Diversity Faculty Fellows Program

This program supports the actualization of the university’s vision for diversity by providing selected faculty members with opportunities to infuse diversity into existing curriculum, create models to improve classroom dynamics in support of social justice, or identify strategies to enhance institutional practices.

Program Overview

Towson University’s Diversity Faculty Fellows (DFF) Program provides support for TU faculty who are interested in developing or redesigning courses for major or core curriculum, developing curricular practices to support inclusive classroom environments, supporting research and teaching projects, developing pedagogy and research toolkits, and/or building collaborations to enhance diversity and inclusion.

The Office of the Provost awards a $1,500 stipend to each Faculty Fellow for their participation in the program.

Areas of Focus

All TU faculty, including lecturers and adjuncts, in any discipline are eligible to apply for this program. Proposals must be for pedagogy, service and/or research as noted below: 

I. Develop Curricular Practices to Support Inclusive and Diverse Classroom Environments

Examples include developing assignments, methods of universal design, and other techniques in the classroom that guide students towards adopting an analytical framework for understanding and valuing difference.

II. Develop and/or Redesign Courses for Major or Core Curriculum

Examples include developing departmental courses that add to students’ understanding of the experiences of others. These courses might be added as part of a major or the core curriculum.

III. Support Scholarly Engagement

Examples include innovative research, community engagement, or workshop facilitation that enriches the campus.

IV. Develop Resource Toolkit

Examples include creating usable materials for faculty or students so that best practices are replicated and circulated. Workshops may also be included.

V. Create Opportunities for On-Going Mentorship

Examples include projects that sustain long-term relationships related to inclusion and diversity. Mentoring might be related to student and faculty retention, curriculum development supporting inclusive and diverse classroom, the tenure process, and other opportunities.

VI. Identify Areas of Potential Collaboration to Enhance Diversity and Inclusion

Examples include assisting with collaborations and initiatives across departments and across campus and/or proposing and organizing conferences or speakers.

Diversity Faculty Fellows Expectations

Applicants must commit to:

  • Attend all Faculty Fellows monthly workshops.
  • Implement the newly developed diversity initiative in the spring 2019.
  • Participate in the project showcase.
  • Evaluate and assess the project.  
  • Following completion of the Fellowship, Diversity Faculty Fellows are invited to participate in DFF networking gatherings to meet and support incoming Fellows and to support the Provost’s Office per availability. 
  • Act as a resource for the Office of the Provost.

Diversity Faculty Fellows Review/Advisory Committee

Name Department
Ziad Bentahar Assistant Professor, Foreign Languages
Gilda Martinez-Alba Assistant Dean, College of Education
Maggie Reitz Vice Provost, Office of the Provost
Marcia (Marci) Vandiver Assistant Professor, Elementary Education

Want to learn more?

Diversity Faculty Fellows Program

For more information on the program, contact  at 410-704-4630 or the Office of the Provost at 410-704-4498.