Teaching Scholars in Residence Welcomes First Cross-Institutional Cohort

The University of Baltimore's Teaching Scholars in Residence (TSiR) Program is entering its third year with a significant milestone: for the first time, faculty from another institution will join the cohort. Five scholars from Salisbury University are participating in the 2026-2027 program alongside five UBalt scholars, marking an exciting expansion of the Center for Excellence in Learning, Teaching and Technology’s model for supporting faculty research across the University System of Maryland.

CELTT introduced the TSiR Program in Fall 2023, with the first cohort launching in Spring 2024. Dr. Jessica A. Stansbury developed the program upon her arrival as Director of Teaching and Learning Excellence, identifying a clear gap in support for faculty who wanted to conduct Scholarship of Teaching and Learning (SoTL) research but lacked the structured framework to complete projects from start to finish. When SU's Center for the Advancement of Faculty Excellence (CAFE) restructured, they saw an opportunity to partner with UBalt and build skills through the established program.

"Imagine faculty members immersing themselves in their own research, discovering evidence-based pedagogies, and incorporating emerging technologies to enhance student learning outcomes," says Dr. Stansbury. "Our goal is clear: to foster a culture of excellence by supporting faculty in their journey towards becoming outstanding educators."

Four UBalt faculty members—Liz Keyes (School of Law), Megan Rhee (College of Arts and Sciences), Sanwar Sunny (Merrick School of Business), and Shelly Clay-Robison (College of Public Affairs)—have already completed the TSiR program, presenting their research at national conferences and launching the Teaching Allies mentorship initiative. Five more UBalt scholars—Jennie Keohane (College of Arts and Sciences), Margaret Gillingham (College of Public Affairs), Marta Baffy (School of Law), Dong Chen (Merrick School of Business), and Mike Kiel (Library and Archives)—are completing their residencies this spring.

The newest cohort brings diverse research interests spanning law, business, education, and the liberal arts:

• Anne-Marie Carstens is interested in the intersection of AI research tools and the development of critical legal reasoning skills.
• Al Gourrier hopes to find strategies that reduce math anxiety and connect financial literacy to public sector applications.
• Sally Farley is focused on using innovative grading and open educational resources to foster student curiosity and deep learning.
• Geraldine Kalim aims to make essential research skills more visible and accessible to students.
• Cong Zhang plans to integrate data literacy and ethical analytical thinking across diverse academic disciplines.
• Jeff Dean will investigate bilingual writing support initiatives and tutor training within Spanish-language contexts.
• Jennifer Nyland wants to examine the impact of library resources on information literacy and general education learning outcomes.
• Leslie Swift is exploring the influence of experiential learning on student confidence and long-term growth.
• Isabel Quintana-Wulf is curious about how metacognitive practices can enhance intentionality and awareness in literature courses.
• Valerie Whitcomb will research business communication pedagogy and its impact on professional skill alignment and development.

By breaking down silos among faculty across institutions, this partnership creates opportunities for students to benefit from a stronger, more connected academic experience. When faculty collaborate across disciplines and campuses, they bring fresh perspectives back to their classrooms, informed by diverse teaching contexts and institutional strengths.

As these scholars begin their journey this February, they join a growing community of educators committed to transforming teaching and learning across the University System of Maryland.

Want to learn more about the Teaching Scholars in Residence program or explore Teaching Allies mentorship opportunities? Follow CELTT on LinkedIn.

This blog post was developed with the assistance of BoodleBox (Model: Claude 4.5 Sonnet) on January 23, 2026. The AI was used to draft the blog post. The final text was reviewed and edited by CELTT staff to ensure brand alignment and accuracy.