Rachel聽Remmel is the new executive director of the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning. She replaces Vicki Roth, who started the program 28 years ago and retired this summer.
The center鈥檚 mission is to promote quality teaching and learning through a range of programs for faculty, graduate students, and undergraduate students.
Remmel also will serve as an assistant dean. She began her new duties August 1.
鈥淲e鈥檙e excited that Rachel has moved into this role,鈥� says dean of the College Jeffrey Runner, who announced her appointment. 鈥淚鈥檝e met with her a number of times to talk about her vision for the center and am always impressed by how she sees both the big picture and the tiniest detail, focusing on the success of our students and faculty, as well as her own staff.鈥�
Remmel grew up in Portland, Maine, and received her undergraduate degree at Williams College in Williamstown, Massachusetts, and her doctorate in philosophy (art history) at the University of Chicago. She spent a decade as an assistant professor of American studies at the before moving to the River Campus in 2015 to become the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning鈥檚 assistant director for faculty development.
鈥淚鈥檝e always loved working with undergraduates,鈥� she says. 鈥淭here鈥檚 something about that age range that appeals to me. They鈥檙e trying to figure out how to navigate the academic world and what they want to study.鈥�
Remmel sees her primary role as helping students and faculty accomplish their goals.
鈥淲e want to make sure we鈥檙e supporting their academic needs and making sure they鈥檙e getting what they need鈥攖heir vision for how they want to learn and teach,鈥� she says.
Remmel plans to 鈥渂uild on the foundation鈥� Roth left, while continuing recent projects such as the Study Zone, which offers peer-supported study sessions. The program began last January.
She also hopes to expand the voluntary instructor mid-semester course evaluations, asking students what they are (or aren鈥檛) getting out of the course.
鈥淲e鈥檒l analyze the data and meet with the instructors to talk over patterns and a range of possible responses,鈥� Remmel says. 鈥淚t gives students an extra voice in the classroom and gives us the ability to help instructors make immediate changes.鈥�
