Two Ivan Allen College of Liberal Arts (IAC) faculty members were selected for the 2022 Provost Fellows for Faculty Development (PFFD) Program. Andy Frazee, director of the Writing and Communication Program (WCP) in the School of Literature, Media, and Communication, and Jan Uelzmann, associate chair and associate professor of German in the School of Modern Languages, will serve as fellows from January thru December 2022.

The PFFD Program brings together faculty leaders from across campus to “envision and help expand a professional development program at Georgia Tech that supports faculty.” During their one-year term, fellows learn new skills and enhance their own leadership capabilities while working together to build professional development initiatives that are “for faculty, by faculty, and about faculty.”

The 2022 PFFD cohort also includes:

• Alex Duncan, associate director of student experience, College of Computing
• Joyelle Harris, senior academic professional, College of Engineering
• Gabi Steinbach, postdoctoral researcher, College of Sciences
• Eunhwa Yang, assistant professor, College of Design

Frazee serves as the WCP director after serving as associate director from 2012-2021. In his role, he supports the teaching, research, service, and professional development of 40 Marion L. Brittain Postdoctoral Fellows and WCP lecturers. He established a formal system of teaching observation and formative pedagogical feedback to aid the Brittain Fellows’ professional development. In addition, he puts together ongoing pedagogical workshops and other programming.

“My hope is that the training and collaboration the program offers will strengthen my ability to help Brittain Postdoctoral Fellows grow over the three years of the fellowship and into their next jobs,” Frazee said. “Georgia Tech’s connection with industry makes it an ideal place for Brittain Fellows to consider what a pivot to non-academic career options might look like. I'm really looking forward to working with the other Fellows to further the Brittain Fellowship's and Georgia Tech's ability to be a leader in conceiving the future of postdoctoral training.”

Uelzmann was appointed associate chair of the School of Modern Languages in 2019. That fall, he started the “School of Modern Languages Faculty Research Brownbag Series,” which serves as an opportunity for faculty to present in-progress research projects, make new research connections, and celebrate the intellectual diversity of the School. In spring 2020, he launched the IAC Faculty Development Mentor Program together with Carol Colatrella, former associate dean of graduate studies and faculty development and professor in the School of Literature, Media, and Communication. The program is designed to foster faculty development and research networks across school lines.

“I am very excited to join next year's diverse and multidisciplinary cohort,” Uelzmann said. “Faculty development initiatives that provide mentoring, opportunities for networking, leadership skills, teaching releases, or strategies for a healthy work-life balance — to name only a few — are crucial for us all to work at our best. My goal is to help broaden faculty development offerings for my colleagues in Modern Languages and beyond, to firmly implant faculty development opportunities at the School level, and to work on identifying more ways to fund these important initiatives.”

To learn more about the PFFD Program, visit the Office of Faculty Professional Development Programs and Services website.