Las Vegas, N.M. – Veronica Black is the new interim
coordinator for the Center for Teaching Excellence at New Mexico Highlands
University.
“The most appealing thing about this position is the
opportunity to champion faculty to design experiences for their learning,”
Black said. “This directly ties to my experience at the Teacher’s College at
Columbia University as an exhibition designer for learning spaces.”
Black said her overall goal for the Center for Teaching
Excellence is to design faculty experiences for learning that are engaging,
helpful and fun.
The aim of the Highlands Center for Teaching Excellence, which was established in 2015, is to increase student success through ongoing faculty development. The center was created in collaboration with faculty.
Black held positions at the Teachers College of Columbia
University in New York City, New York, from 2015 to 2018, including innovation fellow
and designer for the Smith Learning Theater.
“At the Teacher’s College, I collaborated with educators
and designed exhibitions through digital tools that empower educational
experience and the learning environment. From 2013 to 2018, I was also a mentor
and workshop facilitator for the Digital Media Program at the nonprofit Girls
Write Now in New York City, experience I will use in my new Highlands
position,” Black said.
Most recently, Black worked at SITE Santa Fe as a
programs coordinator, where she managed staff, organized events, and developed
public and school programs to serve SITE Santa Fe and surrounding communities.
“My work in the past five years has really focused upon
learning spaces that inspire creative problem solving,” Black said.
Black earned her Master of Fine Arts in design and
technology from Parsons School of Art, Media and Technology in 2014. She was
named for a University Merit Award and received a Graduate Dean’s Scholarship.
Black is a 2011 alumna of Highlands, earning her Bachelor
of Fine Arts in media arts and technology in digital filmmaking with a minor in
studio arts. She made the dean’s list every semester she attended Highlands.
“I enjoy collaborating with people who are enthusiastic about
education, and the faculty and staff at Highlands bring their passion to their
students. It’s humbling and an honor to be back at Highlands, which was a
unique catalyst for my professional career,” Black said.
The Center for Teaching Excellence offers ongoing faculty development in a wide variety of topics like fostering student engagement, active learning, classroom management, using online resources in traditional classrooms, and culturally responsive assessment. Black may be reached at veronica@nmhu.edu.