CLASP Fellows Program

The CLASP Fellows Program is a 2-year professional development opportunity for early to mid-career faculty from OSUN institutions who show potential for pedagogical leadership.

About the CLASP Fellows Program

The fellowship runs on a cohort model with 20 fellows in each 2-year cohort. These cohorts of CLASP Fellows are interdisciplinary, offering the benefit of collaborations across areas of study as well as across campuses.

The overarching goal of the CLASP Fellows Program is to develop and foster a commitment to student-centered, writing-rich teaching methods central to liberal arts and sciences education. Each cohort of CLASP Fellows, once trained, will offer intensive workshops intended to continue to support faculty across the network and cultivate a core group of OSUN faculty who will lead blended workshops and collaborate with colleagues across OSUN partner institutions.

The training the fellows receive and pass on to the wider faculty at each institution will influence instruction, classroom management and curriculum, as well as assessment and grading. Through faculty, the work of CLASP will also impact thousands of students, involving all in the free exchange of ideas and informed discussion, critical thinking, and problem solving in the classroom.

About the CLASP Fellows Program

The fellowship runs on a cohort model with 20 fellows in each 2-year cohort. These cohorts of CLASP Fellows will be interdisciplinary, offering the benefit of collaborations across areas of study as well as across campuses.

Applications open now!

Info Sessions

Tuesday, August 17 and Monday, August 23 at 8:30 a.m. (New York)

Join us at an info session for more information about the program and to ask any questions about application requirements, program schedule, and benefits. Register for either info session here.

Apply for Cohort 1

Applications Due: August 30

Ready to apply? Applications for the inaugural Fellows Program cohort are due Monday, August 30 2021. Apply today.

Fellows Program Inaugural Cohort

Meem Arafat Manab

Brac University

Meem is a writer, researcher and teacher based at BRAC University’s School of Data and Sciences in Dhaka.

Meem joined BRAC University's School of Data and Sciences in 2020 as a lecturer in computer science after finishing a BSc in Computer Science and Engineering from the University of Dhaka and working as an independent researcher for a while. So far, they have taught discrete mathematics, digital logic, introductory graphics, theory of computation, and simulation and modeling. Their research interests lie in the intersection between social sciences and data science, especially how our conception of data subverts, enhances, and altogether influences our understanding of society and its structure. Their other interests include machine translation, econometrics, and the pedagogy of sciences.

Julia Carey Arendell

Bard Early College New Orleans

Julia is faculty at Bard Early College New Orleans where she directs the Writing Studio and has served as Chair of the American Literature Program for the Bard Early College Network.

Narrowly dodging a life as a restaurateur, Julia Carey Arendell received her M.F.A. in Creative Writing with a minor in American Literature from Louisiana State University after completing a fellowship at Harvard. Pushcart Prize nominated for her fiction, she was also a winner of the William Faulkner-William Wisdom Prize in Poetry. Publications can be found at Heavy Feather Review, VIDA, Mason’s Road, and Psychopomp Magazine, among others, as well as the anthologies Louisiana in Words and New Orleans: What Can’t Be Lost. She has joined the editorial boards of The Dudley Review, The New Orleans Review, and New Delta Review.

Lynn Clausen

Black Mountains College

Lynn is a faculty associate with Black Mountains College, working with a focus on developing teacher-training strands / INSET / student provision.

(M.A. (Dist) TEES Creative Writing, PGCE English UWE, B.A. (Hons) Drama, English HUDD)

Lynn is working with the Black Mountains College with a focus on developing teacher-training strands / INSET / student provision while harnessing the overarching principles of the college which holds at its core, how we can create and maintain a sustainable and fair society during the challenging times we face. Lynn also facilitates and tutors online workshops and short-courses, with participants largely drawn from a range of teaching settings but also including those from different and varied backgrounds. Building upon a 20 year teaching career (English and drama) and now operating as a creative practitioner, Lynn's research interests are focused around how we can apply our learning - how we can encourage ourselves and our students to consider, propose and problem solve with climate change at the heart of the enquiry.

