This week, SGA representatives heard from Dr. Jennifer Rosales, the Executive Director of the Center for Engaged Pedagogy, and her plans for creating inclusive learning spaces, educating faculty, and the value of students’ input about the education they’re receiving.

Barnard’s Student Government Association gathered on Monday night to hear from Dr. Jennifer Rosales, the Executive Director of the Center for Engaged Pedagogy, on her plans to improve the experiences of Barnard students and faculty. The Center’s working mission statement mentions deepening the academic engagement of students and faculty by creating more inclusive and diverse curricula, fostering student-faculty relationships, and supporting the overall well-being of the community.

 Dr. Rosales began in her current role in September 2019. She was formerly the Director of Research and Evaluation at Georgetown University’s Center for Social Justice Research, Teaching and Service, where she facilitated faculty and student research on social justice issues. She mentioned her past role with regard to the similarities between Barnard and Georgetown: as top schools that pride themselves on their hands-on approach to learning, and focus on stellar faculty doing the teaching, not teaching assistants. Her main goal is to look critically at the learning and teaching occurring at Barnard and develop programs and resources to improve it.Dr. Rosales’ efforts work alongside those of Inaugural Vice President for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Ariana González who hosts 10-minute workshops with faculty on topics such as pronouns with Barnard English professor, Dr. Saskia Hamilton.

The Center for Engaged Pedagogy works with Barnard faculty in a variety of capacities. Along with Holly Tedder of the Center for Accessibility Resources and Disability Services, Dr. Rosales led a workshop for faculty on accessibility. She also would like to implement “Failed Forward” dinners: spaces where faculty members could talk openly about their failures with students, and the lessons they learned from these experiences. The Center for Engaged Pedagogy has also brought in faculty from Dartmouth, Princeton, and Syracuse to address their Barnard colleagues about restructuring courses for greater inclusivity. 

Furthermore, the Center has also fostered connections with Barnard students. Dr. Rosales plans to work with the FLI group in a workshop series about student-faculty relations. She also proposed senior thesis groups, where Barnard seniors can work together and find help and support as they navigate the sometimes daunting task of writing a thesis. In the future, Dr. Rosales would like to establish paid positions for students within the Center, whether that is sitting in on a class and giving feedback to the professor on what they can improve, or further developing relationships between the Center and affinity groups.

The Center for Engaged Pedagogy is located in Milstein 126. Their open hours are from 11 AM to 1 PM, Wednesday to Friday, and Dr. Rosales holds office hours from 11 AM to 1 PM on Fridays or by appointment.

Editor’s Note 1/30/2020 2:30 PM: This article was edited for correction. Dr. Ariana González runs the faculty workshops, not Dr. Rosales as previously stated.

fourth floor of the milstein center from studious Bwogger