Term Faculty Affairs Newsletter

August 28, 2023

The Term Faculty Affairs Committee within CHSS Assembly is pleased to release the very first term faculty affairs newsletter to feature all of the accomplishments of our term faculty members across the college. Our committee is tasked with "representing term faculty on the development, coordination, implementation, and advocacy, of all matters affecting term faculty including, but not limited to, workload, compensation and benefits, contracts, professional development, university and departmental culture, and promotion consistent with current university guidelines and practices." As part of our advocacy for term faculty, we feel it is critical to feature their contributions through teaching, research, and professional organizations. Over the course of this past year, we also drafted the guidelines for term faculty promotion and continued conversations about workload among college constituents. We look forward to featuring the work of our colleagues and advocating for change in semesters to come. Please look out for the call for submissions in the Spring. 

In Community,

The Term Affairs Faculty Affairs Committee 2022-2023

Michael Hurley, Associate Professor of Psychology

Virginia Hoy, Senior Instructor of English and Individualized Studies

David Powers Corwin, Assistant Professor of Integrative Studies 

Justin Ramsdell, Associate Professor of Psychology

Andrea Zach, Assistant Professor of German 

 

Teaching Awards and Recognitions

Many of our term faculty are recognized at the university level and through their professional organizations for their teaching efforts. Also, even though term faculty are not required to take on formal mentoring, many take the time to work with students through teaching assistantships, research projects, conference presentations, creative projects, and many others. 

Professor Carrie Bonilla received 2023 Teaching Excellence Award

Professor Carrie Bonilla received 2023 Teaching Excellence Award

Dr. Carrie Bonilla, Associate Professor of Spanish Linguistics, was awarded the 2023 Teaching Excellence Award at the Celebration of Teaching Excellence Ceremony on April 17th, 2023.

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Two communication students win big with the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences

Two communication students win big with the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences

Vincent Vinh Nguyen and Julian Lee, two students in the media production and criticism concentration in the Department of Communication, were recognized for excellent student productions by the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences, National Capitol/Chesapeake Bay Chapter.

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Catherine Wright Awarded 2023 Teacher of Distinction

Catherine Wright Awarded 2023 Teacher of Distinction

The Stearns Center Teachers of Distinction are faculty members who are finalists for the Teaching Excellence Award, and who are recognized across campus for their exceptional teaching and their commitment to teaching-related activities.

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Alison Melley Wins Teaching Excellence Award

Alison Melley Wins Teaching Excellence Award

Professor Melley serves as the Director of Teaching Development in the Psychology department and was recognized for her work developing and advocating for graduate student instructors and teaching assistants and her programming for undergraduate learning assistants.

Research and Professional Organization Recognition

Term faculty engage in research and professional development both at the university level, but also through national and international organizations. While some term faculty's roles are research focused, many term faculty are engaging in this work outside of their contracts and we hope that this section demonstrates the level of engagement that many of our term faculty have within their disciplines. 

Luce/ACLS Early Career Fellows in China Studies

Luce/ACLS Early Career Fellows in China Studies

The American Council of Learned Societies (ACLS) is pleased to announce the 2023 Luce/ACLS Early Career Fellowships in China Studies, including George Mason University's Professor Matthew West.

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CHR announces Summer Funding 2023 Awardees

CHR announces Summer Funding 2023 Awardees

Mason's Center for Humanities Research has announced that five faculty members have received Summer 2023 Research Grants to support ongoing projects related to the humanities.

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Term Faculty Research Activity 2022-2023

Term Faculty Research Activity 2022-2023

Congratulations to our term faculty who submitted their research to be featured in this edition of our newsletter!

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Term Faculty Promotion

Term faculty promotion is critically important as we continue to recognize "high competence" and "genuine excellence" in their appointments throughout their careers. In addition to their work assignments, these faculty were also putting together dossiers for promotion and we celebrate their successful cases for promotion. 

Term Faculty Promotions 2022-2023

Term Faculty Promotions 2022-2023

Congratulations to our term faculty who earn promotion in this last cycle!

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Term Faculty Study Leave Recipients

This is the first year that term faculty are eligible for study leave and this group of recipients is making history by being the first to take on these projects that benefit their teaching and scholarship moving forward. According to the Faculty Handbook these study leaves are to "to support professional development initiatives designed to advance scholarly research, teaching, and/or creative activity, including the development of innovative teaching approaches and methods." We are excited to see these projects develop and congratulate this year's recipients. Please consider applying in next year's cycle here. 

Term Faculty Study Leave Recipients 2022-2023

Term Faculty Study Leave Recipients 2022-2023

Congratulations to the first ever recipients of term faculty study leave!

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Term Faculty Development Grant Recipients

Term Faculty Grants have been a long standing opportunity for CHSS term faculty to provide professional development related to teaching and curricular development. These faculty recipients are developing new courses and/or curricular opportunities that will benefit students for years to come. Please consider applying in the next cycle here.

Term Faculty Development Grant Recipients 2022-2023

Term Faculty Development Grant Recipients 2022-2023

Congratulations to our term faculty development grant award recipients for this year!

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