Balcom to create an on-line, I-series course focused on the future of farming, helping students understand the most pressing issues of today
ANSC Professor Sarah Balcom
Image Credit: Edwin Remsberg
Animal and Avian Sciences (ANSC) Professor Sarah Balcom received a $20,000 Excellence in Teaching Fellowship from Course Hero & the Woodrow Wilson Foundation, a highly regarded and competitive “Genius Grant” awarded to tenure-track and non-tenure-track faculty to recognize, and promote outstanding teaching. As a non-tenure-track Fellow, Balcom will receive a one-year grant to strengthen her teaching and support research and conference participation. Specifically, Balcom plans to create an on-line, I-series course - the signature program of General Education at the University of Maryland - that deals with the future of farming, highlighting the work that members of the college of AGNR are conducting on some of these issues.
"I hope for it to be a gateway for students in the university to understand these very important issues, and perhaps entice a few of them to incorporate agriculture and natural resources management into their education and career plans." says Balcom.
Balcom is a senior lecturer in ANSC, with an instructional focus on veterinary medicine, animal sheltering, human-animal relationships, and population health.
“This fellowship highlights college educators who are using innovative, forward-thinking methods to teach their students,” said Andrew Grauer, cofounder and CEO of Course Hero. “This year’s class epitomizes excellence in teaching. Fellows are pushing the boundaries in lecture halls and labs, coming up with new ways to engage learners and crafting lessons for students that will stay with them long after they’ve left the classroom. We are proud to recognize these outstanding leaders as Course Hero–Woodrow Wilson Fellows.”
Sarah Balcom, Jason Bruck, Ekaterina Elgayeva, and Subhalakshmi Nagarajan make up the 2019 non-tenure-track class.
“The Woodrow Wilson team is delighted to be able to offer this kind of support to the fellows. They’re emerging faculty stars.” said Beverly Sanford, vice president and secretary of the Foundation.
The newest Course Hero–Woodrow Wilson Fellows, already great college educators, are emerging leaders in their fields who are on a clear trajectory to help their students grow into the thought leaders—and innovators—of tomorrow.
For more information on the Course Hero–Woodrow Wilson Fellowship, please visit www.woodrow.org/coursehero.
