LIFT Faculty Fellowship

Learn. Inspire. Foster. Transform.

Since 1890, the faculty at Washington State University have demonstrated a strong commitment to educating students. Our faculty are passionate about their work in classrooms, research settings, and one-on-one with WSU students. This commitment to and passion for education are what drive us to continuously improve the WSU student experience.

The LIFT Fellowship (Learn.Inspire.Foster.Transform.) is designed to support instructors in this work. We use teaching methods that have been shown to improve students’ engagement, connection, and learning, to decrease course withdrawal and fail rates, and to increase retention.

Learning outcomes

After participating in LIFT Faculty Fellows will be able to transform their courses using methods that have been shown to increase student engagement, connection, and learning. Through participation in LIFT, faculty will:

• Develop knowledge of theory and research related to active learning approaches and brief behavioral interventions
• Apply active learning techniques and brief behavioral interventions in their classes
• Support and be supported by colleagues who share their commitment to student success

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Application overview

We are currently inviting WSU faculty system-wide to join our eighth cohort of LIFT Fellows.

Applications are due by March 17, 2024 at 11:00 p.m. (Pacific). The application includes the following questions, which we recommend applicants prepare in advance in a Word document to cut and paste into the online application.

• What does academic success look like for your students?
• How do you support your students’ academic success?
• How have previous professional development opportunities facilitated your ability to meet the needs of your students?
• What is the course number for the class in which you will be implementing LIFT practices?
• What is the average enrollment for this course?
• LIFT Fellows are required to integrate a LIFT teaching practice in academic year 2024-25. Will you be able to meet this requirement? Why or why not?

  

  

  

  

  

Commitment to participate in the LIFT Faculty Fellows Program

Once accepted to the program, LIFT Faculty Fellows join an intensive learning environment as they explore and integrate evidence-based active learning and behavioral interventions in their teaching plans. LIFT Faculty Fellows agree to completing the following activities by May 15, 2025:

Date-specific meetings and trainings

• Attend the LIFT Cohort 8 2-day training on the WSU Vancouver Campus May 23 and 24.
• Complete readings and pre-reflections in preparation for in-person training modules
• Complete all LIFT evaluations
• Attend at least two of the pedagogical trainings offered by the Transformational Change Initiative, Learning Innovations, WSU Teaching Academy, or CVM Teaching Academy (other campus-specific options may be substituted with approval).
• Complete a Classroom Implementation plan detailing how you will use active learning approaches to incorporate at least one LIFT teaching practice in your classroom (e.g., resilience, social belonging, mindfulness, self-compassion, growth mind-set).
• Meet at least three times with your Peer Mentoring Pod.
• Attend a 50-minute peer observation and/or co-mentoring training session.
• Conduct a classroom observation of a current or former LIFT faculty fellow and debrief OR complete a co-mentoring activity.
• Complete a final progress report.

Additional information about these requirements will be offered by the LIFT team via email, during the training, and at subsequent times throughout the year. We work diligently to make sure you are on track and successful.

Upon completion of the program

We recognize that LIFT involves a substantial time commitment which will be recognized with:

• $2,000 for completing all LIFT Faculty Fellow requirements including the adoption and implementation of at least one brief behavioral intervention in an active learning style related to connection/social belonging, values/value-based decision-making, mindfulness/self-compassion or growth mindset/resilience.
• A certificate of completion.
• A letter of thanks, copied to your department chair and dean.

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Faculty members highlight value of LIFT

Leticia Fanucchi, DVM, PhD, WSU Veterinary Teaching Hospital

“The training program was very useful for me and I certainly learned a lot from it. The lectures and assignments were flexible and I did not feel overwhelmed by it. The team organized it really well, and gave us several opportunities to discuss our plans and activities. Also, the scholarship was much appreciated.

The highlights of the training for me were:

– Learning how to be more mindful of oneself, of the teaching (content), and more mindful of the students and their impressions/perspectives.

– Plan and gradually execute active learning without having to change your entire course overnight. You can take your time and implement one small change at a time.

– The peer observation activity was my favorite homework of the program, and I learned a lot from observing my colleague.

