faculty champions

YOUR CHAMPIONS

your Faculty Champions and fellow campus change agents work hard to make sure you have what you need to learn and succeed

hello, my name is

Nick Swayne, James Madison University, USA

My favorite part about being a Faculty Champion is helping students imagine what’s possible, and then working with them to make it a reality.

I think students can accomplish far more than is expected. Remove the artificial barriers and they accomplish amazing things.

I love hearing from “my” alumni about how their experiences here had a direct impact on helping them solve some challenging real-life problem.

hola, mi nombre es

Romina Dominzaín de León, Universidad de Montevideo, Uruguay

My favorite part about being a Faculty Champion is being close to students who are dreamers and doers.

I think students should believe in themselves as protagonists of their own education.

To me, education means focusing on people to create a better future together.

Faculty Champions’ Community Norms

tips developed by Faculty Champions who have mentored many Fellows

BE INVISIBLE, BUT DISCOVERABLE

This is the ability to be known as a resource and a support for student initiatives, but not be the face of those initiatives.

PROVIDE HEARTBEAT (RHYTHM) FOR FELLOWS

If Fellows are the blood of the student movement on campus, then champions should be the heart that pumps it with a rhythm that creates the flow.

ADVOCATE AND ENABLE

Sometimes students just need a formal introduction to a key individual, and maybe those key individuals need a little explanation about the UIF program – just enough to get the door open.

GET STUDENTS CLOSE TO THE CLIFF, BUT KEEP THEM FROM FALLING

We want students to see the cliff, know it’s real, and feel the adrenaline when peering over the chasm. We don’t want to let them fall in (unless they really want to).

BE THE THREAD CONNECTING COHORTS

Cohorts of Fellows will have a natural tendency to develop boundaries and work in isolation. be a connecting thread and remove the boundaries.

BE OPEN TO BUILDING UP THE UIF LOCAL ECOSYSTEM

You are the starting point of an ecosystem that could include multiple leadership circles and a community of champions.

BE OPEN TO CONTRIBUTING AND SHARING

Be an active contributor to the community of champions around the country and learn from others. don’t isolate yourself.

INFORM THE EVOLUTION OF THE UIF PROGRAM

The University Innovation Fellows program’s future will depend on your feedback to the UIF team (directly or through Fellows). Make your voice heard by sharing your thoughts with your Fellows and with the UIF team.

hello, my name is

Mary Raber, Michigan Technological University, USA

My favorite part about being a Faculty Champion is the opportunity to watch students become leaders of change in their communities.

I love traveling the world and meeting new people, and baking for my students.

To me, education means helping to arm students with the tools needed to navigate life’s adventures.

hello, my name is

Ramesh Krishnan, South Plains College, USA

My UIF team is simply awesome - Go Texans!

To me, education means transferring not only the book knowledge but also teaching students how to handle the various facets of the journey of life with the goal of producing model citizens!

One of my goals as an educator is to love on my students as I love my kids and be the best role model for them to follow.