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Southern Utah University received an innovation grant in April 2022 to begin researching and integrating augmented/virtual reality into the curriculum. In this episode, host Tony Pellegrini sits down with Aundrea Frahm, Director of AR/VR at SUU to discuss the grant, how AR/VR can be integrated into the curriculum, and what the future holds for XR at SUU. Aundrea Frahm, SUU's AR/VR Director, shares, “Teaching is one of my very favorite things mainly because I love working with college students. They are brilliant and I love learning from them. As an art education professor, I looked forward to teaching students the power of unity and inclusion in the classroom. Now, more than ever, it is important that all students have a voice, are heard, and loved. A good teacher does that.” Aundrea believes that the classroom is a space where each voice is important and valuable. The classroom does not revolve around competition, status, or favoritism, but it is an open forum where every member of the community is able to communicate, grow and learn to the best of their individual ability and to give and receive support. The classroom community is a place where discussion facilitates question-asking and answering each other’s questions, investigating relevant issues and exploring the world at large. Aundrea will be opening SUU's first AR/VR Studio during Spring 2023, as well as hosting southern Utah's first XR Summit on March 15, 2023. 

Dr. Gurung has been an exceptional contributor to the University’s global engagement and education for nearly 15 years, creating programs and opportunities for students to travel abroad and to learn from and serve the people of her home country of Nepal. As an associate professor of sociology and women & gender studies, Shobha integrates innovative pedagogies that span multiculturalism and global engagement and aims to help her students develop empathy with people from a wide range of life experiences and conditions while becoming conscientious and responsible global citizens. She mentors and advises student clubs with multicultural and international relevance and strives to help international students find their place at the University. Dr. Gurung holds degrees from Tribhuvan University of Nepal and Boston’s Northeastern University. A proud, first-generation college graduate born in Lima, Peru, and raised in Santa Ana, California, Associate Professor of Spanish Iliana Portaro is committed to reducing barriers to undergraduate completion by incorporating high impact practices such as writing, group work, research, and experiential education into her courses. With degrees in her field from UC Santa Barbara and UC Davis, Dr. Portaro helps students to experience the Spanish language within her classroom and in other contexts that foster their growth as language learners and students of Latin culture. Iliana approaches teaching languages as an ongoing process and aims to provide her students with the tools to be lifelong learners. Admirably, Dr. Portaro continually adapts her teaching strategies to keep her classes relevant and engaging.

Dr. Bryan Koenig is an assistant professor in the Department of Psychology and chair of SUU’s Institutional Review Board. He holds degrees from St. John’s University, College of William and Mary and New Mexico State University and has taught at SUU for the past five years. Dr. Koenig’s teaching philosophy is centered on the belief that every student is unique, and structures his courses to provide students with opportunities to tailor their work to their interests. He actively engages his students by using a flipped teaching approach, including having class members replicate classic experiments. He continually looks to improve and excels at fostering solid relationships with his students. His wife, Crystal Koenig, is also an SUU faculty member, and their two children are their “tiny T-Birds.” Dr. Jayci Hacker has served as the Executive Director of Student Care & Advocacy and an Assistant Dean of Students at Southern Utah University since the summer of 2021. In this role, Jayci oversees the campus Care Team, Non-Clinical Case Management, the Office of Connection and Completion, and Graduate Assistants in the Psy.D. Program. Jayci provides QPR and Mental Health First Aid training for the campus. Prior to this role, Jayci served as the Honors Program Director and has been an SUU employee since January of 2012. Dr. Hacker recently completed her doctoral program at Arizona State University in Education and Leadership in December 2021. \In the Spring of 2022, Jayci received the Gerald R. Sherratt Distinguished Service.  

In this episode, host Tony Pelligrini sits down with Brianne Kramer and Daneka Souberbielle to discuss equity & diversity at SUU. In her five years at SUU, Brianne Kramer, assistant professor of teacher education, has worked diligently to make her courses and the community an inclusive place for all. Originally from Napoleon, Ohio, she earned her Ph.D. from the University of Toledo. Dr. Kramer helped to institute a Diversity Professional Learning Community (PLC) here, leading book studies with more than 70 faculty, staff, students, and community members. Brianne served on the SUU Attainment Gaps Committee, participated in AACU Institute for Equitable High Impact Practices, and co-chairs the College of Education EDI Committee. She has recently begun serving on the new University Equity and Inclusion Committee to coordinate, inform, advocate and account for campus-wide initiatives that support the expansion of equity, diversity, and inclusion at SUU. Before joining SUU, Daneka Souberbielle served as a career advisor at Rocky Vista University and the associate dean of student inclusion and director of the Multicultural and Inclusion Center at Dixie State University. She has been recognized for her collaborative leadership, approachability, and ability to effectively translate complex concepts into individualized action plans. With a rich background in diversity, equity, and inclusion, Daneka has over 15 years of experience leading people, processes, and higher education initiatives for inclusive recruiting, diversity education, cultural competency and student support. As the Chief Diversity Officer and Associate Provost at SUU, Daneka has led a group of faculty and staff to host SUU's inaugural Summit on Belonging on October 25 - 26, 2022.

Join Joshua, Jeb, and host Tony Pellegrini as they discuss teaching, learning, and service at Southern Utah University (SUU).  Dr. Joshua Price received the 2021-22 Faculty Distinguished Service Award. Dr. Price came to SUU eight years ago and has made an indelible impression on the campus community. With a bachelor’s degree in economics from BYU and two master’sdegrees and a Ph.D. in economics, policy analysis, and management from New York’s Cornell University, he uses his extensive knowledge to inspire students by tailoring his courses to their interests. Aside from his work as an associate professor of economics and director of the Health Education Action Lab (HEAL), he volunteers his time to provide color commentary for radio coverage of SUU women’s basketball games and to mentor new football recruits. Josh supports all of his students both inside and outside of the classroom with his knowledge, kindness, and humor. Dr. Jeb Branin was one of three 2021-22 Distinguished Educator recipients. He is an assistant professor in the Department of Theatre, Dance, and Arts Administration who has taught and nurtured SUU students for 24 years. He has earned degrees from Snow College, Utah State University, and Brigham Young University. He teaches many general education courses for his department, and in the past, taught “English Through the Internet” courses through the MOFET Institute and Talpiot Teacher College in Tel-Aviv, Israel. Additionally, he designed the “SUU in London” program, taking students and community members to London, England, to study theatre. Jeb carefully constructs his courses using the principles of intentionality, interconnection, and reflection and believes that failure is essential to learning. He provides his students opportunities to fail safely and learn by correcting their mistakes. This podcast is part of SUU's Center for Teaching Innovation (CTI). You can find previous episodes of this podcast on the CTI Podcast page.    

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Richard Cozzens, Associate Professor of Engineering joins us on the Podcast today.

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