I highly recommend the LIFT program, not only for junior faculty, but for those who want to stay current on teaching strategies.”

Krista R.A. Nishida, Ph.D., Clinical Assistant Professor, Dept. of Chemistry

“The LIFT program has gotten a lot of us in chemistry implementing and researching additional things to benefit the students and their learning, so it was a very much appreciated opportunity. Thanks, again to the LIFT team!”

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Current LIFT Trainers

Mary Kay Patton

Human Development & Center for Transformational Learning and Leadership

Mary Kay Patton, J.D., is dedicated to nurturing the human spirit as an essential dimension of leading a rich, full, meaningful life. In so doing, she supports LIFT faculty in taking value-based committed action from a place of presence and mindfulness. Patton is a gifted facilitator, writer, educator and advocate. She was instrumental in designing the LIFT program and is convinced that its success is in large part due to the translation of evidence-based interventions into a playful, engaging and experiential training; thus elevating and reimagining the role of quality classroom teaching at land-grant institutions.

An Idaho native, Mary Kay has a bachelor’s degree in political science from the University of Washington and a J.D. from the University of Idaho.

Anna Whitehall

Human Development & Center for Transformational Learning and Leadership

My purpose in life is supporting others in discovering and developing their best selves. My position as both a professor and LIFT trainer have allowed me to live into that purpose every day. As a LIFT Fellow and LIFT Trainer I have found the evidenced based approaches that we need to make our teaching come alive and support our students on their journey to their best selves. Social belonging, growth mindset and resilience are just some of skills we all need to be our best selves and LIFT brings those to life for faculty and their students. I find such joy in seeing students have an ah-ha moment or working with a faculty member to fit the puzzle pieces of their discipline and LIFT together. I am excited to live into my purpose with a student-centered learning community.

 

Kara Whitman

School of the Environment

Many students entering college have not yet fully developed their learning skills, nor gained the confidence to self-direct that learning, and propose novel ideas and solutions.   Students at this stage in their education are also in a time of transition and are particularly susceptible to influences that will shape the mindset that will guide the type of learner they become, the skills that they acquire, and the experiences that they have during their time at the University and beyond. LIFT provides the evidence as well as ideas for approaches to enhance student self-confidence, sense of belonging, and provide a structured process to transform and/or enhance each student’s approach to growth, learning, and problem solving. I am very excited to be a LIFT Trainer and look forward to building a larger collaborative community of student-centered teachers!

 

Tri-Cities

Janet Peters

Psychology

As a teacher, I strive to engage, challenge, and spark intellectual curiosity in my students. In a perfect world, I would accomplish those goals within each course, class session, and assignment. But the reality is that teaching, good teaching, is hard. Maybe that’s why I’m passionate about it, because I like the challenge and complexity of the problem. I enjoy analyzing my classes for areas of improvement, scrutinizing my grading and course policies, developing new projects, and evaluating my own performance. But, like anyone else, I get stuck. After participating in the LIFT program as a faculty fellow, I was re-energized with fresh ideas to incorporate into my most difficult courses. Now, as a LIFT trainer, I am thrilled to be able to work with other faculty who want to positively impact their students through empirically supported interventions. I love the collaborative nature of the LIFT program and am happy to share my experiences and resources with anyone interested.

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LIFT Faculty Fellows 2021

Name	WSU Campus	College	Department
Kersten Bergstrom	Tri-Cities	CAS	Biological Sciences
Christina Chacon	Tri-Cities	Nursing	Nursing
Jia Cheng	Pullman	VCEA	Civil and Environmental Engineering
Georgina Cox	Vancouver	CAS	Biological Sciences
Ameera Fayad	Tri-Cities	Nursing	Nursing
Robert Franklin	Tri-Cities	CAS	History
Sarah Guess	Pullman	CVM	Veterinary Teaching Hospital
Khan Md Ariful Haque	Pullman	Business	Finance and Management Science
Ben Ladd	Vancouver	CAS	Psychology
Xingqiu Lou	Pullman	CAHNRS	Apparel, Merchandising, Design and Textiles
Renee Magnan	Vancouver	CAS	Psychology
Philip Morgan	Pullman	Education	Kinesiology
George Newman	Vancouver	CAS	Physics and Astronomy
Matt Peck	Pullman	CAHNRS	NIH Protein Biotechnology Training Program
Catherine Perillo	Pullman	CAHNRS	Crop and Soil Sciences
Michael Pumphrey	Pullman	CAHNRS	Crop and Soil Sciences
Jamie Rice	Pullman	VCEA	Design and Construction
Bonnie Sarkinen	Tri-Cities	Nursing	Nursing
Yuxin Zhang	Tri-Cities	VCEA	Mechanical Engineering

