Highlights From the Office of the Provost and Academic Affairs

As the office responsible for providing the academic vision and leadership of the College, the Office of the Provost oversees academic programs, faculty affairs and the College’s support functions with the goal of ensuring the College of Charleston fulfills its institutional mission and goals.

Below are some highlights from the Office of the Provost.

In fall 2021, the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CETL) launched, with Margaret Hagood, professor of teacher education, as director. CETL provides faculty with resources, workshops, presentations, small group seminars and academic coaching for advancing faculty research and holistic development.

In spring 2022, after a four-semester hiatus, the Center for International Education launched full-time study-abroad programs through CofC programs in Trujillo, Spain, and Florence, Italy, as well as programs with affiliates.

In Florence, Italy, three program directors – Celeste Lacroix, professor of communications; Colleen Glenn, associate professor of English; and Cara Delay, professor of history – are teaching 26 students with a view of the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore from their classroom window.

At the College’s facility in Trujillo, Spain, Antonio Pérez-Núñez, associate professor of Hispanic studies, is program director for 13 students.

In fall 2021, through iCharleston, 67 students participated in a first-year international bridge experience in Rome, Italy; Dublin, Ireland; and London, England. Of the student participants, 58 matriculated to the College.

On April 7, 2022, the College will be holding the inaugural campuswide Expo 2022, which will showcase undergraduate and graduate student research, scholarship, creative inquiry and community service. The event will be held at TD Arena from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Faculty research, scholarship and creative activity play a vital role at the College. Quality research gives faculty members well-deserved recognition, benefits students and society, and helps put the College on the map. Some examples include:

Elizabeth Blick, photography professor, had work selected for “TIME‘s Best Photojournalism of 2021” and “TIME’s Top 100 Photos of 2021.” Read more.

Paul Sánchez, director of piano studies and artistic director for the International Piano Series, had his collaborative album, Dreams of a New Day, nominated for a Grammy. Read more.

Shannon Eaves, assistant professor of African American history, received a prestigious Postdoctoral Research Leave Fellowship from the American Association of University Women. Read more.

Barry Stiefel, associate professor of historic preservation and community planning, conducted research that uncovered that the first Reform synagogue in the nation was built with unpaid labor of enslaved Africans. Read more.

John Chadwick, geology professor, received a NASA grant to study the evolution of the four largest volcanoes on Mars. Read more.

Matt Rutter, biology professor, is conducting research on genetic mutations; George Chartas, associate professor of astronomy and physics, is researching ultrafast flows; and Ashley Pagnotta, assistant professor of physics, is researching superflares. Read more.

The College of Charleston awards of distinction honor faculty members who have excelled professionally in their teaching, research, mentoring of students, professional service or advising. Nominations for the 2022 awards have been submitted, and recipients will be announced in April.

A new addition to the faculty awards is the Distinguished Undergraduate Mentor Award that recognizes faculty colleagues who provide “exceptionally high-quality mentoring to undergraduate students in individual research or creative projects throughout their careers.”

Details about the faculty awards are available on the Faculty Awards webpage.