A search committee has been appointed to identify internal candidates for the position of director of the Schreyer Institute for Innovation in Learning to replace Larry Spence, who will step down as director June 30, 2000. Spence will continue his work with the institute serving as a senior associate for one year and then retire.
Ingrid M. Blood, associate vice provost and associate dean for undergraduate education, is search committee chair.
The institute is a think tank for reassessing and redesigning undergraduate education in America. It supports faculty to create classroom innovations, alternative instructional designs, and new motivations to inquiry. The director serves as principal academic leader of the institute in a full-time position, and reports to the executive vice president and provost of the University. The Schreyer Institute is linked with The Schreyer Honors College to create a model for undergraduate education unique in American higher education.
Candidates are expected to have significant academic achievement with credentials appropriate for a tenured appointment at the preferred rank of professor with a record of interdepartmental and cross-college collaborations, administrative experience and leadership. Excellent interpersonal skills are required. The position also requires an individual who shows evidence of a strong commitment to improving and advancing learning and teaching. Strengths in cognitive psychology, educational assessment, computer-technology, statistics, curricular innovation and diversity are desirable.
Duties include stimulating and enabling University-wide communication and collaboration on learning and teaching; advancing the University goals of supporting initiatives in learning and teaching; promoting integration of teaching, research and service with special reference to knowledge-seeking and research skills for undergraduates, international and intercultural opportunities, and new models for learning and its assessment. Success in this role depends heavily upon cooperation with a variety of University offices. The incumbent will be expected to seek and establish funding from governmental and foundation agencies for special projects concerning learning and teaching. In addition, the director will be expected to work with the office of Development and Alumni Relations to seek gift support through alumni and corporations.
The search committee will review applications and nominations beginning Sept. 8, and will continue to receive them until an appointment is made. A letter of application, curriculum vita and the names of three references should be submitted to Ingrid Blood, chair of the Search Committee for Director of the Schreyer Institute for Innovation in Learning, Penn State, 201 Old Main, University Park, Pa. 16802. In addition to a paper copy, the search committee would like to receive applications or nominations on a diskette or by e-mail sent to PSUSearch@psu.edu. The appointment will be effective July 1, 2000. You can find more information on the Schreyer Institute for Innovation in Learning on the Web at http://www.inov8.psu.edu/.
Other members of the committee are: Josephine M. Carubia, coordinator of student programs and service learning, Schreyer Honors College; Brian C. Clark, director, Office of Veterans Programs; Frederick R. Eisele, associate professor of health policy and administration; Desha Girod, undergraduate student; John T. Harwood, director, Education Technology Services, Center for Academic Computing; Elizabeth Hawthorne director of academic programs and associate professor of higher education; R. Scott Kretchmar, professor of exercise and sport science; Lisa F. Lenze, associate director, Schreyer Institute for Innovation in Learning; Thomas A. Litzinger, director, Leonhard Center; Lauri L. Perman, assistant dean, Schreyer Honors College; and Channa C. Reddy, distinguished professor of veterinary science.