In Pursuit of Excellence: Teaching in Christian Higher Education

Co-hosts Dr. Tom Doss and Kjell Fenn welcome Dr. Alexandra Barnett, Director of the Center for Teaching Excellence and Professor of Education at Liberty University. In this episode, Dr. Barnett discusses the importance of engaging with God's nature as a method of stress and anxiety relief, sharing practical tips for getting faculty and students out into nature.

Enjoy a special Christmas greeting from your friends at the Center for Teaching Excellence. Thank you for your support during In Pursuit of Excellence' s inaugural season. Stay tuned for Season Two, coming 2025!

Co-hosts, Kjell Fenn and Dr. Tom Doss welcome Dr. Dwayne Melton, Interim Dean of the College of Applied Studies and Academic Success at Liberty University. In this episode, Dr. Melton discusses how to set students up for success, highlighting the importance of academic support services, social and spiritual growth, and faculty involvement in pedagogical development.

Dr. Tom Doss welcomes Drs. Fred Volk and Fred Milacci, award-winning professors, research mentors, and published authors in the School of Behavioral Sciences at Liberty University. In this episode, Drs. Volk and Milacci discuss mentoring research students, outlining methods to encourage and empower up-and-coming researchers and writers as they journey through their dissertations.

Co-hosts, Drs. Alexandra Barnett and Tom Doss welcome Kjell Fenn, Assistant Professor of Education and Teaching Consultant in the Center for Teaching Excellence at Liberty University. In this episode, Professor Fenn discusses the need for students to have autonomy in higher education, and he shares practical tips on promoting student autonomy through interaction, active learning techniques, and re...

Co-hosts, Kjell Fenn and Dr. Tom Doss welcome Dr. Shelah Simpson, Professor of English and Director of the Online Writing Center at Liberty University. In this episode, Dr. Simpson emphasizes the role of professors in coaching students as they transition from high school to higher education writing, highlighting the importance of improving academic writing skills, leveraging student writing resour...

Dr. Tom Doss welcomes Dr. Shawn Bielicki, Associate Dean of the College of Applied Studies and Academic Success, and Dr. Alexandra Barnett, Director of Teaching Excellence at Liberty University. In this episode, Drs. Bielicki and Barnett explain the process behind creating academic escape rooms for active learning and how critical thinking puzzles combined with teamwork can boost learning and stud...

Co-hosts, Dr. Tom Doss and Kjell Fenn welcome Dr. Travis Holt, Associate Professor of English and a recipient of the President's Award for Excellence in Teaching at Liberty University. In this episode, Dr. Holt discusses teaching large lecture classes, sharing practical tips on facilitating large classes, fostering student engagement and relationships, and handling academic integrity concerns.

Co-hosts, Dr. Tom Doss and Kjell Fenn welcome Dr. Andrew Milacci, Professor of Spanish and a recipient of the President's Award for Excellence in Teaching at Liberty University. In this episode, Dr. Milacci discusses Project Based Learning (PBL), sharing best practices for implementing PBL, highlighting methods for overcoming common challenges associated with PBL, and providing practical examples...

Co-hosts, Dr. Tom Doss and Kjell Fenn welcome Dr. Sam Smith, Professor, Graduate Program Director, and Chair in the Department of History at Liberty University. In this episode, Dr. Smith discusses making learning real through using field trips as learning opportunities, highlighting the impact that these trips have on student experiences.

Co-hosts, Dr. Tom Doss and Kjell Fenn welcome Audrey Hammond, Executive Director of LU Sent at Liberty University. In this episode, Audrey discusses study abroad opportunities and faculty-led trips, focusing on their positive benefit on students and the missional impact of Training Champions for Christ through international academic travel.

Co-hosts, Drs. Tom Doss and Alexandra Barnett welcome Dr. David Wheeler, Senior Executive Director of LU Shepherd in the Office of Spiritual Development and Professor of Evangelism in the Rawlings School of Divinity at Liberty University. In this episode, Dr. Wheeler discusses pastoral care on the Christian college campus, sharing practical tips for caring for students spiritually and encouraging...

Co-hosts, Dr. Tom Doss and Kjell Fenn welcome Dr. Hailey Manicone, Executive Director of the Center for Applied Studies and Academic Success at Liberty University. In this episode, Dr. Manicone discusses student integration and retention, highlighting the importance of faculty involvement and sharing practical strategies for positively impacting new students in higher education.

