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.

Dr. Virginia Tomlinson