LIFT Faculty Fellows 2020

Name	WSU Campus	College	Department
Bob Zeng	Everett	VCEA	Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
Christa Abdul-Karim	Pullman	CAS	Anthropology
Alana Anderson	Pullman	CAHNRS	Human Development
Liz Aust	Pullman	CAS	Sociology
Jessica Bilek	Pullman	International Programs	Intensive American Language Center
Nandita Biswas	Pullman	VCEA	Mechanical and Materials Engineering
Susan Collins	Pullman	CAS	Psychology
Lynn Dils	Pullman	International Programs	Intensive American Language Center
Ken Faunce	Pullman	CAS	History
Jamie Flathers	Pullman	CAS	English
Traci Gillig	Pullman	Communication	Strategic Communication
Anne Marie Guerrettaz	Pullman	Education	Teaching and Learning
Will Hall	Pullman	CAS	Mathematics
Cara Hawkins-Jedlicka	Pullman	Communication	Strategic Communication
Kasee Hildenbrand	Pullman	Education	Kinesiology and Educational Psychology
John Hinz	Pullman	CVM	Molecular Biosciences
Nancy Irlbeck	Pullman	CAHNRS	Animal Sciences
Dipra Jha	Pullman	CCB	Hospitality Business Management
Jane Kelley	Pullman	Education	Teaching and Learning
Laura Kuhlman	Pullman	CAS	English
Amrita Lahiri	Pullman	CCB	Management, Information Systems, and Entrepreneurship
Yen-I Lee	Pullman	Communication	Strategic Communication
David Martin	Pullman	CAS	English
Leone Musgrave	Pullman	CAS	History
Erika Offerdahl	Pullman	CVM	Molecular Biosciences
Sylvia Omulo	Pullman	CVM	Global Animal Health
Jeb Owen	Pullman	CAHNRS	Entomology
Melissa Parkhurst	Pullman	CAS	Music
Wendy Raney	Pullman	Communication	Journalism and Media Production
Lauren Reed	Pullman	International Programs	Intensive American Language Center
Michael Ritter	Pullman	CAS	Politics, Philosophy, and Public Affairs
Geoffrey Ruzicki	Pullman	International Programs	Intensive American Language Center
Amanda Stahl	Pullman	CAHNRS/CAS	School of the Environment
Dana Algeo-Nichols	Spokane	Medicine	Speech and Hearing Sciences
Cindy Brigham-Althoff	Spokane	Nursing	Nursing
Kevin Fiedler	Tri-Cities	CAS	Mathematics
Yimo Liu	Tri-Cities	CAS	Biology
Shirley McIntosh	Tri-Cities	Nursing	Nursing
Sarah Roley	Tri-Cities	CAHNRS/CAS	School of the Environment
Tanja Burkhard	Vancouver	CAHNRS	Human Development
JoAnn LoSavio	Vancouver	CAS	History
Samantha Reisz	Vancouver	CAHNRS	Human Development
Lisa Vickers	Yakima	Nursing	Nursing

