Wakonse Fellows

Overview

The Wakonse Conference on College Teaching (http://www.Wakonse.org/) is an experiential conference for a university team held annually at a summer camp on the shores of Lake Michigan on Memorial Day weekend.

The goals of the conference are to create a climate where

• "it is important and appropriate to display and discuss teaching talents"
• "colleagues learn about themselves as teachers"
• "they see and consider the tasks and issues of creative teaching in a manner characterized as enjoyable"
• "providing feedback to one another is a norm" and
• "that feedback is outside of any institutional mandate to improve or to evaluate teaching."

This is a conference emphasizing self-reflection and may be particularly appropriate for those seeking renewal.
Typically there is a reading assignment before the conference.

When funds are available, FaCET sends a small group. The group is expected to travel together to the conference as part of the experience. Usually participants drive up a day in advance in a rental vehicle, spending a night on the road to arrive at the mid afternoon start time. Generally the group wants to make the return trip in one long day.

Those who enjoy outdoor life will find it more desirable than those who prefer luxury accommodations. Participants share a room with one other person and may share bathrooms.

WKU faculty who have previously attended include the following. I encourage you to speak to them about their experiences.

Past Wakonse Fellows

2011

Celeste Stein, Journalism and Broadcasting
Lee Ann Smith, SKy Teach

2010

Wren Mills, FaCET
Celeste Stein, Journalism and Broadcasting
Lee Florea, Geography and Geology
Xingang Fan, Geography and Geology
Michelle Trawick, Economics
Nancy Rice, Biology
Dale Rigby, English
Trish Jaggers, Academic Support

2009

Dawn Hall, Academic Support Division
Steve Wininger, Psychology
Amy Wininger, Public Health
Nanci Cross, Health Sciences Division
Sheri Henson, Accounting
Victoria Gordon, Political Science

2008

Denise Gravitt, Architectural and Manufacturing Sciences.
Jay Gabbard, Social Work
Constance Edwards, Mathematics

2007

Paul Bush, Academic Support Division. FaCET Faculty Associate
Margaret Crowder, Geography & Geology
Emmanuel Iyiegbuniwe, Public Health

2006

Eddy Cuisinier, Modern Languages
David Hoffa, Architectural & Manufacturing Sciences
Gashwin Saleno, Engineering.
Beverly Siegrist, Nursing
Linda Todd, Business & Computer Division
Joyce Wilder, Psychology.
Rong Yang, Computer Science

2005
Charles Borders, Liberal Arts & Sciences Division
Kathie Matthew, Education.
Dale Rigby, English
Martin Stone, Agriculture

2003
John Bruni, Psychology.
Bryan Carson, Library
Jak Njoku, Folk Studies
Patty Randolph, Psychology
Byron Sleugh, Agriculture.
Bill Parsons, Economics.

1998
Jim Brown, Theater
Sally Kuhlenschmidt, Psychology/FaCET
Neresa Minatrea, Counseling & Student Affairs
Russell Moore, English.
Patty Randolph, Psychology
Carol Graham, Management.

Interesting detail: Karl Laves (WKU Counseling Center) as a graduate student helped Joe Johnston set up the first Wakonse Conference in 1990.

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