Makafui Aku-Sika Cudjoe

Ashesi University

Makafui is Adjunct lecturer and interim Co-Director at the Ashesi University Writing Center.

Makafui holds MPhil and B.A. degrees in English from the University of Ghana, and is currently pursuing her Ph.D. in the same field of study at the University of Ghana. Her previous work experience includes Teaching Assistant and Academic Writing lecturer at the University of Ghana Language Center as well as Writing Center Coordinator at Ashesi University. Currently she is Adjunct lecturer and interim Co-Director at the Ashesi University Writing Center. Her research interests span writing center studies, gender relations in literature with a focus on African oral literature and popular culture.

Romina de Jong

Parami University

Romina is the Director of Academic Affairs at Parami University of Liberal Arts and Sciences.

(BA Social work, MA Pedagogy, Ph.D. Education Studies)

Romina's research interests include pedagogy, teacher education, gender, sports and development.

Publications: Student teachers’ practical knowledge, discipline strategies, and the teacher-class relationship. (Dissertation)

Student teachers’ discipline strategies: relations with self-images, anticipated student responses and control orientation. (Educational Studies, 2013)

Teachers' expectations of teacher-student interaction: Complementary and distinctive expectancy patterns. (Teaching and Teacher Education, 2021)

Juan Carlos Duran-Uribe

Universidad de los Andes

Juan Carlos is the coordinator for the Judicial Training Program and an adjunct professor of Contract Law at Universidad de los Andes.

Juan Carlos holds a Law degree and a Master's degree in Education, both from Universidad de los Andes, Colombia. He currently works as coordinator for the Judicial Training Program, and is also an adjunct professor of Contract Law at the same institution. Research interests are Contract Law, Comparative Private Law, and Legal Education. Juan Carlos is passionate about innovative practices for the teaching of complex legal subjects, i.e. Contract Law, Tax Law and Procedural Law. Recent publications publications (in Spanish) are "How to teach and learn the complex colombian tax law: taxation storytellings as a pedagogical proposal" (2020), and "Studies on Contract Law: from the sales agreements to collaborative businesses" (2021, upcoming).

Esmaeil Esfandiary

Tuskegee University

Esmaeil is Assistant Professor of Communication at Tuskegee University.

Esmaeil Esfandiary is Assistant Professor of Communication at Tuskegee University (Alabama, US). He completed his Ph.D. in Communication at Georgia State University (Atlanta, GA). He has published and presented numerous papers with a focus on international media and political communication.

Ekaterina Galimova

American University of Central Asia

Ekaterina is an Associate Professor with two decades of successful experience in teaching English as a Foreign Language at the Division of Arts, Humanities and Communication at AUCA.

Ekaterina got her Ph.D. at the Academy of Education in Kyrgyzstan in 2008. She is also a recipient of several faculty development fellowships as well as travel grants that inspired her to specialize in teaching Civics Education and Modern Classroom Technology. Ekaterina regularly speaks at national and international conferences about new tools for both online and offline teaching and evaluating, in addition, she gives effective workshops at the Center for Teaching, Learning and Technology at American University of Central Asia. She has more than 20 articles published in Kyrgyz, Russian, Kazakh journals on Pedagogy and Humanities. The recent one was published on the OSUN website devoted to The International Virtual Discussion. A strong believer in the power of positive thinking in life, Ekaterina Galimova supports her colleagues in need and takes good care of her elderly mother and cat.

Doaa F. Ghatasha

Al-Quds Bard College of Arts and Sciences

Doaa is a visiting lecturer at Al-Quds Bard College where she teaches language and thinking, as well as a part-time lecturer in the department of Food processing Technology at Palestine Technical University.

Doaa received her M.Sc. degree in diagnostic molecular biology and human genetics from Jordan University of Science and Technology and her bachelor degree in Biology from Al-Quds Bard College. Her research interests lie in the application of genomic technologies to understand the basis of different genetic disorders, with emphasis on metabolic genetic disorders. Currently, she is working on testing the natural antimicrobial activity of several herbs. She is also interested in teaching English as a second language, teaching pedagogy and education reform.