LIFT Faculty Fellows 2019

Name	Campus	College	Department
Brianna Valliere	Everett	CAHNRS	Food Science
Corrie Wilder	Everett	Communication	Marketing & Communications
Mark Billings	Pullman	CAHNRS/CAS	School of the Environment
Blythe Duell	Pullman	CAS	Psychology
Eman Elturki	Pullman	International Programs	Intensive American Language Center
Sharon Fraser-Allen	Pullman	International Programs	Intensive American Language Center
Megan Hall	Pullman	CAS	English
Emily Harmon	Pullman	International Programs	Intensive American Language Center
Laci Hubbard-Mattix	Pullman	CAS	Politics, Philosophy, and Public Affairs
Michelle Kistler	Pullman	Communication
Sue Lani Madsen	Pullman	VCEA	Architecture
Robert McCoy	Pullman	CAS	History
Julie Menard	Pullman	CAHNRS/CAS	School of the Environment
Brenna Miller	Pullman	CAS	History
Wannaporn Phipps	Pullman	International Programs	Intensive American Language Center
Kathleen Rodgers	Pullman	CAHNRS	Human Development
Michael Salamone	Pullman	CAS	Politics, Philosophy, and Public Affairs
Eugene Smelyansky	Pullman	CAS	History
Alexander Spradlin	Pullman	CAS	Psychology
Raymond Sun	Pullman	CAS	History
David Torick	Pullman	VCEA	Mechanical & Materials Engineering
Lisa Waananen Jones	Pullman	Communication	Journalism & Media Production
Kayla Wakulich	Pullman	CAHNRS/CAS	School of the Environment
Sarah Whitley	Pullman	CAS	Sociology
Brett Bell	Tri-Cities	CAS	History
Shannon Calderone	Tri-Cities	Education	Educational Leadership
Gina Cronrath	Tri-Cities	Nursing	Nursing
Brigit Farley	Tri-Cities	CAS	History
Rhonda Hammond	Tri-Cities	CCB	Hospitality Business Management
Maria Moscatelli	Tri-Cities	Education	Teaching and Learning
Meagan Lobnitz	Vancouver	CAS	English
Mark Stephan	Vancouver	CAS	Politics, Philosophy, and Public Affairs

 

LIFT Faculty Fellows 2018

Name	Campus	College	Department
Jacob Murray	Everett	VCEA	Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
Lucrezia Paxson	Everett	COMM	Communication
Soobin Seo	Everett	CCB	Hospitality Management
Caitlin Bletscher	Pullman	CAHNRS	Human Development
Shira Broschat	Pullman	VCEA	Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
Chris Cooney	Pullman	COMM	Communication
Rebecca Cooney	Pullman	COMM	Strategic Communication
Christine Curtis	Pullman	COMM	Communication
Lee Daffin	Pullman	CAS	Psychology
Anne Drobish-Shahat	Pullman	International Programs	Intensive American Language Center
Dave Evans	Pullman	CAS	Biological Sciences
Sam Gizerian	Pullman	CVM	Integrative Physiology and Neuroscience
Amy Heile	Pullman	CAS	English
Matthew Hudelson	Pullman	CAS	Mathematics
Chanmi Hwang	Pullman	CAHNRS	Apparel, Merchandising, Design and Textiles
Babu John Mariadoss	Pullman	CCB	International Business
Michelle Mann	Pullman	CAS	History
Ali Mehrizi-Sani	Pullman	VCEA	Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
Hallie Meredith	Pullman	CAS	Fine Arts
Margaret Mount	Pullman	International Programs	Intensive American Language Center
Holly Neibergs	Pullman	CAHNRS	Animal Sciences
Samanthan Noll	Pullman	CAS	Politics, Philosophy, and Public Affairs
Somava Pande	Pullman	COMM	Communication
Sammy Perone	Pullman	CAHNRS	Human Development
Karen Phoenix	Pullman	CAS	History
Jenni Sandstrom	Pullman	CCB	Hospitality Management
Michael Thomas	Pullman	CAS	English
Raven Weaver	Pullman	CAHNRS	Human Development
Jennifer Lodine-Chaffey	Tri-Cities	CAS	English
Robin Ebert Mays	Tri-Cities	CAS	English
Lodi Nelson	Tri-Cities	CAS	Biological Sciences
Jodi Rosso	Tri-Cities	CAHNRS + CAS	Geology
Gunjan Gakhar	Vancouver	CAS	Biological Sciences
Kristin Huggins	Vancouver	COE	Administration and Supervision
Liz Reilly Gurocak	Vancouver	CAHNRS	Economic Sciences
Kimber Saville	Vancouver	CAS	Psychology
Praveen Sekhar	Vancouver	VCEA	Electrical Engineering and Computer Science
Nanette Thrush	Vancouver	CAS	Fine Arts

