Spring 20 Issue
Faculty Stories
Faculty Notes
Class Notes
In Memoriam
Changing Course: Rockford University Faculty and the COVID Pivot
The swift spread of COVID-19 required colleges and universities nationwide to shut down campuses and reshape teaching and learning in the midst of the spring 2020 semester. The daunting task of pivoting to online learning while maintaining the student engagement Rockford University is known for, fell to faculty members and support staff.
Rockford faculty made it clear from the start that they intended to have their students finish the semester successfully. However, they needed time to transform their courses to an online format.
The University extended spring break by a week to support the transformation from face-to-face classes to online learning. Faculty and staff engaged in technology training and collaborated with peers to address unique challenges such as lab, studio, and activity courses. The transformation demanded creative approaches to nearly every aspect of teaching and learning, and on March 23, 2020, Rockford University completed its transition to online education.
With the spring 2020 semester complete, faculty members took a moment to share their insights about the unexpected pivot to online teaching and learning.
Q&A Session: Elizabeth Davies, Ph.D., Provost and Vice President for Academic Affairs
Q: What drew you to Rockford University? A: The opportunity to work on a gorgeous campus at an esteemed educational institution that is so committed to its students and community was irresistible! Rockford University has a terrific reputation, and is...
Q&A Session: Damian Evans, Associate Vice President of Student Life & Diversity Officer
Q: Can you describe the role of a Diversity Officer at Rockford University? A: The role of the Diversity Officer at Rockford University is to champion goals and outcomes and create a climate that allows all members of the RU community to be authentic in their...
Mitigating the Skills Gap
By Deepshikha Shukla, Ph.D. The rapid acceleration of technological advancements in the modern era fueled by internet-based technologies and unprecedented growth in semiconductor chip design has exposed a skills gap in today’s workforce. Forbes magazine reports:...
Art Gallery Director Talks Sculpting, Career Beginnings
By Sara Myers-Hogshead, Digital Media & Communications Specialist Some may say that Ari Norris was born to be an artist, having been raised by two artists. Norris’ parents taught art classes at Muskegon Community College in Muskegon, Michigan, where he grew...
Farewell to the Needle and Thread
Rockford University Costume Designer Takes Last Bow By Aris Sherwood Walk into the lobby of Maddox Theatre in the Clark Arts Center at Rockford University, and you will find mannequins dressed in costumes of shows past. Underneath them are the designers’ names...
Kelly Monson, Ed.D, Assistant Professor of Education
As the effects of COVID-19 began to settle into our environment, I vowed to provide a safe and inclusive atmosphere, to foster relationships, and to individualize the learning experience for my students. My first priority was to find a balance between maintaining...
Deepshikha Shukla, Ph.D., Associate Professor of Physics
Catalyst: An entity that causes change. I have been teaching for nearly ten years. The role of a teacher is clear: to be a catalyst that shapes the future of the next generation. I had established a norm for my teaching by combining interactive lecture sessions with...
Mandolen Mull, Ph.D., Assistant Professor of Leadership, Chair of the Puri School of Business, Director of Business Degree Completion Program
As a former corporate leader at a property preservation company during the housing crisis, I thought I knew a thing or two about how to guide a team through uncertain times. As a scholar with a doctorate in organizational change, and teaching numerous courses on the...
Chris Sisson, M.F.A., Chair of the Art & Art History Department/Associate Professor of Art
How does one teach studio art, sculpture or printmaking when traditional spaces and methods are removed from the equation? Rockford University’s art faculty and students transitioned their very visual work to a new method of learning when the pandemic began. The...
