The Undergraduate Transition Seminars program is pleased to announce the Seminar Scholars Initiative. This effort provides supplemental professional development funding to 3-5 GT 1000 and GT 2000 instructors and Team Leaders per year. Its goal is to encourage instructional team members’ further learning in and contributions to the fields of first-year or transfer student studies, or other student success-related areas relevant to teaching in the seminar programs. Seminar Scholars will share back their learning from these professional development experiences through a brown bag workshop, poster session, or instructor conference presentation, benefiting both the individual, our students, and the instructional team at large.

Our inaugural Seminar Scholars are GT 1000 instructors, Quashavia Harper and Joy Stewart, who regularly co-teach during summer and fall semesters. Harper currently serves as an HR Consultant for Scheller College of Business. Stewart serves as a Budget Analyst, also for Scheller. Both Scholars will be attending the 45^th Annual Conference on the First-Year Experience this February. 

Harper shares that, “This conference offers a unique opportunity to engage with leading experts and fellow educators who share a commitment to enhancing the first-year experience for students. By participating in workshops and discussions, I can gain valuable insights into effective teaching strategies, innovative curriculum design, and best practices for fostering student engagement and success. Additionally, networking with peers will allow me to exchange ideas and collaborate on initiatives that can positively impact my students.” 

Stewart draws inspiration for her student success work from Rosa Parks—“You must never be fearful about what you are doing when it is right.” She also notes the positive benefits of the conference towards gaining strategies for creating a welcoming, supportive class: “I have quickly realized that many students of color at Georgia Tech often don't feel they have a safe space to express their concerns and challenges. Attending workshops tailored to addressing these challenges will help me communicate in ways that ensure all students feel supported and included….[T]his opportunity will help me better prepare students for a successful transition into college where they feel seen and heard.” 

We look forward to learning more from this year’s Seminar Scholars about their conference takeaways!