Burstein Named 5th Chancellor’s Learning Scholar for Gordon State College
By: Katheryne A. Fields, Director of Marketing
Dr. Alan Burstein has been named the fifth Chancellor’s Learning Scholar (CLS) for Gordon State College. Burstein, a business professor for the Department of Business and Social Sciences has been with Gordon State since 2002. Burstein has served as director of Institutional Research and as chair of the business and social sciences in other roles for the college as well.
Originally launched in fall 2018, the Chancellor’s Learning Scholars initiative includes faculty representatives from each institution in the University System of Georgia (USG). Selected by the USG from an impressive list of faculty, Burstein will join a group of nearly 150 Scholars who will facilitate Faculty Learning Communities (FLCs) on their campuses, thereby giving small groups of faculty (typically eight to 10) the opportunity to engage in sustained, meaningful conversations about teaching and learning with supportive colleagues from across campus. FLC members meet regularly throughout the length of the program to explore areas of interest, leading to changes in teaching practices.
“As a Chancellor’s Learning Scholar, I am delighted to have an opportunity to help promote the conversation about teaching and learning which I believe is vital to Gordon State’s passion for student success.” Burstein said.
“Gordon State College celebrates Dr. Burstein for being selected as the fifth Chancellor’s Learning Scholar,” said Gordon State College President Kirk A. Nooks. “This accomplishment and milestone is one that aligns with our Strategic Plan and highlights our desire as an institution to ensure that college faculty and staff members are provided professional development aimed at expanding the understanding of their role. We are delighted that the USG continues to support this program.”
At the end of the program, each CLS and FLC participant should be able to point to a change or innovation they have made as a result of their participation. Throughout their tenure, the Chancellors’ Learning Scholars are provided pedagogical and logistical support by the Georgia Center for Teaching and Learning Regents Advisory Committee (GA-CTL RAC), their institutional CTL, and by a state-wide Chancellor’s Learning Scholars Community.
Burstein, a Barnesville resident, joins the four Chancellor’s Learning Scholars of Cohort One, Professor Samantha Bishop, Professor Wendy Martin, Professor Anthony Pearson, and Dr. Jessica Traylor. Gordon State’s Provost Jeffery Knighton said of the newest CLS member, “Dr. Burstein is an outstanding addition to this already impressive group of teachers, as he brings much wisdom and passion. I am proud of our Scholars and their growing faculty communities.”
Cohort One CLS faculty communities focused on four pedagogical areas: Mindset, Inclusive Pedagogy, Course Design, and Small Teaching. The four Cohort One scholars have the option of continuing with these first four topics or joining Burstein in selecting from the new Cohort Two topics: Transparency in Learning and Teaching (TiLT), Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL), Brain-Based Learning, and High Impact Practices (HIPs). Burstein has opted to focus on TiLT.
This year’s Chancellor’s Learning Scholars program launched on the Gordon campus with a session hosted by the GSC Center for Excellence in Teaching and Learning (CETL). In September, all five scholars attended the 2019 Chancellor’s Learning Scholars Kickoff held at Middle Georgia State University, an event opened with a welcome from Chancellor Steve Wrigley.
Gordon’s CETL Director, Dr. Anna Higgins-Harrell was one of the dozen center directors selected to present at the CLS Kickoff, her particular topic being Brain-Based Learning. Of the 2019 Launch, Dr. Higgins-Harrell said, “It was a wonderful day of learning and fellowship.”