on special initiatives (notably, the Dialektos program) within that department.

Sharing and receiving information and knowledge from colleagues from the Ad Building to the Don Morris Center makes the university an incredible source of wisdom. In this context I am thankful to receive and to give.  Questions coming my way often have something to do with bilingualism or with cultural competency.   Here I include just a few instances where I called on colleagues or was called on by them to help provide resources:

Having the opportunity to meet with and learn from colleagues in more formal settings such as that provided by the Adams Center is also a rich point of collegial contact.  I have commented at different points in this portfolio on presentations that have impacted me — from Dr. Robert McKelvain’s “Faculty Fusion” presentation on learning, to the above-mentioned Dialektos presentation.  I’d also like to highlight Dr. Johnathan Camp’s discussion of his  health care research in Central America, Dr. Doug Foster’s CHARIS conversations, and technology in teaching presentations by Dr. Kyle Dickson and Dr. James Langford, to provide just a sampling  What a wealth of knowledge available (and it comes with lunch) just half-way across the campus!  I’ve been privileged to be an occasional presenter as well, and have had my contributions met with interest and respect on the part of my colleagues.

AdamsCenter_Trainings

collegiality_Adams Center presentation acknowledgement

In discussing collaboration across the campus, probably the area where I have invested most is in my co-sponsorship of the Texas Psi chapter of the Alpha Chi National College Honor Society (discussed in the Service section).  This role has resulted in collegial contacts with a number of faculty and students; for example, in the departments of English, Chemistry, and Nutrition, to name a few, as students and their sponsors respond to  opportunities for scholarships and convention presentations.  Dr. Mikee Delony and I are thrilled with the growth and development of the chapter and its members, and feel that our combined efforts have produced some good results.  (See her letter below in the “Commendations” section).

I would also like to mention at this point in the discussion the collegiality required and observed in contexts of committee service.  With a broad range of backgrounds and opinions in the room, participants must display a collegial spirit, or the work of the committee does not get accomplished.  My assignment to my first university-wide committee, the Undergraduate General Education Committee, has required me to become a better listener, to learn to prepare myself in advance so that I can collaborate effectively, and to be able to state my opinion with confidence but willingness to hear others.  I can state that for the most part my colleagues model these characteristics, making my appointment a positive experience.  (See the letter below from Dr. Ken Cukrowski addressing my collegiality in this context).

Finally, as I think about showing and receiving collegiality with others not of my department or college, the opportunity to participate in Study Abroad stands out in my memory.  The trip in May 2012 was a life-changing experience, and gifted me with deep friendships where before I had acquaintances.  I was blessed to stay in Montevideo for seven weeks in the company of Dr. Greg and Dr. Cynthia Powell and Wimon and Rosalinda Walker, as well as with 13 exceptional students.  Collaboration was the order of the day as Cynthia taught the Global Health course while I assisted, as we teamed with the Walkers to plan experiences and course content, and as we toured health-care facilities with the students (and I interpreted).  As a group we chaperoned the students on  many of their travels, and together enjoyed the delights of Iguazu Falls.  Although these students were on the whole mature and cooperative, there were occasional problem-solving sessions involving the five of us.  It was a novel experience to share living quarters with another (non-family) couple, and the Powells made it a good one.  We prepared meals together, prayed together, watched “Downton Abby” together and laughed.  I traveled to Buenos Aires on a free weekend with the Walkers, and felt that indeed I was traveling with family–we even live-streamed my niece’s wedding together! I enjoyed the Study Abroad experience so much that I’m prepared to repeat it, and looking forward to more opportunities for learning and collaboration.

 commendations and affirmations

Letter from Dr Cynthia Powell_collegiality

Letter from Dr Ken Cukrowski_service_collegiality

Letter from Dr Mikee Delony_service_collegiality_AlphaChi cosponsor

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