2011-12 Faculty Fellows
The three 2011-12 faculty fellows were chosen in December 2010 after an open call for applications:
Conway Fellow for Jesuit Education (associated with the Conway Institute for Jesuit Education)
Michael Goldweber
Department of Mathematics and Computer Science
The goal of this proposed fellowship is to develop an overseas service learning semester in computing. The service learning semester would strive to focus students to consider the following fundamental question; Instead of using computers to make money or do basic scientific research, how can one use computing to do good in the world?"
Since computing students rarely study abroad, let alone undertake a service learning semester, developing a service learning experience in computing fills a very acute need. The goal would be to partner with other Jesuit universities to create a biennial experience that would draw computing students from any of the partner institutions who together will undertake a service project where computing can play a significant contributing role.
Faculty Fellow for International Education (associated with the Center for International Education)
Diane Ceo-DiFrancesco
Department of
Modern Languages
Xavier students who participate in study abroad programs typically report life changing experiences, especially those programs that are tied to language study, cross?cultural understanding, service, community engaged work and interaction with native speakers. Regrettably, the number of students involved in such life changing experiences is quite low. From Fall 2007 through Summer 2009, only 4% of Xavier students, both graduate and undergraduate, were involved in some type of university related international experience. This proposal for the faculty fellowship includes strategy implementation to encourage an increase in student and faculty involvement in international academic experiences as a means to fulfill more completely the goals of a Jesuit education. In addition, a classroom based research design will examine the role of intercultural communication through the latest in technology application and its impact on student attitude, cross cultural sensitivity and future engagement in study abroad experiences..
Faculty Fellow for Sustainability (associated with the Xavier University Sustainability Committee)
John Fairfield
Department of History
Abstract:
I propose to develop an interdisciplinary course on ?the future of the city,? focused on urban sustainability, that can be offered as an elective in the environmental studies minor. I will spend the summer of 2011 doing directed readings in ecology, economics, and related fields with the guidance of colleagues from Xavier and the University of Cincinnati?s Center for Sustainable Urban Environments (CSUE). During the academic year 2011-12, I will take the two required courses in the environmental studies minor, BIOL 250 Ecology and ECON 320 Natural Resource Economics, and participate in a project at the CSUE. In the spring of 2012 I will offer the ?future of the city? course, which will include three, week-long presentations from faculty in diverse disciplines. The course will be blocked with POLI 329 Public Policy Practice, in which the students research and engage a public policy issue related to urban sustainability.