Towson University: FACET Fellowships Enhance Support For Faculty Research, Scholarship

Press release from Towson University:

Rebecca Kirkman

March 1, 2022

Applications for 2022–23 FACET Faculty Fellows, due March 11, include new roles in
scholarship, research

Towson University faculty have new opportunities to help lead the university’s support
of scholarship and research.

The Faculty Academic Center of Excellence at Towson (FACET) has added two new fellowships in research and scholarship for the 2022–23 FACET Faculty Fellows program. 

The changes support the university’s steps toward becoming an R2 university, a classification
from the Carnegie Commission on Higher Education signifying a doctoral university
with high research activity.

“The Office of the Provost is excited to support the addition of two new FACET Fellowships
that will significantly enhance support for faculty research, scholarship and creative
activities, including public scholarship as we transition to an R2 institution,” says
Maggie Reitz, vice provost and interim assistant vice president for international
initiatives.

Applications for the 2022–23 FACET Fellowships program are due March 11. Interested
faculty may join a FACET Fellows Application Support Workshop on Wednesday, March 2.

Launched alongside FACET in 2019, the FACET Faculty Fellows program provides full-time faculty members with opportunities
to lead campus-wide initiatives in their respective areas of expertise and help to
shape faculty professional development programs throughout TU.

For 2022–23, FACET Fellows includes programs in scholarship, mentoring, emerging technology,
teaching, leadership, and interdisciplinary research.

FACET Scholarship Fellows will lead faculty development in research, scholarship and
creative activities including mentoring faculty in scholarship of teaching and learning,
scholarship of service and public scholarship. FACET Interdisciplinary Research Fellows
will mentor faculty on interdisciplinary research, work with FACET staff and fellows
to construct a model for development of scholarly activity at TU. 

Under the mentorship of Patricia Westerman, assistant provost for FACET, and in collaboration
with center staff, FACET Fellows offer programming, mentoring, confidential teaching
observations and private consultations.

Serving as a 2021–22 FACET Faculty Research Fellow allowed Kelly Elkins, associate
professor of chemistry and co-director of the TU Human Remains DNA Identification
Laboratory, to share the research skills she has developed with her colleagues.

“The FACET program has given me an opportunity to practice and demonstrate leadership
skills by planning and organizing events to help other faculty. I've enjoyed attending
more of the FACET events and learning from my faculty peers about their experiences
and tips for success in research and grant writing,” she says. “The FACET team is
a group of smart, committed and articulate individuals, and the meetings have given
me the opportunity to learn about their diverse and interesting projects and experiences.
In my role as a FACET Fellow, I have offered my suggestions, advice and guidance.”

Learn more and apply by attending the March 2 application workshop or by contacting the faculty center at FACET@towson.edu.

This press release was produced by Towson University. The views expressed here are the author’s own.