Congratulations to Plymouth State Assistant Professor of Health & Human Performance Aimee Pascale, who is this year’s CoLab Community Contributor Honoree. Annually, the staff and affiliates of the CoLab select one faculty or staff member who “demonstrated a collaborative and collegial approach to learning and professional development, and helped catalyze campus-wide engagement with professional development and community-building.”
Aimee came to PSU after six years at Northern Vermont University-Lyndon (previously Lyndon State College), where she served as assistant professor of Exercise Science, as well as founder / director of the Center for Teaching and Learning. Aimee earned her PhD from Springfield College in Teaching & Administration, and her master’s from the University of Oregon in Athletic Training. Aimee has clinical background in athletic training, with experience providing healthcare to athletes at the NCAA division I and III levels. This year, Aimee attended many CoLab programs, and completed two of our series: “Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion” with Katie Wosiefer, and “Trauma-Informed Pedagogy” with Niki Tulk.
We talked to Aimee about her enthusiasm for professional development around teaching and learning:
Why do you participate in professional development at PSU?
One of my favorite things about being an educator is there are always things to learn that can be used to improve teaching and how we contribute to the community we’re part of. The PD offered through the CoLab is an energizing and inclusive mix of topics valuable for all of us. Also, as a new faculty member here, it’s a great opportunity to meet and learn about colleagues.
In what ways have you grown as a teacher this year?
I feel I’ve developed a more informed sense of the intersection between practicing compassion as an educator, and teaching / modeling / enforcing responsibility and accountability.
What would you say to your colleagues about engaging in learning communities about teaching?
There are always things to learn about how to make what we do here at PSU more effective, efficient, and intentional. Engaging in learning communities allows you to walk away with actionable ideas across the spectrum, ranging from small changes at the classroom / standard task level, to the larger system level.
Is there anything else you want to add?
As a faculty member new to PSU this year, I’m incredibly grateful for the CoLab, and the collaborative, community-oriented culture they promote here.
We are so grateful to all of the PSU faculty and staff who participate with us in our exploration of teaching and learning, and a special thank-you to Aimee for all the ways she enriches our community here at PSU!
