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Birmingham-Southern announces 2018-19 Vail teaching and research fellows
Birmingham-Southern announces 2018-19 Vail teaching and research fellows
For Immediate Release
May. 7, 2018
BIRMINGHAM, Ala.—Ten Birmingham-Southern College students have been awarded fellowships that will allow them to collaborate with their professors on teaching or research projects during the 2018-19 academic year.
The competitive BSC Charles B. Vail College Fellows Program allows students to hone their skills in a particular area while working closely with faculty members in teaching, research, publishing, and conference presentations. It offers students opportunities for growth and development rarely found in the traditional undergraduate classroom.
“The program provides a unique and rich opportunity for students and faculty to work side-by-side on impactful projects,” said Dr. Brad Caskey, BSC provost. “Such close collaborations result in the generation of creative classroom practices and meaningful scholarly work across a broad range of topics.”
The program has two tiers. Students in the first tier—Teaching Fellows and Research Fellows—receive academic credit. Students in the second tier—Distinguished Teaching and Research Fellows—are involved in longer, more extensive projects and receive $1,000 tuition stipends.
A contribution from Bessemer native and longtime educator Dr. Charles B. Vail ’45, president emeritus of Winthrop College, endowed the Vail College Fellows Program at BSC in 1994. More information on the program can be found here.
The 2018-19 Vail fellows, partner faculty, and projects are:
Taylor Anderson, a sophomore business major from Greer, S.C., will be a distinguished teaching fellow for THA 111 this fall with Professor of Theatre Matthew Mielke.
Taylor Andrews, a senior psychology major from Watkinsville, Ga., will be a distinguished teaching fellow this fall with Assistant Professor of Psychology Dr. Joe Chandler ’03, on “Implementing Evidence-Based Learning Strategies for Facilitating Neuroanatomy Mastery in Biological Psychology.”
Michael Barren, a sophomore music major from Montgomery, will be a teaching assistant this fall and spring for MU 251 and 252 with Joseph Hugh Thomas Professor of Music Dr. Lester Seigel ’79.
Sy Butler, a junior sociology major from Childersburg, Ala., will be a research fellow this fall and spring with Visiting Instructor of Sociology Stephanie Hansard, on “Mental Health and the Black Church.”
Hannah Collier, a junior sociology major from Birmingham, will be a distinguished research fellow this summer, fall, and winter with Assistant Professor of Sociology Dr. Meghan Mills, on What Should Disability Look Like?: Why Age Matters.”
Charity Furr, a junior business major from Nashville, will be a teaching fellow this fall with BSC Professor of Theatre Dr. Alan Litsey on “Beginning Acting Experiential Learning Project Design.”
Olivia Hall, a junior economics major from Birmingham, will be a distinguished research fellow this fall and spring with BSC Assistant Professor of Economics Dr. Guangjun Qu, on “Leadership Styles and Organizational Performance: Evidence from the Public Sector.”
Abigail Henken, a senior musical theatre major from Huntsville, will be a distinguished teaching fellow this fall with former CASE/Carnegie Alabama Professor of the Year and Professor of Theatre Michael Flowers, on “Intermediate Acting.”
Jackson Massey, a senior theatre major from Montgomery, will be a distinguished teaching fellow this fall with former CASE/Carnegie Alabama Professor of the Year and Professor of Theatre Michael Flowers, on “Musical Theatre I.”
Rebecca Weston, a senior mathematics major from Burke, Va., will be a research fellow this fall and spring with Dr. Amber Wagner, assistant professor of creative and applied computing, on “Teaching Math Through Storytelling.”
About Birmingham-Southern College:
Birmingham-Southern College is a four-year, private liberal arts institution in Birmingham, Ala., founded in 1856 and affiliated with the United Methodist Church. It enrolls about 1,300 students from more than 30 states and 8 foreign countries. Learn more online at www.bsc.edu.