{"id":6,"date":"2015-03-05T19:35:45","date_gmt":"2015-03-05T19:35:45","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sites.owu.edu\/finald\/?page_id=2"},"modified":"2026-09-28T12:59:27","modified_gmt":"2026-09-28T16:59:27","slug":"home","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/sites.owu.edu\/smith-center\/","title":{"rendered":"Welcome to Smith Center for Faculty Excellence!"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignfull size-large has-custom-border\" style=\"margin-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--40)\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/sites.owu.edu\/smith-center\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/227\/2026\/06\/smithcenter-e1782762600770-1024x368.jpg\" alt=\"Sunny view on campus with Slocum Hall on the left and University Hall on the right\" class=\"wp-image-314\" style=\"border-top-left-radius:5px;border-top-right-radius:5px;border-bottom-left-radius:5px;border-bottom-right-radius:5px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<h1 class=\"wp-block-heading\" style=\"margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;text-transform:none\">Welcome to Smith Center for Faculty Excellence<\/h1>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-palette-color-2-color has-text-color has-link-color wp-elements-1 wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"margin-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);margin-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--50);font-size:clamp(0.875rem, 0.875rem + ((1vw - 0.2rem) * 0.531), 1.3rem);font-style:normal;font-weight:500\"><em>We are so glad you stopped by!<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" style=\"margin-top:0\">Our Mission<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Established through the generous support of Kathy (\u201971) and Alton Smith, the Smith Center for Faculty Excellence fosters collaborative teacher-scholar engagement to empower faculty and drive student success. Grounded in five core pillars, our mission is to:&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li style=\"margin-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);margin-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20)\">Cultivate the next generation of faculty&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li style=\"margin-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);margin-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20)\">Advance pedagogical excellence<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li style=\"margin-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);margin-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20)\">Foster a vibrant teacher-scholar community&nbsp;<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li style=\"margin-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);margin-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20)\">Support scholarly endeavors<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li style=\"margin-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20);margin-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--20)\">Elevate and champion faculty success<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Currently, we fulfill our mission by providing an extended orientation as well as mentoring to first-year faculty and through Faculty Learning Communities, Scholarship Roundtables, Teaching Circle, Smith Center Conversations, various workshops, book clubs, and one-on-one consultations available to all faculty. In addition, our website is designed to be a 24\/7 resource that serves both full-time and part-time faculty looking for ideas, advice, or inspiration related to teaching and learning.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Our Vision<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">To cultivate faculty excellence in teaching, mentorship, and scholarship, empowering them as transformative educators who inspire OWU students to achieve their aspirations, impact the world, and lead fulfilling lives.&nbsp;<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Our Impact<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"external-link wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/drive.google.com\/file\/d\/1zfyrt7s8gitEusPND2KeI6EXpIgM9zgc\/view?usp=sharing\" rel=\"nofollow\">Read the 2025-2026 Smith Center Impact Report<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n<hr class=\"wp-block-separator has-alpha-channel-opacity is-style-dots\" style=\"margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0\" \/>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\" style=\"margin-top:var(--wp--preset--spacing--50)\">Meet Our New Faculty (2026-27)<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">We are excited to welcome six new tenure-track Assistant Professors and one Visiting Assistant Professor to our teacher-scholar community. Meet Esther Akheituame (Journalism and Communication), Caio Batista de Melo (Math\/CS), Hayden Bishop (Chemistry), Matthew Bowser (History), Leslie MacColman (Sociology), Abby Trollinger (History), and Patrick Wensink (English).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group is-vertical is-layout-flex wp-container-core-group-is-layout-439c5fd0 wp-block-group-is-layout-flex\" style=\"padding-right:0;padding-left:0\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-7d1361ac wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\" style=\"padding-right:0;padding-left:0\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:50%\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large has-custom-border is-style-default\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/sites.owu.edu\/smith-center\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/227\/2026\/08\/unnamed-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1943\" style=\"border-top-left-radius:5px;border-top-right-radius:5px;border-bottom-left-radius:5px;border-bottom-right-radius:5px;aspect-ratio:4\/3\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sites.owu.edu\/smith-center\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/227\/2026\/08\/unnamed-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/sites.owu.edu\/smith-center\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/227\/2026\/08\/unnamed-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/sites.owu.edu\/smith-center\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/227\/2026\/08\/unnamed-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/sites.owu.edu\/smith-center\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/227\/2026\/08\/unnamed-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/sites.owu.edu\/smith-center\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/227\/2026\/08\/unnamed.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\" style=\"flex-basis:50%\">\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large has-custom-border\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"768\" src=\"https:\/\/sites.owu.edu\/smith-center\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/227\/2026\/08\/unnamed-1-1024x768.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-1944\" style=\"border-top-left-radius:5px;border-top-right-radius:5px;border-bottom-left-radius:5px;border-bottom-right-radius:5px;aspect-ratio:4\/3\" srcset=\"https:\/\/sites.owu.edu\/smith-center\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/227\/2026\/08\/unnamed-1-1024x768.