News Archive
Tomlinson Named Director of Westminster College Drinko Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning
Dr. Virginia Moore Tomlinson, associate professor of sociology at Westminster College, was chosen as director of the Drinko Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning at Westminster College.
The Drinko Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning was developed to advance world-class teaching and learning at Westminster and enrich K-12 education through outreach programs for area educators.
"I am excited about the possibilities offered by this position," Tomlinson said. "The integrative nature of this position provides the opportunity for supporting and working with students, faculty, and the community, which is completely consistent with my own priorities, commitments, and experiences. This position allows me to apply my administrative skills and commitment to teaching to a new endeavor with limitless possibilities."
During her five months as interim director, Tomlinson prioritized several goals for the Center, which included expansion of Westminster student research and capstone opportunities and outreach programs.
"President Williamson stated our first priority as enhancing teaching and learning on our campus by expanding our undergraduate research program and enhancing the capstone experience," Tomlinson said. "I want to enhance what is already established and provide funding for students to present their research in off-campus conferences. Also, I am working the Civic Engagement Task Force, chaired by Dr. David Twining, (associate professor of history and First-Year Studies program coordinator) to enhance service learning courses, which will begin this spring. In the future, I want to work with the faculty to establish initiatives supportive of their ideas for enhancing teaching and learning. Faculty will be involved in all aspects of the work of the Drinko Center, especially working with students in collaborative research.
"Our outreach programs have been around for several years and have been funded by the Grable Foundation. We currently have workshop and camps for teachers and students, such as: The Summer K-12 Teaching Academy; Education Leadership Program; and Summer Music and Performing Arts Youth Camps and Teacher Workshops," Tomlinson said. "We have just added the Marion G. Resch Bright Futures Early Intervention Program."
Tomlinson will teach three courses in the department of Political Science and Sociology while fulfilling the responsibilities of this half-time administrative appointment.
Tomlinson graduated Phi Beta Kappa from Birmingham Southern College as a mathematics major and earned her M.Ed. from the University of Tennessee and her Ph.D. from the University of Pittsburgh. While at Westminster, she has served on the Diversity Symposium Committee, First Year Program Steering Committee, Curriculum Development Committee as chair, Sexual Assault Task Force, Academic Standards Committee, Curriculum Operations Committee, Enrollment Management Council, Self-Study Steering Committee for Accreditation, and as faculty advisor for the sociology interest group, Omicron Delta Kappa, in addition to teaching sociology full time.
Contact Tomlinson at (724) 946-6097 or e-mail tomlinvm@westminster.edu for more information.
Westminster Students Take Fourth in State Business Competition
Westminster College students took fourth in the Pennsylvania Institute of Certified Public Accountants (PICPA) state competition in Philadelphia.
Westminster College Spring Honors Convocation Expands
Westminster College will celebrate the academic accomplishments of its students during an expanded Spring Honors Convocation Saturday, April 28, at 11 a.m. in Orr Auditorium.
Westminster Student Receives Public Relations Award
Amanda Kengersky, a senior public relations and English major at Westminster College, recently received the Renaissance Award from the Pittsburgh Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America.
Westminster College Completes Kresge Challenge; $14 Million Campus Center to be Dedicated May 16
Westminster College has successfully met The Kresge Campus Center Challenge as part of a fundraising effort for the $14 million Campus Center.
Westminster College received a $600,00 challenge grant last April from The Kresge Foundation, Troy, Mich. To meet this challenge, the College had to raise a corresponding $2.3 million in gifts and pledges by February. A gift from the Pittsburgh-based Eden Hall Foundation enabled Westminster to reach the goal in January.
Faculty Forum to Focus on Student Use and Abuse of Computers
Dr. Terri Lenox, Westminster College associate professor of computer science, and Dr. Mandy Medvin, Gibson-Drinko distinguished chair of psychology, will present "Student Computer Use: New Perils and Findings" at Faculty Forum Wednesday, Feb. 21, at 11:40 a.m. in the Sebastian Mueller Theater of the McKelvey Campus Center.
Westminster College to Host NAEYC Accreditation Panel
Westminster College will host an accreditation panel Wednesday, Oct. 17, at 1:30 p.m. in the Witherspoon Maple Room of the McKelvey Campus Center.
Student Receives Grant for Undergraduate Psychology Research
The Westminster College Drinko Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning awarded an undergraduate research grant to Brett Bundy, Westminster College senior psychology major.
Senior Language Majors to Present Study Abroad Experiences
Ten Westminster College French and Spanish majors will give presentations related to their study abroad experiences in Thompson Clark Hall room 315. The presentations are free and open to the public.
Students Participated in Programming Contest
Two teams of Westminster College students participated in the 2009 ACM East Central North America Programming Contest Oct. 30-31 at Youngstown State University.
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