New Faculty Prepare for 2013-14 Academic Year

  • Whitney Scott, director of the new faculty orientation and programs and professor in the Department of Child and Adolescent Development, welcomed faculty to the annual New Faculty Orientation held Aug. 20 and 21. Photo by Lee Choo.

  • Department of Art faculty member Mario Ontiveros shared his experiences as a new faculty member with new tenure-track faculty. Ontiveros was among several current faculty who attended and shared their experiences and pedagogical ideas during the event. Photo by Lee Choo.

  • Nate Thomas, Department of Cinema and Television Arts professor and president of the CSUN chapter of the California Faculty Association, answered new faculty questions after his presentation about the employee group on Aug. 20. Photo by Victor Kamont.

  • Dean Mark Stover welcomed new faculty to the Oviatt Library. The library was one of several areas to make presentations including the Office of Human Resources, the Division of Information Technology and the Division of Student Affairs. Photo by Victor Kamont.

  • CSUN President Dianne F. Harrison welcomed new tenure-track faculty to her home for a special reception on Aug. 22. Photo by Lee Choo.

California State University, Northridge’s new faculty were treated to lessons on a variety of topics, from useful technology to pedagogical ideas that help engage students, at the annual New Faculty Orientation held Aug. 20 and 21.

Nearly all of the 30 newly tenure-track faculty hired this semester attended the annual event, which was themed “S.H.I.N.E.: Strategies, Highlights, Individualized, Networking and Emotions.”

“We completed another successful event due to the creativity, engagement and shining CSUN pride of our team,” said Whitney Scott, director of the new faculty orientation and programs and professor in the Department of Child and Adolescent Development.

She said the event models interactive and learning-centered teaching strategies; highlights only the most critical new faculty information; reveals the individual strengths and talents of new faculty; and offers a personalized experience facilitating networking and relationships and an atmosphere filled with positive emotions.

“I really enjoyed the creative activities,” said Kaitlin O’Keefe, a new faculty member in the Department of Health Sciences. O’Keefe said she particularly enjoyed a session about “pedagogical ideas” presented by several “seasoned” faculty.

Shyrea Minton, a new faculty member in the Department of Educational Psychology and Counseling, said the program was “excellent.”

“I’m looking forward to the semester and teaching here,” Minton said. “I was attracted to this campus because of its focus on community, and the diversity is amazing.”

There were presentations made by the Office of Human Resources, the Division of Information Technology, the Division of Student Affairs and the Oviatt Library. In addition, members of the men’s and women’s soccer teams stopped by to assist with special exercise breaks, a CSUN student a cappella vocal group serenaded the new faculty, student orientation leaders provided tours of the campus and President Dianne F. Harrison hosted a special reception for new faculty at her home on Aug. 22.

For more information about the New Faulty Orientation, visit the Office of Faculty Development webpage or contact Whitney Scott at whitney.scott@csun.edu.

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