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/sites.owu.edu\/smith-center\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/227\/2026\/08\/unnamed-1-300x225.jpg 300w, https:\/\/sites.owu.edu\/smith-center\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/227\/2026\/08\/unnamed-1-768x576.jpg 768w, https:\/\/sites.owu.edu\/smith-center\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/227\/2026\/08\/unnamed-1-1536x1152.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/sites.owu.edu\/smith-center\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/227\/2026\/08\/unnamed-1.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<blockquote class=\"wp-block-quote is-layout-flow wp-block-quote-is-layout-flow\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\" style=\"font-size:clamp(0.875rem, 0.875rem + ((1vw - 0.2rem) * 0.281), 1.1rem);\">The first photo from left to right, starting with the back row: Patrick Wensink, Matt Bowser, Caio Batista de Melo, Hayden Bishop, Abby Trollinger, Esther Akheituame, Leslie MacColman<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Need Support?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group equal-height-container is-layout-grid wp-container-core-group-is-layout-984dc50c wp-block-group-is-layout-grid\" style=\"margin-bottom:var(--wp--preset--spacing--30)\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons wp-container-content-59da7104 is-horizontal is-content-justification-left is-layout-flex wp-container-core-buttons-is-layout-ef76f33d wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div style=\"--wp--block-button--width: 100;\" class=\"wp-block-button mobile-full-width is-style-outline equal-height-item has-custom-width wp-block-button__width wp-block-button__width-100 is-style-outline--1\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/docs.google.com\/forms\/d\/e\/1FAIpQLSf3RFvqNndaStLnfCDEGWMxRU7zEKd77Elv0fBNWut7IwSQSw\/viewform?usp=publish-editor\" style=\"padding-right:0;padding-left:0\">Request a Confidential Consultation<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-horizontal is-content-justification-left is-layout-flex wp-container-core-buttons-is-layout-ef76f33d wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div style=\"--wp--block-button--width: 100;\" class=\"wp-block-button mobile-full-width is-style-outline equal-height-item has-custom-width wp-block-button__width wp-block-button__width-100 is-style-outline--2\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/docs.google.com\/forms\/d\/e\/1FAIpQLSd3Q-2wDT4qi_QKHDQp1OHu020LIphMBXgAYAqfUeNPrDahMQ\/viewform?usp=publish-editor\">Request a Formative Teaching Observation<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-horizontal is-content-justification-left is-layout-flex wp-container-core-buttons-is-layout-ef76f33d wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div style=\"--wp--block-button--width: 100;\" class=\"wp-block-button is-style-outline mobile-full-width equal-height-item has-custom-width wp-block-button__width wp-block-button__width-100 is-style-outline--3\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"https:\/\/docs.google.com\/forms\/d\/e\/1FAIpQLSdEzzpSPhblsndXCoZvS86Rf1Yn8PWKZ0VIYsBDue_lxFBS9w\/viewform?usp=publish-editor\">Request Assistance with Midsemester Feedback<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-group equal-height-container is-layout-grid wp-container-core-group-is-layout-d28b990a wp-block-group-is-layout-grid\" style=\"margin-top:0;margin-bottom:0;padding-top:0;padding-bottom:0\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-horizontal is-content-justification-left is-layout-flex wp-container-core-buttons-is-layout-ef76f33d wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div style=\"--wp--block-button--width: 100;\" class=\"wp-block-button is-style-outline mobile-full-width has-custom-width wp-block-button__width wp-block-button__width-100 is-style-outline--4\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"mailto:bjbird@owu.edu\">Email Barb Bird <br>(Director of the Smith Center)<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-buttons is-horizontal is-content-justification-left is-layout-flex wp-container-core-buttons-is-layout-ef76f33d wp-block-buttons-is-layout-flex\">\n<div style=\"--wp--block-button--width: 100;\" class=\"wp-block-button mobile-full-width is-style-outline has-custom-width wp-block-button__width wp-block-button__width-100 is-style-outline--5\"><a class=\"wp-block-button__link wp-element-button\" href=\"mailto:arcolvin@owu.edu\">Email Andrea Colvin<br>(Assistant Director of the Smith Center)<\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Welcome to Smith Center for Faculty Excellence We are so glad you stopped by! Our Mission Established through the generous support of Kathy (\u201971) and Alton Smith, the Smith Center for Faculty Excellence fosters collaborative teacher-scholar engagement to empower faculty and drive student success. Grounded in five core pillars, our mission is to:&nbsp; Currently, we [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-6","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"blocksy_meta":{"has_hero_section":"default","hero_section":"type-2","styles_descriptor":{"styles":{"desktop":"","tablet":"","mobile":""},"google_fonts":[],"version":8},"hero_alignment2":"center","hero_structure":"normal","disable_featured_image":"no","hero_elements":[{"id":"custom_title","enabled":true,"heading_tag":"h1","title":"Home","__id":"3baaTRb7Y9AcUe9BnL54y"},{"id":"custom_description","enabled":true,"description_visibility":{"desktop":true,"tablet":true,"mobile":false},"__id":"6Jld9P_rvg7dgKEBPkW0n"},{"id":"custom_meta","enabled":false,"meta_elements":[{"id":"author","enabled":true,"label":"By","has_author_avatar":"yes","avatar_size":25},{"id":"post_date","enabled":true,"label":"On","date_format_source":"default","date_format":"M j, Y"},{"id":"updated_date","enabled":false,"label":"On","date_format_source":"default","date_format":"M j, Y"},{"id":"categories","enabled":false,"label":"In","style":"simple"},{"id":"comments","enabled":true}],"page_meta_elements":{"joined":true,"articles_count":true,"comments":true},"__id":"Ufa37SctzO3BZhfhXdES3"},{"id":"breadcrumbs","enabled":false,"__id":"BZgIyGIhjb3lKWSYN9fcc"}],"pageTitleFontColor":{"default":{"color":"var(--theme-palette-color-7)"}}},"post_mailing_queue_ids":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.owu.edu\/smith-center\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/6","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.owu.edu\/smith-center\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.owu.edu\/smith-center\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.owu.edu\/smith-center\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/4"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sites.owu.edu\/smith-center\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6"}],"version-history":[{"count":229,"href":"https:\/\/sites.owu.edu\/smith-center\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/6\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2419,"href":"https:\/\/sites.owu.edu\/smith-center\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/6\/revisions\/2419"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sites.owu.edu\/smith-center\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}