Issam Khoury

Al-Quds Bard College of Arts and Sciences

Issam is the Education Above All Program Manager at Al Quds Bard College, where he also serves as a Visiting Assistant Professor.

Issam comes to AQB after having worked in the U.S., Europe, the Middle East and India. It is these diverse experiences that have shaped how Issam sees the world and engages as a professor deeply committed to a student-centered classroom rooted in the liberal arts. A graduate of Virginia Tech, Ohio State, and Penn State Universities, Issam's academic background is a combination of the social sciences and the humanities, and he brings that perspective into his work and teaching.

Senem Yuseinova Konedareva

American University in Bulgaria

Senem is an Adjunct Assistant Professor of Language and Culture Studies, Modern Languages and Arts Department at American University in Bulgaria.

(Ph.D. Bulgarian Linguistics, M.A. Bulgarian Language and Culture Studies)

Senem's research interests include Intercultural communication, linguistic anthropology and language use, as well as modern interdisciplinary approaches in language teaching and learning.

Her most recent publications are The condition of the evidential forms in Wallachian-Bulgarian legal documents (the period end of XIV – XV AD) (Linguistic Problems, Blagoevgrad, 2021 - under print) and The omission of the auxiliary in 3rd person singular and plural from the renarrative paradigm – a specificity of Bulgarian evidential system (Bulgarian studies readings, Sofia, 2019).

Sanjay Kumar

Central European University

Sanjay is a Senior Lecturer, Center for Academic Writing at Central European University (CEU) in Vienna, Austria.

(Ph.D. English Language and Literature, IIT Delhi, India)

Sanjay's research interests include the teaching of academic writing in English in liberal arts, humanities and social sciences, Indian drama, theatre and performance studies, Indian cinema (Bollywood and Malayalam), storytelling and narratives, and intellectual histories of South Asia.

Amanda Landi

Bard College at Simon's Rock

Amanda is Faculty of Mathematics at Bard College at Simon’s Rock.

(Ph.D. in Applied Mathematics)

Amanda's research interests include but are not limited to the statistical learning methods and machine learning techniques involving big data, the Nonnegative Matrix Factorization and applications, sequence prediction, convex optimization, data fusion, applications such as image processing, video processing, spectral analysis, and networking.

Her most recent publications are: Landi, A., Minden, K. Alternative Assessments for Undergraduate Mathematics Courses in the Time of COVID-19. Submitted (2021) and Landi, A. Almost Predicting "Natural" Sequences. Mind and Machine, Springer. Submitted (2021).

Dale Mineshima-Lowe

Birkbeck, University of London

Dale is Acting Programme Director of the MSc Global Environment & Sustainability Programme (with the University of London) and a lecturer in the Departments of Geography and Politics.

(PGCE – University of Westminster, UK, PG Diploma, M.A., Ph.D. - University of Durham, UK, B.Sc. - Santa Clara University, CA, USA)

Dale currently teaches modules for First-Year undergraduates on Humans & the Environment, Study of Politics and Comparative Government; as well as leading the postgraduate module – Masterclass in Social Research. She has also been Managing Editor for the think tank – Center for International Relations, based in Washington, D.C., part-time for the last several years. Her research interests span active learning/student-centred pedagogy for higher & further education, to issues related to democratic transitions and governance, and currently is exploring the intersection of social capital development in both environmental policymaking as well as anti-corruption efforts.

Jazmin Puicon

Bard High School Early College Newark

Jazmin is an Assistant Professor of History at Bard High School Early College Newark.

(Ph.D. - Latin American History - Rutgers University, M.A - Latin American & Caribbean Studies - NYU, B.A. - Spanish Language & Culture/History - Union College - NY)

Jazmin's research interests include Afro-Latinx and Afro-Latin American History & Culture as well as Women's and Gender History.

