Introducing the New UCD GTC!

Happy New Year, Everyone!

I hope this post finds you in good spirits following the transition into 2015, and looking forward to another year of productivity and growth! 

In the spirit of renewal that often comes with the holidays, Donnelly and I would like to take the opportunity to introduce a reformatted and refreshed UC Davis Graduate Teaching Community, under the organization of co-facilitators Christy Cahill and Rachel Anderson and in consultation with Cara Harwood Theisen of the Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning. 

During the 2014 fall quarter, the GTC underwent a hiatus in order to re-evaluate our community structure, goals, and action plan. We would like to thank all of you who contributed to the discussion surrounding this re-vamping, and in particular want to extend our sincere gratitude to Cara and CETL for their ongoing support. We are confident that the time we took to consider the future of GTC was much-needed and will result in a healthy and thriving organization for many years to come. 

With that in mind, it is time for Donnelly and myself to pass the torch to the next team of facilitators: 

Christy Cahill is a 3rd year graduate student in political science, with a focus on European political parties and the ways they situate themselves in various economic and social dimensions. In addition to facilitating the GTC, Christy is a current teaching assistant consultant (TAC) with CETL as well as a TA, undergraduate research mentor, and a group exercise instructor at the ARC. 

Rachel Anderson is a 3rd year graduate student in the ecology graduate group, studying issues in amphibian conservation and invasion ecology with a focus on California Red-Legged frogs. Rachel also has extensive experience as a TA and is a regular contributor to general audience science publications such as Wikipedia, AmphibiaWeb, and the Ecology Graduate Student Association blog. 

Donnelly and I are very pleased to be leaving the GTC in such capable hands, and Christy and Rachel are excited and committed to exploring all aspects of teaching and learning with you, the GTC community. It has been an absolute pleasure to work with so many of you over the past few years, and we hope you'll find this new GTC an even more productive and useful campus resource. 

Keep your eyes peeled in the upcoming days for news from Rachel and Christy about winter quarter themes and meeting times - in the meantime, Donnelly and I wish you all the best in 2015!

Cheers,

Sarah Messbauer and Donnelly West

GTC Facilitators, 2012-2014