The ϡȱÁÔÆæÍø (ϡȱÁÔÆæÍø) Kirwan Center for Academic Innovation is pleased to announce the appointment of three Senior Fellows for the 2026-2027 academic year. These faculty leaders will play a pivotal role in advancing the Kirwan Center’s mission to foster excellence in teaching, learning, and scholarship across the system’s 12 institutions.
As higher education continues to evolve, these Senior Fellows will provide the expertise and mentorship necessary to support faculty in navigating emerging technologies, conducting rigorous educational research, and measuring the impact of innovative pedagogical practices.
Senior Fellow in Generative AI Pedagogy
Dr. Casey Stratton, Assistant Professor in Communication at Salisbury University, has been named the Senior Fellow in Generative AI Pedagogy.
As Generative AI continues to transform the landscape of higher education, the Kirwan Center is committed to ensuring ϡȱÁÔÆæÍø faculty are leaders in the ethical and effective integration of these tools. In this role, Dr. Stratton will partner with Kirwan Center staff to co-lead a series of workshops throughout the fall semester, guiding a cohort of faculty fellows in exploring innovative AI pedagogies and best practices. Dr. Stratton will then mentor these fellows as they design and develop their own faculty training workshops, which they will deliver across the ϡȱÁÔÆæÍø system in the spring. This cascading model of professional development ensures that cutting-edge generative AI practices reach faculty at all 12 institutions, fostering a system-wide culture of innovation and ethical AI integration.
Senior Fellow for Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL)
Dr. Karen Chen, Associate Professor in Data Science at UMBC, will serve as the Senior Fellow for the Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL).
The SoTL fellowship bridges the gap between classroom practice and systematic inquiry. Dr. Chen will lead the 2026-2027 SoTL Fellows cohort, providing expert guidance on refining research questions, selecting methodologies, and navigating the IRB process. Throughout the year, Dr. Chen will mentor faculty through the lifecycle of their research, from initial data collection to the preparation of manuscripts for peer-reviewed publication. This leadership ensures that ϡȱÁÔÆæÍø faculty continue to contribute significantly to the global conversation on evidence-based teaching.
Senior Fellow for Assessment & Evaluation
Dr. Luciana Zuest, Professor in Kinesiology at Towson University, has been selected as the Senior Fellow for Assessment & Evaluation.
Understanding the effectiveness of educational initiatives is essential for sustainable innovation. Dr. Zuest will lead the design and implementation of evaluation strategies for various Kirwan Center programs. By collecting and analyzing both quantitative and qualitative data, Dr. Zuest will develop data visualizations and reporting materials that communicate program impact to internal and external stakeholders. This role is vital for ensuring that the Kirwan Center’s initiatives remain data-driven and responsive to the evolving needs of faculty across all ϡȱÁÔÆæÍø campuses.
A System-Wide Impact
The appointment of these three distinguished faculty members underscores the ϡȱÁÔÆæÍø’s commitment to faculty-led innovation. By partnering with faculty leaders from Salisbury University, UMBC, and Towson University, the Kirwan Center ensures that cutting-edge pedagogical research and practices are shared and implemented across our institutions. This collaborative approach allows us to scale student and faculty success initiatives that meet the unique needs of our campus constituents and benefit the entire state.
To learn more about Dr. Stratton, Dr. Chen, and Dr. Zuest, visit the Kirwan Center staff page.
