Center for Teaching and Learning
The Center for Teaching and Learning in the College of Communication Arts and Sciences helps support all instructors throughout the college in teaching innovation and student success. The Center seeks to help all ComArtSci instructors in implementing both innovative and evidence-based learning strategies in the classroom to improve students' experiences and successes.
Research demonstrates that learning environments designed with students' life experiences in mind can lead to increases in students' academic engagement, improved well-being, and more equitable outcomes (e.g., Tinto, 1987; Hurtado et al., 1998; Murphy, Steele, & Gross, 2007; Walton & Cohen, 2011; Paunesku et al., 2015; McNair et al., 2016; Yeager et al., 2016; Brady et al., 2020; Canning et al., 2021). These supportive learning environments are particularly important for structurally disadvantaged students—such as Black, Latinx, and Native American students, first-generation college students, and students from low-income backgrounds—who are more likely to face obstacles to their education.
The Center is directed by Bree Holtz (Advertising and Public Relations) and an Advisory Board. The advisory board includes Ross Chowles (Advertising and Public Relations), Allison Eden (Communication), Jeff Searl (Communicative Sciences and Disorders), Judy Walgren (Journalism), Valeta Wensloff (Media and Information), and Kari Schueller (Advising).
There are several different initiatives and programs throughout the academic year. We'll be adding to this site as we grow.
Advisory Board
The advisory board considerers and proposes initiatives; reviews and prioritizes initiatives; evaluates and expands suggested metrics; helps find external funding opportunities; provide feedback on initiative implementation; explores unit- and college-based incentives.
Faculty
Bree Holtz
Associate ProfessorDepartment
Advertising + Public RelationsDr. Holtz's research explores the adoption, perceptions, and outcomes of telemedicine, mobile phone health apps (mhealth), consumer grade sensors (i.e., Fitbit, Apple Watch, etc.), electronic medical records, AI, and social media for health topics.
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Faculty
Ross Chowles
Academic Specialist/Professor of PracticeDepartment
Advertising + Public RelationsRoss Chowles attended the Johannesburg high school for art, ballet and music. His artistic skills landed him a job as a junior art director in advertising in 1980. Since then, Chowles has spent his time creating advertising, and helping others create advertising, that impacts consumers.
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Faculty
Allison Eden
Associate ProfessorDepartment
CommunicationDr. Allison Eden (Ph.D. Michigan State University) is an associate professor in the Department of Communication.
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Faculty
Jeff Searl
ProfessorDepartment
Communicative Sciences & DisordersJeff Searl comes to the MSU Department of Communicative Sciences and Disorders with a combination of clinical experience and research that can prepare students for the practice of speech and language pathology as well as research in clinical populations.
Faculty
Valeta Wensloff
Undergraduate Director, Senior Academic Specialist & Internship CoordinatorDepartment
Media & InformationValeta evangelizes for the department by disseminating information about faculty projects, grants, and classes. She provides website, graphical, and branding support for departmental events, the Meaningful Play conference, minors (such as Serious Games and Information Technology) and Media Sandbox-related projects.
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Staff
Kari Schueller
Assistant Dean of Undergraduate StudiesDepartment
DeanContact
PhD Student
