Fellows Directory

Niveen AbiGhannam

Dr. Niveen AbiGhannam is a science communication researcher and educator whose work centers around the strategic and inclusive communication of technical knowledge. More specifically, her research seeks to understand individual, organizational, and social factors that can drive or hinder public engagement with STEM behaviors. She also examines the identities of publicly engaged scientists and engineers and the meanings that they associate with their engagement experiences. On the teaching front, Dr. AbiGhannam has taught Engineering Communication at UT since 2015.

Amelia Acker

Amelia Acker is an associate professor in the School of Information where she directs the Critical Data Studies Lab. Amelia researches people who build and maintain archives, data technologies, and information infrastructure. Amelia's PTF project is SCiSCHOOL, a science fiction book club that brings graduate students together to discuss the ethics and social impacts of near and future information technologies in our daily lives.

Maura Borrego

Keffrelyn Brown

Stephanie Cawthon

Tanya Clement

Tanya E Clement is an Associate Professor in the Department of English at the University of Texas at Austin. Her primary areas of research are textual studies, sound studies, and infrastructure studies as these concerns impact academic research, research libraries, and the creation of research tools and resources in Digital Humanities (DH).

Vernita Gordon

I did my undergraduate work at Vanderbilt, with a double major in physics and math, and my Ph.D. work in physics at Harvard. At both institutions, I saw and experienced the positive difference that caring, committed instructors and a nurturing university community can make in students' lives. I have been a faculty member in the Physics department at UT Austin since 2010. I have taught introductory calculus-based mechanics for Physics majors, a Plan II Physics course for liberal arts honors students, and an upper-division course on Biological Physics.

Joel Johnson

Joel Johnson is a Second-Year Teaching Fellow and served as the First Year Representative on the PTF Steering Committee in 2019.

Lee Ann Kahlor

Elon Lang

Elon Lang is an Associate Professor of Instruction at the University of Texas at Austin, where he teaches a variety of undergraduate literature survey courses on ethical topics, medieval and early modern studies, dramatic literature, and Experiential Learning courses based in archival research. One example was his 2020-2021 courses called Archival Advocacy in which students learned how to bring archival techniques to bear on a real-world social justice issue facing the East Austin, Texas, community: the closing of one of Austin's historically Hispanic elementary schools.

Diane McDaniel Rhodes

Dr. Rhodes teaches undergraduate courses in social justice and community practice. Her teaching passions focus on creating engagement and belonging through pedagogy and practice. A graduate of the Stanford Teaching and Learning Studio and the Academy of College and University Educators, she continually seeks new knowledge about teaching and works to provide knowledge gained to colleagues through writing and mentoring. "I probably learn the most about teaching from my students, who are some of the most generous and smartest folx I know."

Jen Moon

Jennifer (Jen) Moon is a Professor of Instruction in the Department of Molecular Biosciences and the Assistant Dean for Non Tenure Track Faculty in the College of Natural Sciences at the University of Texas at Austin. She earned her Ph.D. in Molecular, Cellular and Developmental Biology at Indiana University studying regulated gene expression, and completed her postdoctoral work at University of Texas at Austin in 2007. Dr. Moon regularly teaches Advanced Introduction to Genetics, Cell and Developmental Biology Lab, and an undergraduate teaching assistant (UGTA) training course.

Alison Norman

Dr. Alison N. Norman is an Associate Professor of Instruction and Associate Chair for Undergraduate Education in the Department of Computer Science at The University of Texas at Austin. She is also a UT Austin Provost's Teaching Fellow, a 2019 Regent's Outstanding Teaching Award recipient, a 2017 President's Associates Teaching Excellence Award recipient, and a 2017 College of Natural Sciences Teaching Excellence Award recipient. Alison works to improve the experience of students in computer science.

