Faculty Prepare for the New Semester

Preparation for the new semester begins long before the end of summer, but for faculty, an important part of that preparation is the Fall Retreat.

On August 22, professors came together for a time of conversation, reflection, and worship, participating in presentations and breakout sessions under the retreat’s theme “Formed and Being Formed: Responding to God’s Call as Christian Scholars and Teachers.”

“The day provided a wonderful time to think about how we as faculty are engaged in the process of formation as we respond to God’s call on our lives as Christian teachers and scholars,” said Dr. Mackenzi Huyser ’97, dean for faculty development and academic programs.  “The opportunity to reflectively think and share how we approach this work was a true joy.”

Huyser also expressed her gratitude to the faculty development committee for casting a vision for the retreat and for each colleague who contributed.

Long-time Trinity colleagues welcomed new faculty members Janet Chaney, nursing; Dr. Eric Goddard, history; Dr. Jeff Nyhoff, computer science; Dr. Ben Ribbens, theology; Marianne Schallmo, nursing; and Darren Zancan, communication arts.

A special time was devoted to recognizing and celebrating the scholarly activity professors engaged in through conference participation, exhibitions, performances, presentations, publications, and awards.

Breakout sessions led by professors covered a wide array of topics and disciplines:

Mindfulness, Dr. Mary Lynn Colosimo, Psychology

Where do we begin? Preparing for a Hospitable Welcome, Tina Decker ’06, Nursing

The Cycle of Academic Life: How having a good summer makes for a good year and vice versa, Dr. Michael DeVries ’74, Psychology

My syllabi are done, but my students are not; oh, and neither am I, Dr. Karen Dieleman, English

Renewing the Mind and Spirit for the Academic Year, Dr. Derrick Hassert, Psychology

A Contemplative Framework for Our Work as Worship, Dr. Mary Webster Moore, Education

Generation or regeneration? John Bakker, Art & Design

What’s So Great about Interim: Using Interim to Collaborate, Envision, Innovate, and Rest, Dr. Bill Boerman-Cornell, Education

Imagining and Reimagining the Classroom, Cini Bretzlaff-Holstein, Social Work, and Dr. Abbie Schrotenboer, Biology

Strategies to Promote Student-Faculty Research, Dr. Bob Boomsma ’77 Biology

Catch You on the Flippity Flip! Rebecca Harkema, Education

Research on First Generation and Pell Grant Students at Trinity: Refining our Success, Dr. Sharon Robbert, Mathematics, and Dr. Keith Starkenburg, Theology