A weekly podcast focused on new trends and innovations in education will return for a second season in April.
Last November, the College of Education and Integrative Studies (CEIS) launched the series hosted by Dean Jeff Passe. The show covered a variety of topics including ethnic studies, early childhood development and teacher preparation. Each podcast also referenced the professor’s own career development.
“I conceived of the podcast as a way to publicize all of the great work that our faculty and staff were doing, but it took on a life of its own as a bonding mechanism, a way for colleagues to learn about each other,” Passe said.
CEIS Assistant Professor Jose Aguilar-Hernandez listened to the podcast regularly and said it gave him more insight into what his colleagues are doing.
“In CEIS, we often don’t have enough time to learn more about our trajectories as faculty and staff,” he said. “The podcasts are incredibly informative and help us learn about each other on a deeper level. I feel like I know my colleagues better by learning about their background, teaching, research and service. After listening to the podcasts, it is clear to me that CEIS is truly dynamic and we are a community of leaders that centers the students, schools and communities we work with exceptionally.”
Aguilar-Hernandez also appeared as a guest on the show.
“Participating in the podcast series was an opportunity to reflect on my trajectory to the professoriate,” he said. “It gave me a space to tell my story while valuing my background, training and passion for teaching and students. I see my story as being a part of a collection of experiences and reflections that really illustrates the commitment CEIS has to students and our local communities. It’s an exciting way to document our narratives while making them accessible to people outside the university, who may not necessarily know who we are and what we do.”
Student listener Joshua James found the series to be very informative.
“They offer insight into my professors that sometimes do not manifest in the classroom,” he said. I have learned a great deal of information about their lives and even specific topics such as the doctoral program in CEIS.” Staff member Marcos Pineda said he enjoyed hearing from faculty.
“They do amazing work in the classroom, and it’s great to know what they’re doing outside of the classroom,” he said. “Our students are so fortunate to be connected and have access to such knowledgeable faculty who are experts in their fields and connected to their communities.”
New and past episodes of the podcast series can be accessed through CEIS’s website or by subscribing to CEIS’s channel on iTunes, Soundcloud, Stitcher or TuneIn.