Nico Osier

Nico Osier (they/them) is a Clinical Assistant Professor in the School of Nursing and Dell Medical School Department of Neurology. They love engaging students in their Genetics in Health Care course by applying principles of universal design for learning and experiential learning. They are an Experiential Learning Initiative Ambassador and a Provost Teaching Fellow. They are well-known for their stylized syllabuses, creative project, and epic use of Bitmoji.

Jonathan Perry

Jonathan Perry is a Texas native who, after completing his BA and MS in physics at Baylor University and his Ph.D. at Texas A&M University, has managed to stick around the state. For his doctoral work he found himself with an unexpected passion for teaching and learning in his field, and so he focused on physics education research. He joined the faculty at UT Austin in 2019 as an Assistant Professor of Instruction.

Mary Poteet

Mary Poteet is an alumnus Provost Teaching Fellow from the Jackson School of Geosciences. Her research focuses on how human stressors alter complex ecosystem function. She currently focuses on the response of aquatic ecosystems to urbanization with specific focus on stream metabolic regimes. Her active teaching style includes teaching through research in the Freshman Research Initiative, field courses in EVS and Geology, and engaging non-science majors in the use of scientific knowledge by societies.

Navid Saleh

Navid Saleh is a Professor at the Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering department. He is an environmental engineering faculty member with a passion for teaching. His mission as an educator and researcher has been to engage with the community and co-create knowledge. He has developed modules utilizing problem-based learning (PBL) pedagogy, conducted detailed and systematic evaluation, and devoted himself to student learning at UT.

Amy Kristin Sanders

Dr. Amy Kristin Sanders is an award-winning former journalist, licensed attorney and Associate Professor. Before coming to the University of Texas at Austin, she taught at Northwestern University’s campus in Doha, Qatar. Her expertise focuses on the intersection of law, ethics and new technology as it relates to media freedom and democratic participation. As an instructor, Sanders has developed and taught courses on comparative media law, media ethics, media leadership, and media and society.

Julie Schell

Julie Schell is the Assistant Dean of Instructional Continuity and Innovation in the College of Fine Arts. She is also an assistant professor of practice in the Department of Design and Program in Program in Higher Education Leadership. Julie is an expert in teaching and learning and has taught courses on higher education pedagogy, design pedagogy, design thinking, and technology and innovation in higher education for more than a decade. 

Sarah Sloan

Sarah Sloan is an Assistant Dean for Health Affairs and Clinical Associate Professor in the Steve Hicks School of Social Work. Her practice interests include social justice, mental health, and working with LGBTQIA+ communities. She worked with students at the UT Counseling and Mental Health Center from 2003-2012. Her project is about understanding Critical Race Theory and how it can be added as an additional theory in the curriculum to help social work faculty and students explore inequitable systems that marginalize people.

Stacy Sparks

Stacy Sparks is a Professor of Instruction in the Molecular Biosciences Department and the Biology Instructional Office. She serves on the Core Curriculum Advisory Committee and has been actively involved in the TX Mindset Initiative Fellowship and its follow-up project, “Mindset Matters for Student Success.” Previously, Stacy directed the Chemistry Learning Assistant Program, where she oversaw an experiential learning opportunity for 80 undergraduate students each semester, helping them develop teaching and leadership skills.

Pauline Strong

Dr. Pauline Strong is a Professor of Anthropology and served as director of the Humanities Institute and its Difficult Dialogues Program from 2009 until 2022. She is also affiliated with American Studies, Native American and Indigenous Studies, Women’s and Gender Studies, and Human Dimensions of Organizations. Her research focuses on representations and self-representations of indigenous people in the US, and her teaching areas include cultural anthropology, feminist anthropology, culture and health, museum studies, youth organizations, and indigenous cultures and histories.

Danica Sumpter

Danica strives to maintain an evidence-based teaching practice as a Clinical Associate Professor in the School of Nursing. In addition to focusing on learner needs, she also prioritizes faculty development. Her previous work as division chair, past co-chair of the DEI Committee, and with the Black Mamas Community Collective all serve to inform her current efforts as a Macy Faculty Scholar.

Kristina Zvinakis