Fahmida Rahman

Brac University

Fahmida is a Lecturer and Program Coordinator at the School of General Education, Brac University in Dhaka, Bangladesh. She teaches Political Science and Anthropology.

Fahmida Rahman obtained her Masters from the University of Glasgow, Scotland, UK in Public Policy and Management where her research explained the absence of disability facilities in higher educational policy in Bangladesh. She completed her undergraduate degree in Anthropology from Brac University, Bangladesh. Currently, she is a Lecturer and Program Coordinator in the School of General Education, Brac University in Dhaka, Bangladesh, teaching Political Science and Anthropology. She also worked as a guest lecturer (project position) for ULAB, Dhaka, Bangladesh where she talked about building resilient universities. In addition to being involved in academia, she is also the manager for Chattagram Division Girls’ Basketball Team, Bangladesh. Her current research interests include higher educational policy improvements, sports, pedagogic curricula, gender, criminology, social justice and corporate anthropology.

Her most recent publication is "Addressing Racial, Economic and Educational Inequalities through our University Network", Published: Future World Center Publications, 2021. The mentioned white paper was also accepted in the Networking European Citizenship Education (NECE) Conference to be hosted in Brussel on October 29, 2021.

Mayur Suresh

SOAS University of London

Mayur is a Senior Lecturer at the school School of Law, Gender and Media, SOAS, University of London.

(Ph.D. - 2017, Birkbeck, University of London, B.A. LLB (Hons) - 2004, National Law School of India, LL.M. - 2006, Columbia Law School)

Mayur's research interests include legal anthropology and emergency legislations.

Publications: Terrorists on Trial: Life and Law in Delhi's Courts (Forthcoming, Fordham University Press).

Articles in Law and Society Review, Contributions to Indian Sociology, Indian Law Review, Australian Journal of Asian Law.

R. A. M Hasan Talukder

Brac University

Hasan is a lecturer in the School of General Education, Brac University, Bangladesh.

(Master of Arts)

Hasan is a lecturer in the School of General Education, Brac University, Bangladesh. His research interests include teaching pedagogy, comparative literature, postmodern and post-colonial literature.

Jane Wanninger

Bard College at Simon's Rock

Jane is an Assistant Professor of Literature in the Division of Languages and Literature at Bard College at Simon’s Rock.

(Ph.D. - Vanderbilt University, M.A. -Vanderbilt University, B.A. - University of Wisconsin-Madison)

Jane's research interests include Early Modern Drama, Critical Theory, Gender and Sexuality Studies, and Adaptation Studies.

Publications: “’Hello, people of the Internet!’: Nothing Much to Do and the Young Adult Creators and Communities of Vlog-Shakespeare,” book chapter in collected volume Liberating Shakespeare: Violence, Trauma and Empowerment for Young Adult Audiences, eds. Deborah Uman and Jenny Flaherty. (Forthcoming from Bloomsbury Arden).

“Riddling Shrift: Confession, Speech, and Power in Romeo and Juliet and 'Tis Pity She's a Whore,” publication forthcoming in issue 25.2 of Early Theatre.

“Maybe Baby: Pregnant Possibilities in Medieval and Early Modern Literature,” with Holly Barbaccia and Bethany Packard. In Gendered Temporalities in the Early Modern World. Edited by Merry E. Wiesner-Hanks. Amsterdam University Press. 2018. pp 213-234.

About the CLASP Fellows Program

Eligibility

The CLASP Fellows program is aimed at early to mid-career university faculty and administrators who focus on teaching and learning. The fellows program is also restricted to individuals who are based at Open Society University Network (OSUN) partner institutions.

We encourage applications from faculty and administrators who are interested in writing-based student-centered liberal arts pedagogy. The core of this fellowship is a deep exploration of Writing to Learn and Communication Across the Curriculum practices, but no previous experience with these practices is necessary.

OSUN Faculty participate in a recent CLASP workshop on debate.