Co-hosts, Drs. Alexandra Barnett and Tom Doss welcome Kjell Fenn, Teaching Consultant in the Center for Teaching Excellence and Assistant Professor of Education in the School of Education at Liberty University. In this episode, Fenn discusses understanding student needs, highlighting the importance of satisfying competence while sharing practical strategies for promoting perceived competence in co...

Co-hosts, Dr. Tom Doss and Kjell Fenn welcome Dr. Roger Mackey, Professor of Education in the College of Applied Studies and Academic Success at Liberty University. In this episode, Dr. Mackey shares tips on growing leaders in the college classroom by utilizing leadership programs, leveraging relationships, and applying biblical wisdom.

Co-hosts, Kjell Fenn and Dr. Tom Doss welcome Dr. Beth Koss, Residential Chair in the School of Business at Liberty University and a 2024 recipient of the Conference USA Faculty Achievement Award. In this episode, Dr. Koss shares practical tips on becoming a great teacher, discussing elements such as implementing active learning strategies, utilizing classroom discussion methods, and integrating l...

Co-hosts, Kjell Fenn and Dr. Tom Doss welcome Tamatha Anthony, Assistant Director of the Parent and Family Connections Office at Liberty University. In this episode, Professor Anthony discusses best practices for resolving issues related to the family and parents of new college students, highlighting conflict resolution and communication techniques to provide a smooth transition from home to colle...

Co-hosts, Drs. Alexandra Barnett and Tom Doss welcome Dr. Melissa Stewart, Associate Professor, Instructional Mentor, and a Program Director in the Helms School of Government at Liberty University. Dr. Stewart discusses online teaching, highlighting the importance of using proper communication, providing helpful and respectful feedback, encouraging student engagement, and leveraging technology to...

Co-hosts, Drs. Alexandra Barnett and Tom Doss welcome Dr. Alex Mason, Associate Dean of Residential Programs in the College of Arts and Sciences at Liberty University. In this episode, Dr. Mason discusses the emerging topic of artificial intelligence as it relates to the world of higher education, discussing how faculty can integrate AI into their courses, explaining how faculty can prepare their...

Co-hosts, Drs. Alexandra Barnett and Tom Doss welcome Dr. Mona Fazzina, Assistant Professor, Instructional Mentor, and Subject Matter Expert in the School of Health Sciences at Liberty University. In this episode, Dr. Fazzina discusses military student learners, sharing best practices, highlighting population needs, and encouraging faculty to support and assist their military students.

Dr. Tom Doss welcomes Drs. Cindy Goodrich and Dana Woody, Professors of Nursing at Liberty University and recipients of a 2023 IL LU MINATE Grant. In this episode, Drs. Goodrich and Woody discuss the outcomes of their learning grant, "You Are LUved." They also share the benefits of grants for students and faculty and the impact academic grants can have on the local community.

Co-hosts, Drs. Tom Doss and Alexandra Barnett welcome James Mashburn, Professor of Aviation in the School of Aeronautics at Liberty University and a 2024 recipient of the President's Award for Excellence in Teaching. In this episode, Professor Mashburn shares insights about his teaching practices, including student engagement, technological integration, Christian worldview in the classroom, an...

In this roundtable episode, Dr. Tom Doss, Dr. Shawn Bielicki, and Dr. Alexandra Barnett, from the Center for Teaching Excellence at Liberty University, discuss Teacher Appreciation Grams (TAGs), a program to promote teacher appreciation among the student population. The discussion includes the benefits of TAGs, a qualitative analysis of appreciation factors, and methods for cultivating similar tea...

Co-hosts, Dr. Tom Doss and Kjell Fenn welcome Dr. Kenny Warren, Director of the International Student Center at Liberty University. In this episode, Dr. Warren outlines how an international student center can effectively serve this special population to integrate international students into their new environment and offers strategies for faculty when working with international students. 

In this episode, Dr. Alexandra Barnett welcomes Mark Granger and Jake Byrd, educational technologists in the Center for Teaching Excellence at Liberty University. Mark and Jake discuss new technologies in higher education and outline strategies and best practices for evaluating and implementing these emergent technologies.