Theatre professor, Kim Solga, earns 3 year Teaching Fellowship
Congratulations to Dr. Kim Solga, who starting July 1st, will begin her 3-year term with the Teaching Fellows Program and represent the Faculty as one of seven at Western awarded this prestigious fellowship.
The goal of the Teaching Fellows Program is to enhance teaching innovation and quality at Western by bringing together outstanding educators for funded secondments. These leaders are expected to develop teaching innovation projects, perform research to assess the impact of these projects and facilitate learning environments and development opportunities. To meet these goals, Kim Solga has been awarded a three-year term, up to $30,000 in funding and support from other educational developers.
As the 2021 recipient of the Edward G. Pleva Award for Excellence in Teaching, Professor Solga has consistently demonstrated her commitment to excellence in teaching, indicating her to be a prime candidate for the fellowship. Her passion for collaboration with artists, students and colleagues alike asserts her interest in the development of transformative teaching and learning practices.
Centered on interdisciplinary pedagogy, Solga’s proposal highlights the necessity of ranges in perspective and how differences in intellectual, theoretical and practical backgrounds within the classroom can improve student learning. While the phrase "interdisciplinary" pedagogy has generated less buzz on Canadian campuses than it has elsewhere, Solga explains why the practice is a worthy goal that will benefit both students and faculty. To effectively implement interdisciplinary pedagogy, however, educators must first experience it for themselves.
Solga seeks to establish a community of practice on interdisciplinary pedagogy based in Arts & Humanities but not limit it to faculty in the unit. This community will engage in collaborative projects and work toward the development of more interdisciplinary peer-teaching opportunities while aiming for the eventual creation of a BA minor in interdisciplinary research.
Along with realizing necessary research on interdisciplinary learning, this project will bring together students and staff as it integrates Arts & Humanities, the Department of English and Writing Studies, Theatre Studies, and neighbouring faculties as well the larger London community. The Faculty congratulates Kim Solga for her tremendous accomplishment and looks forward to the progress of her fellowship!