Timeline

Year One (2021-2022)

October – December

Modules 1 through 3

January 2022

In Person Workshop

February – June

Modules 4 through 6

July 2022

In Person Workshop

Year Two (2022-2023)

September & November

Modules 1 and 2

January 2023

In Person Workshop

March & May

Modules 3 and 4

July 2023

In Person Workshop

Applications open now!

Info Sessions

Tuesday, August 17 and Monday, August 23 at 8:30 a.m. (New York)

Join us at an info session for more information about the program and to ask any questions about application requirements, program schedule, and benefits. Register for either info session here.

Apply for Cohort 1

Applications Due: August 30

Ready to apply? Applications for the inaugural Fellows Program cohort are due Monday, August 30 2021. Apply today.

Applications open now!

Info Sessions

Tuesday, August 17 and Monday, August 23 at 8:30 a.m. (New York)

Join us at an info session for more information about the program and to ask any questions about application requirements, program schedule, and benefits. Register for either info session here.

Apply for Cohort 1

Applications Due: August 30

Ready to apply? Applications for the inaugural Fellows Program cohort are due Monday, August 30 2021. Apply today.

Timeline

Year One (2021-2022)

October – December

Modules 1 through 3

January 2022

In Person Workshop

February – June

Modules 4 through 6

July 2022

In Person Workshop

Year Two (2022-2023)

September & November

Modules 1 and 2

January 2023

In Person Workshop

March & May

Modules 3 and 4

July 2023

In Person Workshop

Structure & Expectations

The above timeline outlines yearly activities the first cohort of CLASP Fellows will participate in. All virtual modules involve 3 hours of synchronous work along with 3-6 hours of asynchronous activities. In person workshops last a week, and will involve presentations and mentoring in the second year of the program.

Following completion of the 2-year program, all CLASP Fellows are expected to organize and facilitate 1 CLASP workshop per semester (open to all of OSUN) and offer support on their own campuses.

Stay Tuned!

Applications for Cohort 2 will open Summer 2022.

Benefits

Upon completion of the 2-year CLASP Fellows Program, faculty will:

Be eligible to become an IWT CLASP Faculty Associate, a position that offers opportunities to develop and facilitate CLASP workshops for the OSUN network
Complete a substantial academic study (in English) of publishable quality and have the opportunity to share research with the broader OSUN community
Participate in annual CLASP Fellows gatherings intended to continue to foster the development of innovative pedagogical practices specific to LAS and OSUN
Receive a $1000 (USD) stipend in acknowledgement of the work accomplished through participation in the program

Structure & Expectations

Following completion of the 2-year program, all CLASP Fellows are expected to organize and facilitate 1 CLASP workshop per semester (open to all of OSUN) and offer support on their own campuses.

Benefits

Upon completion of the 2-year CLASP Fellows Program, faculty will:

Be eligible to become an IWT CLASP Faculty Associate, a position that offers opportunities to develop and facilitate CLASP workshops for the OSUN network
Complete a substantial academic study (in English) of publishable quality and have the opportunity to share research with the broader OSUN community
Participate in annual CLASP Fellows gatherings intended to continue to foster the development of innovative pedagogical practices specific to LAS and OSUN
Receive a $1000 (USD) stipend in acknowledgement of the work accomplished through participation in the program

Stay Tuned!

Applications for Cohort 2 will open Summer 2022.

Timeline

Structure & Expectations

What follows is an outline of yearly activities the first cohort of CLASP Fellows will participate in. All virtual modules involve 3 hours of synchronous work along with 3-6 hours of asynchronous activities. In person workshops last a week, and will involve presentations and mentoring in the second year of the program.

Following completion of the 2-year program, all CLASP Fellows are expected to organize and facilitate 1 CLASP workshop per semester (open to all of OSUN) and offer support on their own campuses.

Year One (2021-2022)

October – December

Modules 1 through 3

January 2022

In Person Workshop

February – June

Modules 4 through 6

July 2022

In Person Workshop

Year Two (2022-2023)

September & November

Modules 1 and 2