LIFT Faculty Fellows 2017

Name	Campus	College	Department
Paul Buckley	Pullman	CAS	Chemistry
Lisa Carloye	Pullman	CAS	Biology
Sandra Cooper	Pullman	CAS	Math
Asaph Cousins	Pullman	CAS	Biology
Leticia Fanucchi	Pullman	CVM	Integrative Physiology and Neuroscience
Michael Finnegan	Pullman	CAS	Chemistry
Erin Gallagher	Pullman	COMM	Communication
Mark Gibson	Pullman	CAHNRS	School of Economic Sciences
Deborah Handy	Pullman	CAHNRS	Human Development
Hanjo Hellmann	Pullman	CAS	Biology
Joseph Hewa	Pullman	CAHNRS	Human Development
Leeann Hunter	Pullman	CAS	English
Jennifer Johnson	Pullman	CAHNRS/CAS	Environmental Science
Allyson King-Beall	Pullman	CAHNRS/CAS	Environmental Science
Lyudmyla Kompaniyets	Pullman	CAHNRS	School of Economic Sciences
Krista Nishida	Pullman	CAS	Chemistry
Anna Plemons	Pullman	CAS	English
Donelle (Dee) Posey	Pullman	CAS	Psychology
Alejandro Prera	Pullman	CAHNRS	School of Economic Sciences
Marsha Quinlan	Pullman	CAS	Anthropology
Judy Schultz	Pullman	COE	Sport Science
Jihyeong Son	Pullman	CAHNRS	Apparel, Merchandising, Design & Textiles
Sam Swindell	Pullman	CAS	Psychology
Paul Verrell	Pullman	CAS	Biology
Kate Watts	Pullman	CAS	English
Elizabeth Weybright	Pullman	CAHNRS	Human Development
Anna Whitehall	Pullman	CAHNRS	Human Development
Kara Whitman	Pullman	CAHNRS/CAS	Environmental Science
Srinivas Allena	Tri-Cities	VCEA	Civil and Environmental Engineering
Katherine Banks	Tri-Cities	CAS	School of Politics, Philosophy, and Public Affairs
Jesus Bravo	Tri-Cities	CCB	Management
Vanessa Cozza	Tri-Cities	CAS	English
Sena Clara Creston	Tri-Cities	CAS	Fine Arts
Gibran Escalera	Tri-Cities	CAS	English
Jonah Firestone	Tri-Cities	COE	Science Education
Mark Mansperger	Tri-Cities	CAS	Anthropology
Byron Marlowe	Tri-Cities	CCB	Hospitality Business Management
Allison Matthews	Tri-Cities	CAS	Psychology
Sarah Newcomer	Tri-Cities	COE	Literacy Education
Janet Peters	Tri-Cities	CAS	Psychology
Elsa Silva Lopez	Tri-Cities	CAS	Chemistry
Sara Sorensen Petersen	Tri-Cities	COE	Special Education
Elly Sweet	Tri-Cities	CAS	Biology
Cynthia Cooper	Vancouver	CAS	Molecular Biosciences
Dale Fortin	Vancouver	CVM	Neuroscience
Brenda Grell	Vancouver	CAS	Digital Technology and Culture
Adam McKee	Vancouver	CAS	Sociology
E. Regina McMenomy	Vancouver	CAS	English and Women Studies
Wendy Olson	Vancouver	CAS	English
Cynthia O’Rourke	Vancouver	CAS	Biology
Michael Rabby	Vancouver	CAS	Digital Technology and Culture
Aaron Whelchel	Vancouver	CAS	History
Debra Wilmington	Vancouver	CAS	Biology

Acronyms: College of Agricultural, Human and Natural Resource Sciences (CAHNRS), College of Arts and Sciences (CAS), College of Education (COE), College of Veterniary Medicine (CVM), Voiland College of Engineering and Architecture (VCEA), Carson College of Business (CCB)

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