Faculty Spotlights
At Western Michigan University, our faculty bring creativity, care, and intentionality to the classroom. In these spotlights, educators share how they design engaging learning experiences, foster student connection, and adapt their teaching practices to meet evolving needs. Whether you're seeking ideas to enrich your own instruction or looking to celebrate the work of colleagues, we hope these profiles spark inspiration and conversation.
Greg Gerfen
When Greg Gerfen decided to redesign a creative strategy assignment in his advertising course, he turned to project-based learning—and a key insight from a faculty workshop: make student work public. By enlisting industry professionals to evaluate final projects, Greg transformed a routine assignment into a real-world experience that fueled student motivation, sharpened skills, and built lasting confidence.
Robyn Edwards
Through a WMUx Instructional Development Grant, Dr. Robyn Edwards piloted the use of AI-powered translation earbuds in local classrooms to support newcomer multilingual learners. Her research explores how emerging technologies can foster inclusion, build student autonomy, and strengthen teacher preparation in ESL education.
Katie Marshall
In her Ethics and Impacts course, cybersecurity instructor Katie Marshall uses project-based learning to help students move beyond theory and apply philosophical frameworks to real-world challenges. Through developing their own cybersecurity codes of ethics, students sharpen critical thinking, practice collaboration, and create personal ethical statements they can carry into their professional careers.
Dr. Rodrigo Aranda
As AI tools continue to reshape the professional landscape, Dr. Rodrigo Aranda is helping students get ahead by teaching them how to use these technologies with purpose and curiosity. In his economics courses, Aranda integrates AI to support critical thinking, make course content more engaging, and equip students with practical skills they’ll need in the workplace. His innovative approach shows how emerging tools can enhance—not replace—the learning experience.
Javier Montefort-Sanchez
Dr. Javier Montefort-Sanchez redesigned his Statics course using student survey data to improve engagement and organization. By implementing defined course modules with clear deadlines and automated reminders, he reduced missed assignments and increased attendance. Learn how he used student-centered feedback to enhance student success.
Britt Hartenberger
Dr. Britt Hartenberger believes that archaeology is more than studying the past—it’s a gateway to critical thinking, data analysis, and hands-on problem-solving. Through real-world research exercises and interactive coursework, she helps students navigate the complexities of working with “messy” data, preparing them for careers far beyond the field of archaeology.
Elise DeCamp
Elise DeCamp received her PhD in Anthropology from Indiana University, Bloomington and a Climate Change Policy and Management Certificate from Western Michigan University. She is a Faculty Specialist I in the Institute for Intercultural and Anthropological Studies and a Faculty Fellow in the WMUx Office of Faculty Development at Western Michigan University. Her research has an interdisciplinary scope that includes racial and social justice comedy, racial bias in the criminal justice system, and climate change education policy and programming in higher education.